Total Complaints
355 filings
FORD TAURUS · model year
1987 FORD TAURUS
355 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987FORDTAURUS carries 355 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 54 fires, 25 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 TAURUS is electrical system:ignition:switch with 30 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (23) and structure:frame and members (21). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 6 investigation files overlapping the 1987 TAURUS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
355
Complaints
18
Crashes
54
Fires
25
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
18 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 30 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 23 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 21 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 20 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 17 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 14 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 12 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 12 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 11 |
| SEATS | 10 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 9 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 8 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 8 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 7 |
Recent Complaints
20111027STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1987 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES SUB FRAME BOTH LEFT SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT END BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER HIS MODEL YEAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. FORD MOTOR CO. STATED THEY WOULD ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY. *JB
20051014PARKING BRAKE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE 1987 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON EXPERIENCED A VERY VIOLENT ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE RACED. THE CONTACT THEN PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SKIDDED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, AND BEGAN GOING FASTER. THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED. THE BRAKE WAS PULLED SO HARD THAT SOMETHING BROKE AND STARTED LEAKING. THE CONTACT PULLED IT OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT IT INTO PARK, AND THE CAR WAS STILL GOING. THE CONTACT MADE IT TO A GAS STATION AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STALL THE CAR. THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE GAS STATION AND LEFT FOR SOMEONE TO BRING THE CAR HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT MAY TAKE OFF WITH HIM. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. THE CONTACT CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE ALL THE TESTING DONE . FORD HAS BEEN CALLED, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY FREE REMEDY TO OFFER. THE DRIV
Mileage: 53,000
20051014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE 1987 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON EXPERIENCED A VERY VIOLENT ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE RACED. THE CONTACT THEN PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR SKIDDED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, AND BEGAN GOING FASTER. THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED. THE BRAKE WAS PULLED SO HARD THAT SOMETHING BROKE AND STARTED LEAKING. THE CONTACT PULLED IT OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT IT INTO PARK, AND THE CAR WAS STILL GOING. THE CONTACT MADE IT TO A GAS STATION AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STALL THE CAR. THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE GAS STATION AND LEFT FOR SOMEONE TO BRING THE CAR HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT HE WOULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT MAY TAKE OFF WITH HIM. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. THE CONTACT CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE ALL THE TESTING DONE . FORD HAS BEEN CALLED, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY FREE REMEDY TO OFFER. THE DRIV
Mileage: 53,000
20041111CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT AND FAILURE OF THE SEAT BELT OF MY 1987 FORD TAURUS, I WENT HEAD FIRST INTO THE WINDSHIELD, MY KNEES HIT THE DASHBOARD, AND I SUFFERED INJURIES. IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE FIX FOR FORD TO CORRECT THE KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOTHING TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. *JB
Mileage: 145,000
20040422CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER
FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH AND PLUG ASSEMBLY DUE TO OVERHEATING. SWITCH MELTED AND SO DID PLUG ASSEMBLY. THIS SAME REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT APPOXIMATELY 87,000 MILES, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THIS REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUS TO THAT TIME AS WELL. THIS IS A CHRONIC FAILURE. ANY TSB'S OR RECALLS ON THIS MATTER? RELATED PROBLEM: EXCESSIVE CURRENT DRAW ON ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE TO STARTER SOLENOID (BATTERY) CAUSING WIRE TO RUN HOT (WITH ALTERNATOR TURNING). THIS HAS RESULTED IN FUSIBLE LINK G BLOWING OPEN TWICE.
Mileage: 156,000
20030402POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIP AND THEN WENT OUT AND NOW CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT. *NLM
Mileage: 50,198
20030307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM DRIVING AND MY CAR STOPS RUNNING. IT JUST DIES, I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTS AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.*JB
Mileage: 66,673
20030306UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REPLY TO REQUEST FOR A LIST OF RECALLS THAT AFFECT 1987 FORD TAURUS AND 1993 MERCURY SABLE VEHICLES. SENT SUMMARY LISTING OF RECALLS TO CONSUMER AND REFERRED CONSUMER TO NPO-230 FOR CONSUMER COMPLAINT LISTINGS. 1993 MERCURY SABLE/VIN#LMEL5549PG610694.*SCC *JB
20020731ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE VEHICLE STALLS OCCASIONALLY WHEN ON WARM TRIPS LONGER THAN A MILE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED THE IGNITION SYSTEM COMPONENT, TFI-IV MODULE KNOWING THAT IT COULD FAIL WHEN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS. *YH
20020603ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SHUTSDOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONETS INCLUDING THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED. *MJ
20020603FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SHUTSDOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONETS INCLUDING THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED. *MJ
20020603POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SHUTSDOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONETS INCLUDING THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED. *MJ
20020603ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SHUTSDOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONETS INCLUDING THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED. *MJ
20020603VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SHUTSDOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONETS INCLUDING THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS REPLACED. *MJ
20020503FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING UNDERNEATH DASH AROUND IGNITION. VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST ALL POWER. HAD TOWED. REPLACED LINKS IN IGNITION. PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN . DEALER CONTACTED
20020408ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
WHILE DRIVING FAN DOES NOT COME ON. VEHICLE STARTS TO OVERHEAT. HAS TO CONTINUOUSLY PUT ANTI- FREEZE IN THE VEHICLE EVERY 15 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20011227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TFI MODULE WENT OUT AND COST ME A LOT OF MONEY AND TOWING SERVICE AND RUINED MY BIRTHDAY PARTY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET ALL MY MONEY BACK I PAID THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN LOS BANOS WHERE THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE BE CAUSE I WAS A WOMEN AND THEY NEW ALL THE TIME THERE WAS A BAD TFI MODULE RECALL THEY SAID THE JUDGE WAS OUT OF THEIR JURIDICTION. *AK
20011116POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT. *AK
20010907SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS CAME APART AND FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SIDE.
20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, AND IGNITION MODULE HAD FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Compare 1987FORDTAURUS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 FORD TAURUS have?▼
The 1987 FORD TAURUS has 355 NHTSA complaints, 18 crashes, 54 fires, 25 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 FORD TAURUS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 FORD TAURUS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 30 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 1987 FORD TAURUS safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.