YearToAvoid

2008 Ford Taurus Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#8 most-complained of 15 Taurus years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Ford Taurus has 175 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #8 highest of 15 Taurus model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (56 complaints, 32% of the total). Complaints report 19 crashes, 7 fires, and 13 injuries.

Complaints
175
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
19 / 7
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2008 Ford Taurus problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine56 (32%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain44 (25%)
  3. Steering35 (20%)
  4. Brakes18 (10%)
  5. Electrical System17 (10%)
  6. Airbags15 (9%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (6%)
  8. Other9 (5%)
  9. Fuel System8 (5%)
  10. Structure & Body8 (5%)
2008 Ford Taurus complaints: complaints filed per quarter122007 Q42010 Q22012 Q22014 Q22016 Q22018 Q22020 Q32026 Q1
226 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q4 to 2026 Q1; peak 2015 Q4 (12).

2008 Ford Taurus recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V247000Apr 26, 2016Airbags695 vehicles

    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."

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

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

2008 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Taurus years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Caution64318220
2007Good36149020
2008Caution50175120.5
2009Good4364020
2010Avoid86204320.5

All Ford Taurus years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Ford Taurus a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Ford Taurus ranks #8 of 15 among Taurus model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 175 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Taurus?
The most reported problem areas are engine (56 complaints), transmission & powertrain (44 complaints), and steering (35 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 65,406 miles.
Does the 2008 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Ford Taurus, most recently reported 2016, covering airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Ford Taurus?
EPA rates the 2008 Ford Taurus at 20.5 MPG combined (17.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.