2008 Ford Taurus
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 85 of 328 complaints (26%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (11) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 149 in 2007 to 328 in 2008.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | vs. 2008 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100 | 3,100 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,950–3,450 | 2,850–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 20 | 20 | 18–22 | 18–21 | 20–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–18 / 25 | 18 / 25 | 15–18 / 22–28 | 15–18 / 22–28 | 17–18 / 25–28 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 444 | 444 | 404–494 | 423–494 | 404–444 | |
| Complaints filed | 318 | 149 | 328 | 75 | 204 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 19 | 8 | 23 | 12 | 17 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 16 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Taurus have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Ford Taurus?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 85 of 328 NHTSA complaints (26%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Ford Taurus get?
EPA rates it 18–22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2008 Ford Taurus?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 18 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 404 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 6-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 42 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 85 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 77 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 20 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 59 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 28 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 16V247000 · Apr 26, 2016
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.