FaultScore

1989 Ford Taurus electrical problems

135 of the 762 complaints about the 1989 Ford Taurus are about the electrical system — 18% of everything reported for this model year.

F

135

Complaints

2

Crashes

49

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 55 40.7%
Ignition 25 18.5%
Wiring 11 8.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 11 8.1%
Front Underhood 10 7.4%
Interior/Under Dash 8 5.9%
Module 5 3.7%
Starter Assembly 4 3.0%
Electrical System 3 2.2%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 0.7%

Electrical System across every Ford Taurus year

1986 20 1.2%
1987 82 4.8%
1988 112 6.6%
1989 135 7.9%
1990 45 2.6%
1991 54 3.2%
1992 76 4.5%
1993 178 10.5%
1994 94 5.5%
1995 104 6.1%
1996 59 3.5%
1997 67 3.9%
1998 35 2.1%
1999 61 3.6%
2000 66 3.9%
2001 38 2.2%
2002 42 2.5%
2003 100 5.9%
2004 26 1.5%
2005 29 1.7%
2006 26 1.5%
2007 31 1.8%
2008 13 0.8%
2010 19 1.1%
2011 48 2.8%
2012 15 0.9%
2013 57 3.3%
2014 29 1.7%
2015 31 1.8%
2017 11 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Childress, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

SUNDAY AT 11:45 AM, I LEFT MY HOUSE TO GO TO WORK AT WAL-MART. AT ABOUT 4:30 PM, A CUSTOMER AT WAL-MART CAME IN THE STORE AND TOLD US THAT A CAR WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHO CAR IT WAS. IT WAS MINE. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DASH. THE WHOLE DASH IS GONE. THE FIRE STARTED BY ELECTRICAL IN THE DASH. I HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I WAS ON IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10164591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

I BOUGHT MY 1989 FORD TAURUS IN JUNE OF 2001. IN THE PAPERWORK FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNERS WAS INFO. ON A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY DATED 4/98 REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH SEATBELT BUCKLES. I RECENTLY HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH MY SEATBELT BUCKLES AND TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS CONSEQUENTLY TOLD IT WAS WAY PASSED THE WARRANTY DATE EVEN BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SO MY COMPLAINT IS HOW DO I GET THEM FIXED SINCE THIS CAN BECOME A SERIOUS MATTER IF I OR ANYONE ELSE GETS STUCK IN THE CAR, OR HAS FURTHER DIFFICULTIES EVEN FASTENING THE SEATBELT. I ALSO WAS NOTIFIED OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION MODULE TO SUBMIT YOUR RECEIPTS BY 10/02. I HOWEVER DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE IT UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND SUBMITTED THOSE RECEIPTS ANYWAY WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE WHAT SO EVER. I'VE ALSO NOT LONG AGO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR MOUNTINGS FOR MY REAR SHOCKS AND SPRINGS AND THE FRONT NEED TO BE DONE AS WELL. DOES THIS QUALIFY IN THE RECALL OF THE SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER ID #94E36000? *AK I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO HOW A PERSON KNOWS TO LOOK FOR THESE RECALLS WHEN BUYING A VEHICLE. SHOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFY US?

NHTSA complaint #10030328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I HAVE A 1989 FORD TAURUS WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR 1 YEAR AND YESTERDAY WHEN IT WOULDN'T START, IT KEPT CRANKING ON IT'S OWN EVEN AFTER I PULLED THE KEY OUT. IT THEN STATRED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND I HAD TO JUMP OUT AND DISCONECT THE BATTERY! FORD RECALLED EVERY OTHER MODEL FOR 1989 BUT MINE AND THE EXPLORER FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY NOT MINE?

