Wrench.Pro

2008 Ford Taurus Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Ford Taurus has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Steering rack and pinion failure.” Ford uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) to determine when oil changes are due based on actual driving load — not just mileage. Ford's published cap is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. The schedule below reflects Ford's Normal service intervals; F-Series trucks and Super Duty have additional towing-specific items.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2008 Ford Taurus.

Reported to NHTSA

Steering rack and pinion failure

STEERING

35 NHTSA complaints · 2010-07 → 2020-01

“THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME. I AM OVER 6', AND WEIGH 230 LBS. MY WIFE IS SMALLER, AND SHE HAS ONE HECK OF A TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER READING PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD, I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. IT IS NOT SAFE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10938501
“WHILE DRIVING HOME SUNDAY EVENING ON 10/02/20011, STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND FELT LIKE IT MIGHT LOCK UP. DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITH PARTIAL STEERING ASSIST. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. THEY SAID THE STEERING GEAR FAILED. COST TO REPAIR $985.00”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10428459
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE ATTEMPT TO MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK; MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10412131

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front or rear coil spring fracture

SUSPENSION

5 NHTSA complaints · 2008-01 → 2017-03

“FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS SNAPPED WHILE SITTING AT MY RESIDENCE. THE REAR BROKE LAST YEAR AND THE FRONT BROKE YESTERDAY, 11/20/2008. HAD TO REPLACED BOTH FRONT AND REAR SPRINGS PLUS A TIRE IN THE FRONT THAT WAS PUNCTURED WHEN IT SNAPPED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10249497
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10928179
“RIGHT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED TIRE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10215319

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Premature brake rotor and caliper wear

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

4 NHTSA complaints · 2009-02 → 2011-01

“2008 FORD TAURUS WITH 20250 MILES HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE DRAG, CAUSING DEEP GROVES WORN INTO THE ROTORS. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THEY MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND THEY ARE RUBBING AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, THUS THE CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10258754
“I PURCHASE A NEW 2008 FORD TAURUS JULY 2009.. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE STEERING WHEEL BEGIN TO VIBRATE. THE CAR HAD ONLY 2328 MILES ..FOUND EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUNOUT. RESURFACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10330001
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AFTER HEARING A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE CALIPERS WOULD NOT CLOSE AND THE PISTONS WOULD NOT COMPRESS THE BRAKES SHOES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10374806

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission slipping, speed-sensor fault, or stalling

POWER TRAIN

44 NHTSA complaints · 2008-08 → 2023-11

“TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. SAME TRANSMISSION IS USED IN CHEVROLET AND SATURN VEHICLES AND HAS BEEN RECALLED BY GM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10817251
“WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, MY 2008 FORD TAURUS' TRANSMISSION SLAMMED, THEN ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS LIT UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER RESET TO ZERO, STAYING THAT WAY UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. BECAUSE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF TRAFFIC, ON INTERSTATE 75, IN ATLANTA, I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10292877
“ON INSPECTION: FOUND LEAKINGTRANSMISSION FLUID FROMCOOLER COMBO ACCUMULATING AT BASE OF RADIATOR COVER. LOST CLOSAE TO THREE QUARTS OF FLUID BEFORE I GOT ANY WARNING OFTHE LOSS BY IRREGULAR SHIFTING. NO DASHBOARD INDICATOR THAT FLUID WAS LOW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10432911

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden acceleration with brake pedal applied

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

32 NHTSA complaints · 2007-11 → 2026-01

“HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET TO ON POSITION, I ACCELERATED TO PASS A CAR, THEN THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED ON EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS OFF OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED RAPIDLY WITH THE ENGINE REVVING EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10610845
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FRONT END DAMAGE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10473945
“ON WED. AUG, 1, 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON MY 2008 FORD TAURUS SPED UP BY ITSELF. I THOUGHT THE CRUISE BUTTON CAME ON BY ITSELF OR THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS STUCK ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO GOING REAL FAST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10469288

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags fail to deploy in frontal crash

AIR BAGS

15 NHTSA complaints · 2008-05 → 2026-01

“My son was in an accident to where the whole front end was smashed and neither airbag deployed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11559353
“THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT AT 20 MPH AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11193241
“DRIVING 2 LANE ROAD HEADING EAST, SAW A CAR ON THE OUR RIGHT TRYING TO COME OUT OF DRIVE, KEPT GOING BACK AND FORTH FINALLY GAVE UP, BY THE TIME WE TURNED TO LOOK STRAIGHT A TRUCK HAD STOPPED WITH HIS DIRECTIONALS WANTING TO GO LEFT INTO HIS DRIVE, WE HIT HIM. SEAT BELTS WERE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10420845

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition coil pack and PCM failure causing stall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

29 NHTSA complaints · 2008-06 → 2022-10

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10984773
“WAITING AT A FLASHING RED ARROW TO TURN LEFT. TRAFFIC CLEARED, I ACCELERATED, GOT BARELY INTO INTERSECTION, CAR CHOKED, WOULD BARELY MOVE. SEMI TRUCK PUT UP HUGE PLUMES OF BLUE SMOKE FROM TIRES BURNING ON DRY PAVEMENT. TRUCK BARELY STOPPED BEFORE T-BONE IN MY DRIVERS DOOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10724304
“THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN A RENTED 2008 FORD TAURUS. I LEFT A RESTAURANT, DROVE A VERY SHORT DISTANCE TO MY HOTEL, PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKE AND THE ENGINE SURGED UNCONTROLLABLY. NO MATTER HOW I BRAKED, I COULD NOT STOP IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10229836

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic Motorcraft oil per the IOLM, or every 7,500-10,000 miles. EcoBoost engines require full synthetic; Coyote 5.0L V8 specifies SAE 5W-30.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate tires every 10,000 miles, or with every other oil change. F-150 4x4 owners should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain bias wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid level every 10,000 miles. Front pads on F-150 and Explorer typically last 40,000-60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Ford specifies brake fluid replacement on an inspection basis, but moisture testing every 3 years is recommended. Replace if reading exceeds 3% water content.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. EcoBoost turbocharged engines are sensitive to airflow restriction — don't extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford 6R80, 10R80, and 8F transmissions use Mercon LV fluid rated 150,000 miles under normal service. Severe service (towing, plowing) drops this to 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On 4x4 models, replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Motorcraft XL-12 — do not substitute generic transfer case fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 100,000 mi

F-Series and Expedition: replace rear axle fluid every 100,000 miles, or 50,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip rear ends require friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on Coyote 5.0L, EcoBoost 2.7L/3.5L, and 2.3L are rated 100,000 miles. EcoBoost engines: never exceed the interval — gap erosion causes coil failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (Dex-Cool compatible) coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Older trucks with Yellow Motorcraft coolant: 50,000 miles throughout.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. On F-150, located behind the glove box; on Escape and Explorer, accessed from the passenger footwell.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

118 crashes 1990–2024

How the 118 occupant deaths break down

83

driver deaths

35

passenger deaths

118

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2007 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

19

complaints mentioning a crash

7

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2008 Ford Taurus reflects Ford's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →