Total Complaints
542 filings
FORD TAURUS · model year
542 NHTSA complaints, 32 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990FORDTAURUS carries 542 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 32 crashes, 29 fires, 28 injuries, and 0 fatalities. 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 1990 TAURUS is structure:frame and members with 64 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (42) and power train:automatic transmission (29). 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 1990 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.
Total Complaints
542 filings
Crashes Reported
32 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 64 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 42 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 29 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 26 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 25 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 23 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 18 |
| AIR BAGS | 16 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 12 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 12 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 12 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 11 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 11 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 8 |
HOW DO I GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO HONOR GENUINE NHTSA RECALLS ON A 1990 FORD TAURUS WAGON??? IT CURRENTLY HAS COMPLAINT # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECT, SEAT BELT DEFECT OR CPU REPLACEMENT DEFECT. WHAT DO I DO TO GET SOME ACTION ON THESE ISSUES???? *TR
Mileage: 70,000
HOW DO I GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO HONOR GENUINE NHTSA RECALLS ON A 1990 FORD TAURUS WAGON??? IT CURRENTLY HAS COMPLAINT # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECT, SEAT BELT DEFECT OR CPU REPLACEMENT DEFECT. WHAT DO I DO TO GET SOME ACTION ON THESE ISSUES???? *TR
Mileage: 70,000
HOW DO I GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO HONOR GENUINE NHTSA RECALLS ON A 1990 FORD TAURUS WAGON??? IT CURRENTLY HAS COMPLAINT # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECT, SEAT BELT DEFECT OR CPU REPLACEMENT DEFECT. WHAT DO I DO TO GET SOME ACTION ON THESE ISSUES???? *TR
Mileage: 70,000
HOW DO I GET FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO HONOR GENUINE NHTSA RECALLS ON A 1990 FORD TAURUS WAGON??? IT CURRENTLY HAS COMPLAINT # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE AIR BAG MODULE DEFECT, SEAT BELT DEFECT OR CPU REPLACEMENT DEFECT. WHAT DO I DO TO GET SOME ACTION ON THESE ISSUES???? *TR
Mileage: 70,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN GREATER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENTS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR A CRASH OCCURRING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARMS, LACERATIONS ON HER FACE AND ARMS, AND A LARGE BURN ON HER LIP. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 5/5/09 *CN UPDATED 05/07/09.*JB
I HAD A LOOSE IGNITION ON MY 1990 FORD TAURUS IN WHICH I COULD REMOVE MY KEY WHILE IT WAS STILL RUNNING I HAD THIS CHANGED WHILE I WAS HAVING OTHER WORK DONE ON THE CAR AND LESS THEN A WEEK LATER I HAD A VERY EXPENSIVE PAPERWEIGHT BECAUSE AFTER THEY PLACED A NEW IGNITION INTO MY CAR IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT BURNING OUT ALL THE WIRING AND DESTROYING THE WIRES CONNECTED TO MY BATTERY. I TOWED THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER AND I HAD TO LAY OUT EVEN MORE MONEY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY FIRES OR RECALLS AND THAT WAS THAT. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON STAYED ON. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FLASHES 9 TIMES PAUSES AND THEN FLASHES 9 TIMES REPEATS. CRUISE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. *JB
THE BELTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL CAMPAIGN# 92V113000 AT 88K MILES. AT 120K MILES, THE DRIVER SIDE LATCH MECHANISM BECAME STIFF, THEN THE OUTER SLEEVE HAD COME APART. THE SLEEVE WAS PLACED BACK INTO PLACE AND THE BELT WAS BACK FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 83,000
OWNER WAS DRIVING AND PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. OWNER HAD TO AVOID SEVERAL POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS BY PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. HOWEVER, OWNER'S VEHICLE DID HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATING TO THIS DEFECT. *AK
Mileage: 110,000
WHOLE BACK END OF CAR FAILED AND HAD TO HAVE IT ALL REPLACED. THE BOLTS BROKE CAUSING THE REST OF THE BACK END TO TOTALLY FAIL AND BRAKE. HAD TO HAVE IT ALL REPLACED INCLUDING THE BOLTS, REAR SUSPENSION LINKAGE, BOTH SHOCKS, AND REAR AXLE. WE PAID OUT OF OUR OWN POCKET FOR THIS TO TUNE OF 800. AND NOW TO DO ALL OF THIS THE CAR IS NOW ACTING LIKE IT IS EITHER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS GOING OUT.*AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE VALVE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
Mileage: 240,000
SEAT BELT WOULD NOT SECURE FOUND 8 OTHER RECALL ITEMS FROM A CANADIAN RECALL WEB SITE THAT WERE NOT ON ANY U.S. RECALL SITES. *AK
Mileage: 72,323
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH SUB FRAME BOLTS SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, STEERING FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 119,000
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH SUB FRAME BOLTS SNAPPED. AS A RESULT, STEERING FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 119,000
WHEN THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAINT THE VEHICLE DUE TO COST. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. IF I GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, I INTEND TO HAVE THE AIRBAG FIXED AS WELL.
Mileage: 100,000
WHEN THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAINT THE VEHICLE DUE TO COST. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. IF I GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, I INTEND TO HAVE THE AIRBAG FIXED AS WELL.
Mileage: 100,000
WHEN THE PAINT BEGAN TO PEEL, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAINT THE VEHICLE DUE TO COST. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR IT DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, I CHOSE NOT TO REPAIR DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR. IF I GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, I INTEND TO HAVE THE AIRBAG FIXED AS WELL.
Mileage: 100,000
THE VEHICLE HAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING OR DEPLOY PREMATURELY. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB
Mileage: 57,000
WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND HIT CONSUMER IN THE CHEST, PUSHING HER NECK BACK. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPINAL CORD INJURY AND A HERNIA DISC INJURY. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
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.