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Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Recalls by model year:

Recall campaigns

1. 98V323000STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSReported 16 Dec 1998 · 2,697,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virgnia, and wisconsin. The rear lower subframe mount plate nut can experience stress corrosion cracking if subjected to long term exposure to road salts. This can result in fracture and loss of the structural integrity of the subframe mount attachment. Detachment of the body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, allows the rear corners of the subframe to drop.

   Consequence: If both rear corners drop, steering would become suddenly very difficult, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy: Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 98S36).

2. 93V106000STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSReported 23 Jun 1993 · 1,610,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: taurus and sables built from 10-14-85 through 8-19-88, and lincoln continentals built from 11-4-87 through 9-30-88 (except 1989 - 1991 2.5l taurus and 1989 - 1992 sho). The affected cars were originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, and wisconsin. The body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, may become detached due to corrosion of the subframe mount retaining plate. This would allow the rear corners of the subframe to drop.

   Consequence: If one of the rear corners drops, only minor indications of a malfunction such as a clunking noise or slight change in steering wheel alignment are noticeable. However, if both rear corners of the subframe drop, steering becomes very difficult, which could adversely affect vehicle control and possibly result in an accident.

   Remedy: Install a corrosion-resistant reinforcing plate and a new bolt on both rear subframe mounts. This recall campaign has been superseded by recall 98v-323.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

3. 92V065000WHEELSReported 11 May 1992 · 654,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Children can accidentally lock themselves in the footwell area of the rear-facing third seat, or in the storage compartment in station wagons not equipped with an optional third seat. Once the compartment is closed it cannot be opened from the inside.

   Consequence: There is a danger of air deprivation, hyperthermia,and/or panic response to a child who has locked himself or herself into thecompartment, with the possibility of asphyxiation.

   Remedy: Replace the self-latching assembly currently used in the rear storage compartment with a latch assembly that can only be closed with a key.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

4. 91V134000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTORReported 6 Aug 1991 · 325,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Front disc brake rotors of the subject vehicles may experience severe corrosion if operated in areas where calcium chloride and sodium chloride are used extensively.

   Consequence: Severely corroded rotors may fracture or separate nearthe inner edges of the brake discs resulting in reduced braking effectiveness,higher than normal pedal efforts, loud grinding noises, and moderate pulls whenthe brakes are applied. Reduced braking effectiveness may increase minimumstopping distances, possibly resulting in an accident.

   Remedy: Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

5. 87V139000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSReported 4 Sep 1987 · 3,600,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.

   Consequence: Coupling could disengage due to fuel pressure,vibration, and engine movements; this would cause loss of fuel which, inpresence of an ignition source, creates a fire risk.

   Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

6. 87V017000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORReported 19 Feb 1987 · 28,000 units

   Defect, as filed: Road salt induced erosion of the wiper motor conductor strips could cause localized thermal stress within the glass.

   Consequence: Glass could fracture while station wagon is being drivenor parked, creating a risk of injury to occupants or sudden distraction to thedriver.

   Remedy: Apply sealant to conductor strips and protective tape to lower backlites.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

7. 86V148000SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLEReported 7 Nov 1986 · 631 units

   Defect, as filed: Left and/or right rear spindle assemblies may have been improperly heat treated. Consequence of defect: if spindle stem separates, loss of vehicle control could occur without prior warning.

   Remedy: Replace rear spindle.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

8. 86V144000STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BARReported 28 Oct 1986 · 4,714 units

   Defect, as filed: Steering shaft assemblies contain lower shafts of insufficient length for proper attachment to the shaft insulator flange. Consequence of defect: shaft could separate, resulting in total loss of steering control and a possible accident.

   Remedy: Replace steering shaft assembly, as necessary.

   Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1987 Ford Taurus (black) against all 1987 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.

255 unique complaints, 355 component mentions; 16 injuries and 1 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.

Complaints by year received

Investigations

Other Ford Taurus model years

Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.

All Ford Taurus model years · Ford: 201 model lines

Questions and answers

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.