NHTSA complaint #10008010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Francisco, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #565777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Keswick Ontario, CD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #8010902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfax, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOS PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #555474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Amarillo, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #757675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morgantown, KY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

AFTER HAVING DRIVEN CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES, AND PARKED IT, AND WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES AFTERWARDS, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT FIRE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #6900602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Holden, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

AS I DRIVE MY CAR IT SHUTS OFF. I CAN ONLY RUN IT FOR 15 MINUTES AT A TIME . IVE AVOIDED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHAT CAN I DO ?

NHTSA complaint #750464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tigard, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKEN, THIS CAUSED THE EXHAUST CONVERTER ASS'Y TO FAIL AN CAUSE A EXHAUST LEAK BY THE ENGINE MAKING THE ENGINE RUN HOT. HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE STALLING OUT IN HOT WEATHER, REPLACED FUEL PUMP, FUEL ENJECTORS, AND IGNITION MODULE CAR IS STILL STALLING OUT WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WARM 700F AND ABOVE. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG (NO CODES). LET THE CAR SIT AND WILL START AFTER A WHILE, SOME TIME 1 MINUTE SOMETIMES 1 HOUR.

NHTSA complaint #745218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Southold, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: REGULATOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #888080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Millerstown, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1) ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE MICHAEL BALLACHEY INITIALLY RULED THAT FORD MUST RECALL AS MANY AS 1.7-MILLION VEHICLES IN CALIFORNIA. A FINAL DECISION ON THE RECALL IS EXPECTED IN MARCH 2001. IF THE RECALL PROCEEDS, FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA complaint #743290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacific Grove, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I HAVE HAD NUMERUS STALLING &/OR LACK OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING IN HOT WEATHER! I FIRST STARTED IN OCT. OF 97 WHEN TRAVELING TO SAN DIEGO. WE WERE STRANDED IN L.A. ON THE WAY DOWN, AND IN EAST L.A. ON THE WAY HOME. UPON RETURNING HOME, I REPLACED THE IDLE AIR MOTOR AT A COST OF OVER $300. SINCE THAN, I HAVE HAD THE HEAT TUBE TO THE VACUUM SWITCH AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRING REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT TO COORECT THE PROBLEM! I HAS NOT STOPPED THE PROBLEM. LAST AUGUST, MY DAUGHTER HAD TO BE TOWED 100 MILES (FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO - SANTA BARBARA) DUE TO A COMPLETE STOPAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AFTER DRIVING 150 MILES. I HAVE HEARD OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST FORD, INVOLVING THE T.F.I. MODULE. I HAVE ASKED MY LOCAL DEALER TO REPLACE THIS MODULE, IN HOPES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF STALLING IN HOT WEATHER. I HOPE TO HAVE THE $340 REFUNDED TO ME, IF THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT SETTLES AGAINST FORD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO COMPLETE THIS FORM TO DOCUMENT ME CASE. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY OTHER ACTION I SHOULD TAKE. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS

NHTSA complaint #738683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfax, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

5 ALTERNATORS FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #553705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Overland Park, KS Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE MAKING A SLOW TURN AT 15 MPH, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. ALSO, SMOKE COMING INTO INTERIOR. STOPPED AND OPENED HOOD, FLAMES FROM REAR OF ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #876552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Wayn, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #875246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE MAKE A STOP AT ANY TIME VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #874832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURHTER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #874019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE WILL STALL SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, USUALLY STALLS ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEALER 6 TIMES . DEALER CANNOT NOT DETERMINE DEFECT BECAUSE BY TIME VEHICLE ARRIVES AT DEALERS VEHICLE WILL RESTART.*AK THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED. ALL HEATER AND COOLANT HOSES WERE REPLACED. SERPNTINE BELT WAS CRACKED. FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #873725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RIE, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE, AND WILL START UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #873127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bridgewater, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT, COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, VEHCILE WOULD START. CONSUMER FELT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #873044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Muskogee, OK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE THE SCANNER IN THE CAR WILL SAY "BRAKE LAMP OUT" THEN SHORTLY AFTER THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE CAR WILL DIE AND NOT START AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #715883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leicester, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER THE CAR WAS OKAY. WHEN THE WEATHER GOT WARM, THE CAR WENT BUMP BUMP BUMP. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS COMPUTER OR A IGNITION CONTROL PROBLEM. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER KNEW THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T TELL CONSUMER UNLESS HE PAID FOR THAT INFORMATION. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST DIED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IF FAN KICKS IN, THE CAR WILL NOT START FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS.

