1988 Ford Taurus vs 1989 Ford Taurus
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Ford Taurus | 1989 Ford Taurus |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 333 | 562 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 54 | 54 |
| Investigations | 8 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 17 |
| Fire reports | 51 | 86 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–24 | 19–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Taurus | Ford Taurus |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 94 | 118 |
| Seat Belts | 33 | 142 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 67 | 97 |
| Structure | 51 | 66 |
| Power Train | 37 | 52 |
| Steering | 26 | 53 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 34 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 15 | 26 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 27 | 25 |
| Stalling | 24 | 33 |
| Electrical failures | 23 | 21 |
| Steering problems | 7 | 0 |
| Overheating | 7 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 5 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 6 |
1988 Ford Taurus
1989 Ford Taurus
Compare all Ford Taurus vs Ford Taurus years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.