2008 Ford Taurus X

Typical pattern

7.2% of complaints about the 2008 Ford Taurus X came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (42 complaints), typically at 5.8 yr or about 71,750 miles.

Complaints: 208
Median age at failure: 5.7 yr
Median mileage: 60,808 n=187
Crash / fire / tow: 7.7% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

16V247000 2016-04-26

Air bags:frontal

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Structure 7,428 mi 1 mo in service

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY TO THE LEFT OF THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN HE ATTEMPTS TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE PARKING BRAKE, IT IS EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY PRESS THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD OPENS. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,428. UPDATED 03-18-08 *BF UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR

Structure 56,000 mi 2.2 yr in service

I HAVE PURCHASED A 2008 FORD TAURUS X VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY LEAKS WATER. THE INTERIOR SMELLS OF MOLD AND MILDEW AND THE CARPET AREA ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER AREAS ARE SOAKED WHEN IT RAINS. ALSO OF NOTE ON A DIFFERENT INSTANCE THE WATER SOAKED THE HEADLINER AREA AS WELL. *TR

Structure 10,000 mi 4.1 yr in service

2008 FORD TAURUS X HAS A DEFECT IN THE HOOD AS FOLLOWS: THE HOOD HAS CORROSION BECAUSE THE ALUMINUM HOOD IS REACTING TO THE STEEL INSERTS THAT ARE BETWEEN THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE LAYERS OF THE HOOD. IT IS CALLED GALVANIC CORROSION AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY FORD SINCE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 10,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 17,000 MILES AND FORD HAS REJECTED THE CLAIM BECAUSE IT IS PAST THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. FORD STATES IT WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. *TR

Power train 190 mi 9 mo in service

THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE IN DRIVE IF STOPPED ON AN INCLINE AND FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE, IT ROLLS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. *TR

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2008 Ford Taurus X

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

How to read this