Total Complaints
946 filings
FORD TAURUS · model year
946 NHTSA complaints, 50 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991FORDTAURUS carries 946 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 50 crashes, 23 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 1991 TAURUS is power train:automatic transmission with 221 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (88) and structure:frame and members (51). 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 1991 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
946 filings
Crashes Reported
50 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 221 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 88 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 51 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 40 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 28 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 24 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 23 |
| AIR BAGS | 22 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 20 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 19 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 17 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 14 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 14 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 13 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 10 |
MY 1991 NON SHO FORD TAURUS WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 1 DAY. I WALKED OUT TO MY CAR IN THE EARLY MORNING TO TAKE IT TO WORK. I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE. IT WAS AT THIS MOMENT, THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I ENDED UP GOING IN REVERSE DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT BRAKES AT A VERY RAPID SPEED. I CAME TO A JARRING STOP AFTER I IMPACTED A CAR THAT WAS PARKED ON THE STREET. BRAKES WERE SQUISHY AND NON-FUNCTIONING. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO STOP BY MECHANICAL MEANS. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 45 MILES AN HOUR. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND IS VISUALLY COMPLETELY WRECKED. I EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH AND IF THE CAR WAS NOT IN THE STREET THAT MORNING, I WOULD HAVE SMASHED INTO A HOUSE, POSSIBLY KILLING SOMEONE OR MYSELF IN THE PROCESS. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. *TR
Mileage: 89,163
MY 1991 NON SHO FORD TAURUS WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 1 DAY. I WALKED OUT TO MY CAR IN THE EARLY MORNING TO TAKE IT TO WORK. I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE. IT WAS AT THIS MOMENT, THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I ENDED UP GOING IN REVERSE DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT BRAKES AT A VERY RAPID SPEED. I CAME TO A JARRING STOP AFTER I IMPACTED A CAR THAT WAS PARKED ON THE STREET. BRAKES WERE SQUISHY AND NON-FUNCTIONING. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO STOP BY MECHANICAL MEANS. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 45 MILES AN HOUR. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND IS VISUALLY COMPLETELY WRECKED. I EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH AND IF THE CAR WAS NOT IN THE STREET THAT MORNING, I WOULD HAVE SMASHED INTO A HOUSE, POSSIBLY KILLING SOMEONE OR MYSELF IN THE PROCESS. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. *TR
Mileage: 89,163
MY 1991 NON SHO FORD TAURUS WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 1 DAY. I WALKED OUT TO MY CAR IN THE EARLY MORNING TO TAKE IT TO WORK. I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE. IT WAS AT THIS MOMENT, THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND I ENDED UP GOING IN REVERSE DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT BRAKES AT A VERY RAPID SPEED. I CAME TO A JARRING STOP AFTER I IMPACTED A CAR THAT WAS PARKED ON THE STREET. BRAKES WERE SQUISHY AND NON-FUNCTIONING. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO STOP BY MECHANICAL MEANS. THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 45 MILES AN HOUR. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND IS VISUALLY COMPLETELY WRECKED. I EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH AND IF THE CAR WAS NOT IN THE STREET THAT MORNING, I WOULD HAVE SMASHED INTO A HOUSE, POSSIBLY KILLING SOMEONE OR MYSELF IN THE PROCESS. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. *TR
Mileage: 89,163
1991 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG MODULE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG MODULE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING FORWARD AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
Mileage: 69,000
A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK NEAR THE RACK RESULTED IN A FIRE, WHICH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE, AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR
Mileage: 148,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIATOR, BATTERY, MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS) AND 91V134000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: DISC: ROTOR) YET DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS A SECOND TIME AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED TO REPORT THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BUMPER WAS PARTIALLY OUT OF THE GARAGE. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, TO CLEAR THE GARAGE DOOR DID NOT TOUCH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS $5,000 IN DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,480.
Mileage: 25,480
THE BLOWER MOTOR IN MY 1991 FORD TAURUS IS STARTING TO GO OUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF. I WILL TURN THE HEAT ON HIGH IN THE MORNINGS TO WARM UP THE CAR AN WITHIN A 10-15 MINUTE TIME FRAME - THE MOTOR WILL EITHER STOP BLOWING COMPLETELY OR BARELY BLOW. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL UNDER 03V087000 AND COMPLAINT NUMBER 10184014. AS I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD VEHICLES AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Mileage: 138,000
I WAS ADVISED BY A MECHANIC RECENTLY THAT MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. HE SHOWED ME THE REAR SUBFRAME BOLT THAT WAS DETERIORATED TO ABOUT HALF OF ITS ORIGINAL SIZE AND THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED HEAVILY AND CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS WAS AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE IN 1999 FOR NHTSA ARTICLE NO. 98V323000. SO THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO KEEP THE SUBFRAME FROM FALLING IS NOT HOLDING UP AND IT APPEARS THAT IT COULD BREAK SOON. *JB
