Is the 2008 Ford Taurus a bad year?
174 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 44, 4.4× a quiet Taurus year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 4.4× the complaints of a quiet Taurus year, spread over 36k–110k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Taurus owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 83,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 44 (25%) | 36k–110k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 32 (18%) | 35k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 29 (17%) | 44k–117k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 15 (9%) | 58k–124k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 14 (8%) | 43k–116k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 13 (7%) | 40k–128k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 35 (20%) | 35k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 10 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 83,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 174 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jan 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
It began with only the wrench light going on and the RPM would go up and the car would lurch forward. I would reset it with a code checker and I would not have the problem.
Transmission slips into neutral while driving. Same transmission is used in Chevrolet and Saturn vehicles and has been recalled by gm.
When ambient temp is below 20 degrees, harsh 2-1 downshift with impact after stopping and restarting.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 83,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Ford Taurus: 1
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 13
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Ford Taurus. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive…
Ford/lincoln/mercury: some vehicles, with diagnostic codes (DTCs) P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355…
There may be a rough idle or misses while the malfunction light…
Ford/mercury/lincoln: some vehicles equipped with a 6F50 transaxle , with any output shaft speed (Oss) sensor or turbine shaft speed…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Tire valve cracking
Neighbouring years
2007 Taurus: 149 complaints, keep it · 2009 Taurus: 64 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Taurus year
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Questions
Is the 2008 Ford Taurus a bad year?
174 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 44, 4.4× a quiet Taurus year. At 83,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 4.4× the complaints of a quiet Taurus year, spread over 36k–110k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Taurus?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (44), speed control (32), engine (29), air bags (15), brakes (14). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 36k–110k miles.
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Taurus have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-247). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.