FaultScore

1990 Ford Taurus transmission problems

46 of the 542 complaints about the 1990 Ford Taurus are about the transmission — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 118,000 miles.

A

46

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 29 63.0%
Manual Transmission 6 13.0%
Axle Assembly 4 8.7%
Constant Velocity Joint 3 6.5%
Power Train 1 2.2%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 1 2.2%
Column Shift 1 2.2%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 2.2%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford Taurus year

1986 23 0.8%
1987 29 1.0%
1988 42 1.4%
1989 57 1.9%
1990 46 1.5%
1991 280 9.3%
1992 115 3.8%
1993 183 6.1%
1994 291 9.7%
1995 418 13.9%
1996 190 6.3%
1997 228 7.6%
1998 71 2.4%
1999 98 3.3%
2000 104 3.4%
2001 61 2.0%
2002 39 1.3%
2003 319 10.6%
2004 74 2.5%
2005 124 4.1%
2006 33 1.1%
2007 18 0.6%
2008 44 1.5%
2010 36 1.2%
2011 18 0.6%
2013 44 1.5%
2014 12 0.4%
2015 18 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 100,000 miles Manassas, VA

POWER TRAIN

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 136,000 miles Manassas, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 1990 TAURUS LX WAGON THAT HAS ONE OF THE FAULTY AXOD TRANSMISSIONS. LAST YEAR THIS TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND I REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. AFTER RESENT RESEARCH,IT APPEARS MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND ONLY A FEW HAVE RECEIVED ANY RESTITUTION FROM FORD (1993-95 TUARUS/SABLE OWNERS).

NHTSA complaint #10043494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Syosset, NY

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING PROBLEM WITH AN ALUMINUM PISTON WHICH TENDS TO CRACK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A STEEL PISTON. VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #567362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HGHWAY TRANSMISSION EXPLODED CAUSING A FIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO SOLUTION.

NHTSA complaint #8011997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waterbury, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN AUGUST OF 2000 AND NOW WE ARE HAVING TO REPLACE IT AGAIN FORD TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND DENIES THERE BEING A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #744989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mukilteo, WA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION CAN'T TAKE HILLS, TRANSMISSION HAS TO BARE DOWN GOING UP HILL, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS AROUND MAIN SEAL. THIS WILL BLEED TRANSMISSION DRY. CONSUMER HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION COMPANY, AND HAD IT REBUILT AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. THEN 6 MONTHS LATER, TRANMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING OUT AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A LOSS OF HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER. WINDHSHIELD WIPERS WORK POORLY. DRIVER SEATBELT IS DEFECTIVE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #882232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT AND SHIFTER WERE BOTH REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #558432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER WAS REPLACED AND THE RACK AND PINION ON THE STEERING WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #558432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, NY

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

THE LEFT FRONT AXLE BEARING FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #558432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grants PAS, OR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, ONCE WITHIN A YEAR AND THREE TIMES WITHIN 6 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #557872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER OWNS 2 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES, A 1990 AND A 1994, BOTH TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #783816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grandspass, OR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN A 1 YEAR PERIOD. TRANSMISSION HAS BURNED OUT EACH TIME. WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE JERKS & CUTS OFF. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #873429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fallbrook, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #552590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxnard, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & STARTED TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. ALSO MADE CLICKING NOISE. HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE & NOTICED TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. WOULD NEED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. AT DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDECATED STRUTS WERE GONE &ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #869243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Minneola, FL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION HAS EXTENDED SHIFTS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT RECENTLY BEGAN DOWNSHIFTING HARD, AND UPSHIFTS VERY QUICKLY, SOMETIMES ROUGHLY UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION. THE MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE PURCHASE IN 1996.

NHTSA complaint #724494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN YOU PUT TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE 2 OUT OF 4 TIMES THE VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE AS IF THE BRAKES WERE ON AND YOU ARE TRING TO GIVE IT GAS AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHOOTS BACKWARDS.

NHTSA complaint #716445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fair Lawn, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #548303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Becket, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER COMING TO A LIGHT AT AN INCLINE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED AND ALLOWED THE CAR TO START TO ROLL BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF GAS BEING APPLIED AND GOING FORWARD. VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #846907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lafayette, LA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CABLE HAS DETERIORATED. DEALER SAID PARTS WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED.

NHTSA complaint #844623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kennedale, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #547167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Coopersville, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE SHOP, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ENGINE MOUNTS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #838132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delmar, NY

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #544081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #781987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alliance, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE A LITTLE STEERING. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. DEALER PUT THE VEHICLE UP ON THE COMPUTER, AND STILL CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM THAT HAS RETURNED.

NHTSA complaint #833634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alliance, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. COULD NOT CHANGE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL OR PARK. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #822601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alliance, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. COULD NOT CHANGE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRALOR PARK. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT & COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #820570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

LOUD CLUNK WHEN ACCELERATING OR SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #519228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowdoinham, ME

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 15 MPH THE BOLTS THAT HOLD TRANSAXLE AND ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING TOTAL STEERING LOSS. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #812207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winnetka, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60MPH FOR NO REASON. DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM, OWNER IS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY. ALSO, REPLACED TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #809670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION REBUILT.

NHTSA complaint #602433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1990 Ford Taurus problems

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