Mileage: 125,000
WHILE DRIVING GEARS JUMP. THERE IS RECALL 96V166000. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD OF OTHER FORD VEHICLES WITH DESIGN DEFECTS. *TC
BELTS ON TIRE BCAME SEPARATED, CAUSING TIRE TO COME APART. *AK
MY FORD TAURUS 1991 STATION WAGON LUNGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER BACKING UP, BRAKING, THEN STARTING TO GO FORWARD. IT WENT AGAINST A WALL, THE BRAKE DIDN'T WORK, THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS CRASHED, I HAD TO PUT IT INTO PARK TO STOP IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY OTHER CAR SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC TESTED IT AND IT DID THIS ANOTHER 3 TIMES.*AK
Mileage: 102,000
MY FORD TAURUS 1991 STATION WAGON LUNGED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER BACKING UP, BRAKING, THEN STARTING TO GO FORWARD. IT WENT AGAINST A WALL, THE BRAKE DIDN'T WORK, THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS CRASHED, I HAD TO PUT IT INTO PARK TO STOP IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANY OTHER CAR SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC TESTED IT AND IT DID THIS ANOTHER 3 TIMES.*AK
Mileage: 102,000
I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY 1991 TAURUS-STATION WAGON HAD A RECALL REGARDING THE SUB-FRAME. HE SUGGESTED I CALL RIZZO-FORD IN NO. PROVIDENCE, R.I. ON MINERAL SPRING AVE. WHEN I CALLED I SPOKE TO REPRESENTATIVE RICK MARRCONTE AND HE AGREED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND HE WOULD FIX MY CAR, BRING IT IN HE SAID. A FEW DAYS LATER RICK CALLS ME BACK TO INFORM ME THAT NOT ONLY THE NUT OF THE SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED, BUT ALSO THE SUBFRAME ITSELF WAS ROTTED AND IT WOULD COST $900.00 TO FIX AND HE TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT WORTH IT. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I PLAYED PHONE TAG WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HOT LINE WHICH SEEMED LIKE FOREVER. A SHEILA INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR IF THE COMPANY AGREED TO REPAIR IT. SHE LATER EXPLAINED THEY REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR. THIS FAULT IN MY CAR ALMOST HAD ME AND MY 6 YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOLD THE WOMAN SHEILA THIS SHE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WHEN BUYING THIS CAR THAT I SHOULD HAVE CALLED TO F
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP A JERKING MOTION WAS PRODUCED. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. DEALER STATED MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. A RECALL 98V323000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Mileage: 89,000
AFTER THE RECOMMENDED 1 YEAR WAIT FOR WAXING, I DECIDED SINCE THE MILD WASHINGS WERE CONTINUING TO MAKE THE CAR DULLER I WOULD GIVE IT A SHINE. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT PAINT CONTINUED TO COME OFF WHEN DRYING REGULARLY BUT I WAS MORTIFIED WHEN I TESTED AN AREA AND IT LOOKED LIKE WATER COLORS WERE USED AS PAINT. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I HAVE CALLED FORD SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK. ON ONE OCCASION A UNDISCLOSED PERSON SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OR NO CLEAR COAT AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. SO LUCKILY THE STADIUM AUTOMALL IN RUTHERFORD IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE. THIS IS ALSO WHERE I PURCHASED IT 13 YEARS AGO. THE MAN ADMITTED IT WAS DULL AND A GOOD WAXING PROFESSIONALLY WOULD HELP. I TOLD HIM I WOULD BE TO EMBARASSED BECAUSE THE PAINT COMES OFF EVEN WHEN I DRY IT AFTER A WASHING. HE NEVER CHECKED IF THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT.I MUST POINT OUT WE ARE AVID FORD BU
AFTER THE RECOMMENDED 1 YEAR WAIT FOR WAXING, I DECIDED SINCE THE MILD WASHINGS WERE CONTINUING TO MAKE THE CAR DULLER I WOULD GIVE IT A SHINE. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT PAINT CONTINUED TO COME OFF WHEN DRYING REGULARLY BUT I WAS MORTIFIED WHEN I TESTED AN AREA AND IT LOOKED LIKE WATER COLORS WERE USED AS PAINT. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I HAVE CALLED FORD SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK. ON ONE OCCASION A UNDISCLOSED PERSON SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OR NO CLEAR COAT AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. SO LUCKILY THE STADIUM AUTOMALL IN RUTHERFORD IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE. THIS IS ALSO WHERE I PURCHASED IT 13 YEARS AGO. THE MAN ADMITTED IT WAS DULL AND A GOOD WAXING PROFESSIONALLY WOULD HELP. I TOLD HIM I WOULD BE TO EMBARASSED BECAUSE THE PAINT COMES OFF EVEN WHEN I DRY IT AFTER A WASHING. HE NEVER CHECKED IF THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT.I MUST POINT OUT WE ARE AVID FORD BU
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CHILD IS ABLE TO FREE HERSELF FROM THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. ALSO, THE LATCH ON THE HARNESS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDO ONCE IT IS CLOSED. ONE OR THE OTHER OF THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT LEASE NINE TIMES IN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS.*AK
I CAN'T POSSIBLY REMEMBER THE DATES THESE THINGS HAPPENED. I PUT A NEW (USED) TRANSMISSION AND THIS ONE IS SLIPPING. I PUT MORE BRAKE PADS AND CALIPERS THAN YOU WOULD USE IN A LIFE TIME. THE SPRINGS ARE WEAK IN THE BACK, BUT TO EXSPENSIVE TO CHANGE. I PUT A NEW FUEL PUMP AND GAS TANK. I'VE PUT A NEW EGR VALVE, OXYGEN SENSOR, THROTTLE SENSOR, AIR TEMP SENSOR. I PUT A BLINKER SWITCH AND NEW STRUTS BECAUSE MINE BROKE. 3 OUT OF 4 OF MY DOORS WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE OF THE HANDLES. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS I WROTE DOWN OR CAN REMEMBER. NOW IT WILL NOT START UNLESS I PUMP THE GAS(IT'S FUEL INJECTED) AND KEEP TURNING IT OVER AND OVER. THEN I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL START AGAIN WHEN I SHUT IT OFF. THE FUEL PUMP IS WORKING I THINK, I CAN HEAR IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND THE PERSON PUT A 1989 MOTOR INTO A 1991 BODY. THESE THINGS STILL WENT WRONG WITH THE CAR EITHER WAY. I DID NOT CHECK ANY BELOW BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO CHECK.
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.