1986 Ford Taurus Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on aged body and driveline hardware: rear subframe and engine mounts that weaken with corrosion, transmissions that slip or fail outright, and no-start or stall conditions traced to electrical parts. Many reports come from cars well past 100,000 miles, so the pattern reads more like long-term wear and corrosion than a single new-vehicle fault.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Rear subframe / body mounts fail and the driveline drops

   • 10 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 13.0 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe a loud bang followed by the engine and transaxle sagging, after which the steering linkage binds or steering authority is lost. Some say a bump or driveway turn triggered it, and others found heavy corrosion at the rear lower mounts. Where a recall was mentioned, owners reported the dealer either repaired it or said the vehicle was not covered. Reports cluster on high-mileage cars, often in states where road salt is used heavily.

   Recall 98V323000Recall 93V106000

   What to check: Ask whether the subframe mount recall work was completed and have the rear lower mounts inspected for corrosion and cracking before driving the car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front sub-frame mounts failure, barley avioded numerous head on collisions in wet conditions, front tension arm metal bushings failed, causing darting accross center line. Massive tire wear, repairs shops overlooked condition, although were alerted and told to find and repair. I have a long list of safety hasards associated with this vehicle, as my mileage is approaching 330,000.0 miles. I know the vehicle very well & would like to add more in a letter. Ford motor company refuses to repair the front sub frame mounts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #705352, filed 1999-04

   “Rear cradle bolts broke, and let the engine and transmission come down. Locked the steering linkage. Steering cabability was lost. Driving at 25mph, managed to stop the vehicle. Dealer was contacted and was aware of the problem, can repair vehicle for only a small fee.”

   NHTSA complaint #829618, filed 1998-10
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine mounts break or loosen, causing clunks and stalling

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 13.2 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1999

   Complaints describe clunking noises, engine shake under acceleration, and the engine lifting or moving when the wheel is turned. Some owners say the car stalls without warning and that a shop found mounts on the way out. Several note the mount recall covered only certain states and asked about reimbursement or coverage. Reported on older, high-mileage cars, with several complaints filed in the late 1990s.

   Recall 98V323000Recall 93V106000

   What to check: Have a mechanic check all engine and transaxle mounts for separation, and confirm whether the mount campaign was ever performed on this car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine mounts needed replaced in december of 1998. We know of other Taurus owners in our area that have had the same problem. In march of 1999 we found out that these are being recalled mostly on the east coast. We feel that we should be reimbursed the $400.00 as well, since the problem is obviously happening on the west coast too.”

   NHTSA complaint #703980, filed 1999-03

   “Transmission gears would stick. The motor would lift in the air. Would hear loud noises whenever turning steering wheel. Took to repair shop & was informed motor mounts were bad & were about to fall off. They would need replacing. Also informed the stabilizer sway bar was going bad.”

   NHTSA complaint #836968, filed 1999-04
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and dash wiring overheat or burn

   • 11 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 11.1 yrs old
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2002

   Complaints describe melted ignition switch contacts and connectors, discoloration from heat, and in some cases fire starting under the passenger-side dash and spreading toward the hood. Other owners report alternator failure that drained the battery, and smoke from the interior after the engine shut down. Several say the car was not included in the ignition switch recall. Reports are spread across the 1990s with no clear mileage pattern in the sample.

   What to check: Inspect the ignition switch and its connector for melting or browning, and ask whether the switch or column wiring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ingintion switch is burned out at 2 contact points and connector switch melted, rest of the system is discolored from being exposed to extreme heat. Owner suspects that a fire could occur shortly. Ths car was not considered for ignition recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #804740, filed 1996-11

   “4th failure/burn of ignition box in steering column. Nhtsa recalled 1988 and newer vehicles, but this is my 4th burn. Ford refuses assistance because parts are not recalled, only cars, and this car was not included in the original recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #709211, filed 1999-07
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Stalls or dies when warm, sometimes with overheating

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 12.1 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners report the engine shutting off at stops or while pulling away, sometimes restarting only after a wait and sometimes not at all. Some link it to heat, noting the car cuts out when the engine is warm or the outside temperature is high, and a few also mention the temperature gauge climbing and reduced brake assist. Complaints say dealers and independent shops could not reproduce or identify the cause. Mostly described on older cars in warm weather or once the engine reaches operating temperature.

   What to check: Drive the car until fully warm and let it idle in traffic; ask whether the fuel pump relay, coolant fan switch or ignition components have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When vehicle gets warm it will shut off when vehicle is at a light or when stopping. The vehicle had stall several times and the cause was not found by the dealer. The consumer was very much concerned about the danger of the vehicle stalling while traveling in traffic.”

   NHTSA complaint #877109, filed 2000-12

   “Intermittent problem with vehicle stalling while driving. Vehicle would restart within 20 minutes or more. Vehicle been to dealer and independent repairs shop on several occasions, and they were unable to duplicate the problem. Feel free to provide any further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #872879, filed 2000-10
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips, sticks or drops out of gear

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 12.6 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners report the transaxle jumping from drive into a lower gear or cutting out entirely while driving, and in some cases a rebuilt unit that then would not go above low speed. Noise and shuddering accompany several accounts. Complaints also mention a Ford bulletin listing this transaxle family as having known issues, and owners say the dealer or Ford did not act on their requests. Appears across older, higher-mileage cars; complaints were filed from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s.

   What to check: Test drive from a cold start through several upshifts and ask for service records showing whether the transaxle was rebuilt, and when.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission has been rebuilt, and without prior warning vehicle is cutting off/stalling and vibrating. Vehicle won't go over 20 MPH and there is a kicking sound coming from the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #834210, filed 1999-01

Buying note. On a car this old, the structural mounts and the transaxle matter more than anything else, so budget for a pre-purchase inspection that includes the subframe mounts and a full warm test drive. Service records showing mount, transmission and ignition switch work are worth more than low mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 41 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.