NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
20 reportsClear category filter170,000 miles · Sep 2, 2022
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled however, she was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. The contact stated that she noticed that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the engine temperature gauge was indicating that the engin…
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The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled however, she was able to pull over and stop the vehicle. The contact stated that she noticed that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the engine temperature gauge was indicating that the engine was overheating. The contact observed that white smoke was coming out from under the hood. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to her residence. An independent mechanic went to the residence to diagnose the vehicle. The independent mechanic determined that the head gasket had blown and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
NHTSA ODI #11482680
80,000 miles · Jun 30, 2020
Engine
I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WITH A TRUCK CLOSE BEHIND, WHEN IT JUST DIED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH THINKING I WAS GOING TO BE HIT BY THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. I WAS IN A CURVE, AND THANKFULLY THERE WAS A STORE. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE CAR IN, AND SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. I HAD NO W…
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I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WITH A TRUCK CLOSE BEHIND, WHEN IT JUST DIED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH THINKING I WAS GOING TO BE HIT BY THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. I WAS IN A CURVE, AND THANKFULLY THERE WAS A STORE. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE CAR IN, AND SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. I HAD NO WARNING, NO LIGHT CAME ON AND MY SON CAME TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. HE SAID IT WAS OVERHEATING. WE HAD IT TOWED HOME AND WHEN HE CHECKED IT THE OIL WAS CREAMY , WHITISH. HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. WE RESEARCHED IT, AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CYCLONE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE WATER PUMP FAILING, WHICH IS INSIDE THE ENGINE ALONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN!!! I WAS SHOCKED! WATER PUMPS GO BAD, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. WHY WOULD ANY COMPANY PUT A WATER PUMP INSIDE THE MOTOR?!?! I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT IF I HAD KNOWN BECAUSE IT IS JUST WRONG. THEN I FOUND OUT FORD HAD BEEN USING THAT ENGINE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, EVEN WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES AND DEATHS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!! WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE PUT IN, I'M 63 AND DISABLED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. WITH ALL THE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES DUE TO THIS, I AM SHOCKED THAT FORD HAS NOT HELPED US OUT. THEY MUST HAVE A LOT OF LAWSUITS. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN, I AM SICK ABOUT IT.
NHTSA ODI #11331838
43,000 miles · Jun 6, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHEN REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THEN DIMMED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN COULD HAV…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHEN REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THEN DIMMED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000.
NHTSA ODI #11100212
145,000 miles · May 24, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other
1. AFTER BEING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION WILL START TO SLIP. I TRY TO PRESS THE GAS AND GO NOWHERE, LIKE I AM STUCK IN 1ST GEAR, I COAST TO A SAFE PLACE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK START BACK UP AND IT WILL ACT COMPLETELY NORMAL AFTER THAT UNTIL ANOTHER 3 MONTHS DOWN THE LINE. 2. ONCE IN ABOUT 5/6 MONTH I TURN OUT IN…
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1. AFTER BEING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION WILL START TO SLIP. I TRY TO PRESS THE GAS AND GO NOWHERE, LIKE I AM STUCK IN 1ST GEAR, I COAST TO A SAFE PLACE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK START BACK UP AND IT WILL ACT COMPLETELY NORMAL AFTER THAT UNTIL ANOTHER 3 MONTHS DOWN THE LINE. 2. ONCE IN ABOUT 5/6 MONTH I TURN OUT INTO THE STREET AND THE 'ANTI SLIP' FEATURE TURNS ITSELF ON AND IT STOPS ME DEAD IN MY TRACKS. IT SOUNDS HORRIBLE, AND AFTER I RELEASE THE GAS IT WILL STOP. RIGHT NOW THE VEHICLE IS AT THE SHOP AND I REALLY HOPE THEY CAN FIND THE CAUSE OF THIS
NHTSA ODI #11097868
81,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
EngineVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND DROVE VERY SLOWLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATE AND ALMOST CAUSE THE DRIV…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND DROVE VERY SLOWLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN RAPIDLY ACCELERATE AND ALMOST CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOUW FORD (1245 NORTH MAIN AVE, SIOUX CENTER, IA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TT
NHTSA ODI #11081110
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2018
EngineFuel System, GasolineService Brakes
2008 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE POWER FOLDING EXTERIOR WINDOW SWITCH ISSUES. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH 2 DIFFERENT VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING THE VEHICLE'S DESCRIPTION THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE HAD A POWER FOLDING EXTERIOR MIRRORS, BUT THE VEHICLE…
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2008 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE POWER FOLDING EXTERIOR WINDOW SWITCH ISSUES. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH 2 DIFFERENT VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING THE VEHICLE'S DESCRIPTION THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE HAD A POWER FOLDING EXTERIOR MIRRORS, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THIS FEATURE. THE ENGINE KNOCKS AND SHIFTS HARD ON TAKE OFF AND SLOW DOWN. THE BREAK BOOSTER SQUEAKS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FUEL INDICATOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. LASTLY, DURING LONG PERIODS OF RAIN THE CEILING LIGHTS LEAK ONTO THE CONSOLE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10838420
237,000 miles · Oct 4, 2017
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
THE FORD TAURUS SEL HAS 237,836 MILES ON IT. TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THEN ON A COUNTY ROAD THE DASH SHOWED ALL ZEROS AND THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR EXHIBITED SLOW ACCELERATION AND UNUSUAL SHIFTING. I TOOK IT AND HAD THE OBD CODE READ. THE CODE INDICATED …
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THE FORD TAURUS SEL HAS 237,836 MILES ON IT. TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THEN ON A COUNTY ROAD THE DASH SHOWED ALL ZEROS AND THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR EXHIBITED SLOW ACCELERATION AND UNUSUAL SHIFTING. I TOOK IT AND HAD THE OBD CODE READ. THE CODE INDICATED THAT IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION (P720). THE CODE WAS RESET AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING DRIVEN. IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD. I OWN TWO 2008 FORD TAURUS AND IT HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY TO BOTH OF THEM. I WILL BE FILING INCIDENT INFORMATION ON THE OTHER VEHICLE TOO.
NHTSA ODI #11031823
75,000 miles · Sep 18, 2017
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. PRIOR TO EACH FAILURE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. FUTURE FORD IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. PRIOR TO EACH FAILURE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. FUTURE FORD IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THE FUEL INJECTION SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED THROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
NHTSA ODI #11024077
174,000 miles · May 10, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ONE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDERS MISFIRED AND THE SPEED DRASTICALLY REDUCED TO 35 MPH. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE IGNITION COIL WAS MELTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEAL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ONE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDERS MISFIRED AND THE SPEED DRASTICALLY REDUCED TO 35 MPH. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE IGNITION COIL WAS MELTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THERE WAS NO MISFIRE ON THE COIL, IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE COIL BUT, MOMENTS LATER, THE NEW COIL OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE PCM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
NHTSA ODI #10984773
85,197 miles · Apr 6, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower TrainFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DROVE AND STOPPED AT THE INTERSTATE WHERE SHE NOTICED A STRONG BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED BREATHING ISSUES. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DROVE AND STOPPED AT THE INTERSTATE WHERE SHE NOTICED A STRONG BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED BREATHING ISSUES. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOWS WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT FAILED TO TURN ON. ONCE THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL PLUGS, PCM, AND COMPUTER BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,197.
NHTSA ODI #10971005