- The problem
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virgnia, and wisconsin. The rear lower subframe mount plate nut can experience stress corrosion cracking if subjected to long term exposure to road salts. This can result in fracture and loss of the structural integrity of the subframe mount attachment. Detachment of the body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, allows the rear corners of the subframe to drop.
- The risk
- If both rear corners drop, steering would become suddenly very difficult, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.
Vehicle safety record
1988 Ford Taurus Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1988 Ford Taurus have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 6 recalls, the latest in December 1998 for the frame and members.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Taurus year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1988 Ford Taurus recalls 6
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- The arc welds on the sway bar bracket, where it attaches to the strut reserve tube, did not fuse properly.
- The risk
- Over time, a portion of the bracket can tear away from the strut, falling into and puncturing the tire or causing damage to the wheel, which could result in an accident.
- The fix
- Monroe dealers will replace the strut free of charge.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: taurus and sables built from 10-14-85 through 8-19-88, and lincoln continentals built from 11-4-87 through 9-30-88 (except 1989 - 1991 2.5L taurus and 1989 - 1992 sho). The affected cars were originally sold or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, illinois, indiana, maine, massachusetts, michigan, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, and wisconsin. The body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, may become detached due to corrosion of the subframe mount retaining plate. This would allow the rear corners of the subframe to drop.
- The risk
- If one of the rear corners drops, only minor indications of a malfunction such as a clunking noise or slight change in steering wheel alignment are noticeable. However, if both rear corners of the subframe drop, steering becomes very difficult, which could adversely affect vehicle control and possibly result in an accident.
- The fix
- Install a corrosion-resistant reinforcing plate and a new bolt on both rear subframe mounts. This recall campaign has been superseded by recall 98v-323.
- The problem
- Children can accidentally lock themselves in the footwell area of the rear-facing third seat, or in the storage compartment in station wagons not equipped with an optional third seat. Once the compartment is closed it cannot be opened from the inside.
- The risk
- There is a danger of air deprivation, hyperthermia,and/or panic response to a child who has locked himself or herself into thecompartment, with the possibility of asphyxiation.
- The fix
- Replace the self-latching assembly currently used in the rear storage compartment with a latch assembly that can only be closed with a key.
- The problem
- Front disc brake rotors of the subject vehicles may experience severe corrosion if operated in areas where calcium chloride and sodium chloride are used extensively.
- The risk
- Severely corroded rotors may fracture or separate nearthe inner edges of the brake discs resulting in reduced braking effectiveness,higher than normal pedal efforts, loud grinding noises, and moderate pulls whenthe brakes are applied. Reduced braking effectiveness may increase minimumstopping distances, possibly resulting in an accident.
- The fix
- Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.
- The problem
- The power seat switch wiring is routed over rather than under the front seat support brace, allowing damage by seat cushion spring ends when seat is occupied.
- The risk
- Power seat switch wiring insulation may become abraded,or punctured, and an electrical short could occur that could result in a firein the seat cushion material.
- The fix
- Revise routing of power seat wiring to prevent damage from seat cushion spring contact.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1988 Ford Taurus yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Ford Taurus: every year compared
All Taurus years1988 Ford Taurus vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Ford Taurus | 0 | 6 | C | |
| 1988 Ford Aerostar | 178 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 1988 Ford Bronco | 53 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1988 Ford Bronco II | 45 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1988 Ford B Series | 1 | 1 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1988 Ford Taurus
Does the 1988 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 1988 Ford Taurus: frame and members (December 1998); shock ABSorber (November 1994); frame and members (June 1993); wheels (May 1992) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1988 Ford Taurus had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1988 Ford Taurus a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 43 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Ford Taurus year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 1988 Ford Taurus has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data