Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 1988 Ford Taurus: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
98 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
73 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
51 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 93V106000, 98V323000.
41 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
33 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
27 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 91V134000.
27 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
17 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
16 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
13 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 91V036000.
11 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
1 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 92V065000.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Seats. Recall covering the seats system, reported to NHTSA on March 4, 1991. The campaign covers an estimated 278,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Brakes. Recall covering the brakes system, reported to NHTSA on August 6, 1991. The campaign covers an estimated 325,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Wheels. Recall covering the wheels system, reported to NHTSA on May 11, 1992. The campaign covers an estimated 654,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on June 23, 1993. The campaign covers an estimated 1,610,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on December 16, 1998. The campaign covers an estimated 2,697,000 vehicles across all affected models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.
ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
POWER SEAT MALFUNC/FIRE. Resulted in recall campaign 91V036000.
THROTTLE STICKING. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONS. Resulted in recall campaign 91V134001.
STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION. Resulted in recall campaign 92V065000.
SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL. Resulted in recall campaign 93V106001.
BROKEN TIE RODS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
HEAD REST DROPS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
PWR SEAT MALFUNC - FIRE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
SPEED CONTROL FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
THROTTLE STICKING. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
BRAKE DISC HUB FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
DOOR HANDLES BREAKAGE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
STORAGE COMPAR SUFFOCATION. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
FIRES IN IGNITION SWITCH. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
POWER STEERING LEAKS/FIRES. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
SUB-FRM/UNIBODY ABSOR.FAIL. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
BROKEN TIE RODS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
UNDERBODY FUEL LINE FAILS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
STEERING LCK-UP/IMPEDIMENT. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
POLYCAST ROAD WHEEL CRACKS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
REAR LOWER SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY. Resulted in recall campaign 93V106000.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.