NHTSA complaint #852740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THERE WAS NOT A FIRE IN THAT I COULD SEE FLAME BUT FAST ESCAPING SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION AND FROM THE FAR LEFT DASH RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDSHEILD, I QUICKLY EVACUATED TWO YOUNG GIRLS FROM THE CAR IN CASE IT WENT INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS PURSHASED FROM MY BOYFRIEND AND HE KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE HEATER / BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT SINCE OCTOBER 1997. HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT THE LURCHING (LATER DETERMINATED) AS A MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEM BUT PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP AS A BADLY SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. THE CAR IS AT YOUNG FORD IN CHARLOTTE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE APPARENT BURNED IGNITION AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND THEN A FRUTHER LOOK INTO THE HEATING PROBLEM AND ALSO ERRATIC GAS GAUGE, WHICH SOMTIMES SHOWS FULL WHEN I CAN STILL ADD 10 GALLONS OF GAS

NHTSA complaint #712027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THERE WAS NOT A FIRE IN THAT I COULD SEE FLAME BUT FAST ESCAPING SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION AND FROM THE FAR LEFT DASH RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDSHEILD, I QUICKLY EVACUATED TWO YOUNG GIRLS FROM THE CAR IN CASE IT WENT INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS PURSHASED FROM MY BOYFRIEND AND HE KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE HEATER / BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT SINCE OCTOBER 1997. HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT THE LURCHING (LATER DETERMINATED) AS A MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEM BUT PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP AS A BADLY SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. THE CAR IS AT YOUNG FORD IN CHARLOTTE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE APPARENT BURNED IGNITION AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND THEN A FRUTHER LOOK INTO THE HEATING PROBLEM AND ALSO ERRATIC GAS GAUGE, WHICH SOMTIMES SHOWS FULL WHEN I CAN STILL ADD 10 GALLONS OF GAS

NHTSA complaint #712027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charlotte, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THERE WAS NOT A FIRE IN THAT I COULD SEE FLAME BUT FAST ESCAPING SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE IGNITION AND FROM THE FAR LEFT DASH RIGHT NEXT TO THE WINDSHEILD, I QUICKLY EVACUATED TWO YOUNG GIRLS FROM THE CAR IN CASE IT WENT INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS PURSHASED FROM MY BOYFRIEND AND HE KNEW THERE WAS TROUBLE WITH THE HEATER / BUT IT WAS INTERMITTENT SINCE OCTOBER 1997. HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT THE LURCHING (LATER DETERMINATED) AS A MOTOR MOUNT PROBLEM BUT PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP AS A BADLY SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. THE CAR IS AT YOUNG FORD IN CHARLOTTE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE APPARENT BURNED IGNITION AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND THEN A FRUTHER LOOK INTO THE HEATING PROBLEM AND ALSO ERRATIC GAS GAUGE, WHICH SOMTIMES SHOWS FULL WHEN I CAN STILL ADD 10 GALLONS OF GAS

NHTSA complaint #712027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merced, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 25 MPH AND I NOTICED SMOKE AND THEN I STOPPED AD OPENED THE HOOD AND THEN I SAW FLAMES AND ALL THAT I SAW ON THE GROUND WAS ANTIFREEZE, BUT THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD WAS ALL MELTED

NHTSA complaint #709938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH BURNED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR.

NHTSA complaint #843088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Inver Grove Hgts., MN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #841793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Leandr, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION SYSTEM, RECENTLY THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH STARTER TO SMOKE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #545778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1989 Ford Taurus report