FaultScore

1990 Ford Taurus airbag problems

43 of the 542 complaints about the 1990 Ford Taurus are about the airbag system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 70,000 miles.

F

43

Complaints

19

Crashes

1

Fires

15

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 25 58.1%
AIR Bags 16 37.2%
Sensor/Control Module 2 4.7%

Airbags across every Ford Taurus year

1990 43 5.1%
1991 57 6.7%
1992 50 5.9%
1993 65 7.7%
1994 42 5.0%
1995 62 7.3%
1996 46 5.4%
1997 42 5.0%
1998 39 4.6%
1999 40 4.7%
2000 90 10.6%
2001 66 7.8%
2002 50 5.9%
2003 49 5.8%
2004 21 2.5%
2005 28 3.3%
2006 21 2.5%
2008 15 1.8%
2010 11 1.3%
2013 11 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 70,000 miles Waterford, MI

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

HOW DO I GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO HONOR GENUINE NHTSA RECALLS ON A 1990 FORD TAURUS WAGON??? IT CURRENTLY HAS COMPLAINT # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECT, SEAT BELT DEFECT OR CPU REPLACEMENT DEFECT. WHAT DO I DO TO GET SOME ACTION ON THESE ISSUES????

NHTSA complaint #10295663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alvarado, TX 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR A CRASH OCCURRING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARMS, LACERATIONS ON HER FACE AND ARMS, AND A LARGE BURN ON HER LIP. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 5/5/09 *CN UPDATED 05/07/09.

NHTSA complaint #10264277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richland, WA

AIR BAGS

CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON STAYED ON. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FLASHES 9 TIMES PAUSES AND THEN FLASHES 9 TIMES REPEATS. CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10163838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Manassas, VA

AIR BAGS

WHEN THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAINT THE VEHICLE DUE TO COST. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. IF I GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, I INTEND TO HAVE THE AIRBAG FIXED AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10071100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Great Neck, NY

AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLE HAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOY PREMATURELY. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10065487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wisconsin Rapids, WI Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND HIT CONSUMER IN THE CHEST, PUSHING HER NECK BACK. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AND A HERNIA DISC INJURY. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10057247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELK Grove, CA Crash

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT A HIGH SPEED ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE DOOR. THEN, VEHICLE IMPACTED OTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10026965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATES THAT IN A FRONTAL COLLISON NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. *MR

NHTSA complaint #8020606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Clara, CA

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER HAS SAME PROBLEM WITH AIR BAGS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 90 E 043 001. BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #8014058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gary, IN

AIR BAGS

CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION AND CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT A SENSOR WAS NEEDED FOR THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER, UPON TESTING VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE THE CODES WERE CLEARED IT WAS DETERMINED BY DEALERSHIP THAT ANOTHER SENSOR WAS NEEDED, HOWEVER CONSUMER DECLINED THE REPAIR AND REQUESTED THAT THE CRASH SENSOR THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED BE REMOVED, CONSUMER STATES WHEN VEHICLE WAS FIRST BROUGHT IN SHE WAS QUOTED A PRICE BUT ONCE A SECOND SENSOR WAS NEEDED CONSUMER WAS THEN QUOTED ANOTHER PRICE, CONSUMER STATES SO FAR SHE HAS PAID $180.00 AND THE SENSOR STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #561277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pensacola, FL

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #883405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Culpeper, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT WOULD NOT CUT OFF DURING TRAVELING . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #837969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Culpeper, VA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

AIR BAG SENSORS FAILED CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. MJS

NHTSA complaint #545969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Haven, CT Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE TRAVELING ON 1-WAY STREET ANOTHER VEHICLE APPEARED ON DRIVER'S SIDE & WAS BROADSIDED. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #837522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oklahoma City, OK Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION AT 40 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OBTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #838436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, OH

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT THE MODULE WENT OUT. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD BE FLASHING.

NHTSA complaint #837095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, OH

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING.

NHTSA complaint #544943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roaring Springs, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AN INTERSECTION, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #828867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fairfax, VA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INTO THE CONSUMER FACE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO BREAK HER CONTACT GLASSES. AIR BAG SENSOR HAS BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #831384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarasota, FL

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT ON REPLACED AIRBAG BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #542395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lanham, MD

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH, WHEN THE AIR BAG MADE A NOISE, THEN DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD OR COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #819486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Emmaus, PA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS CONTINUALLY ON. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON MODEL/YEAR . VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN UNDER RECALL . OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #826651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenville, NC Fire 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED VIOLENTLY. BURNS AND CHEST INJURY TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER.

NHTSA complaint #537459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fayetteville, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION, RESULTED IN A BROKEN NOSE/CHEEK FRACTURE/NECK VERTEBRAE DAMAGE AND MOUTH BURNS. ALSO VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #523845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marion, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 30-35 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #815788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED BROKEN ARM, BRUISING, AND BURNS TO FACE.

NHTSA complaint #519173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Puyallup, WA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON. DEALER STATES IT WILL COST TO FIX AND WILL COST MORE IF IT DEPLOYES.

NHTSA complaint #809773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Forest Park, WA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING, UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH AT APPROX. 20MPH, 1:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, DRIVER'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #805158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

AIR BAGS

OTHER: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA complaint #500870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winston SA, NC Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #800031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1990 Ford Taurus report