VehicleVerdict

1986 Ford Taurus transmission problems

The 1986 Ford Taurus has 23 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 15% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

23

Transmission complaints

15%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Taurus transmission complaints by model year418 complaints1981: 1 complaints1985: 1 complaints1986: 23 complaints1987: 29 complaints1988: 42 complaints1989: 57 complaints1990: 46 complaints1991: 280 complaints1992: 115 complaints1993: 183 complaints1994: 291 complaints1995: 418 complaints1996: 190 complaints1997: 228 complaints1998: 71 complaints1999: 98 complaints2000: 104 complaints2001: 61 complaints2002: 39 complaints2003: 319 complaints2004: 74 complaints2005: 124 complaints2006: 33 complaints2007: 18 complaints2008: 44 complaints2009: 5 complaints2010: 36 complaints2011: 18 complaints2012: 2 complaints2013: 44 complaints2014: 12 complaints2015: 17 complaints2016: 3 complaints2017: 1 complaints2018: 6 complaints
Taurus transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“TRANSMISSION GEARS WOULD STICK. THE MOTOR WOULD LIFT IN THE AIR. WOULD HEAR LOUD NOISES WHENEVER TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP & WAS INFORMED MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BAD & WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THEY WOULD NEED REPLACING. ALSO INFORMED THE STABILIZER SWAY BAR WAS GOING BAD. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 12, 1998

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1986 Ford Taurus have?

NHTSA has 23 complaints about the 1986 Ford Taurus transmission — 15% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.