VehicleVerdict

1988 Ford Taurus transmission problems

The 1988 Ford Taurus has 42 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

42

Transmission complaints

9%

Share of year

1

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

“LEMON SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT. FORD WON'T HONOR HERTZ RESALES. AT 31K ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BLEW; MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, LIST OF DEFECTS WOULD BE TWO PAGES LONG--SOME MAY STEM FROM SEVERE CORROSION ON UNDERSIDE BUT CAR WAS ONLY ON EAST COAST FOR 1 YEAR. FORD NONRESPONSIVE. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 1, 1999 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1988 Ford Taurus have?

NHTSA has 42 complaints about the 1988 Ford Taurus transmission — 9% 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.