The Lemon Index2008 Ford Taurus.
The 2008 Ford Taurus is better than average by owner complaints: 45 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 84, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 1 recall, and it gets 18 to 22 mpg combined. The best Ford Taurus year is 2004.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 175 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Ford Taurus year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 35K to 108K miles on the car (162 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 35K–109K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 35K–81K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 28K–101K miles
Recalls 1
- airbags 2016
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 17 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- 6f50 transaxles built prior to 1/1/07 - dtc p0715, p0717, p0718, p0720, and/or harsh…
- Ford/mercury/lincoln: some vehicles equipped with a 6f50 transaxle , with any output shaft…
- 6f50 transaxle equipped vehicles when stopped on a hill in drive or reverse without service…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedTire valve cracking2008–2009
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Failed steering. Repair required complete replacement of the power steering rack assembly.
2008 Ford Taurus owner · NHTSA complaint 10412248
More owner reports
2008 Ford Taurus. Steering failure while making a right turn.
NHTSA complaint 10420273
2008 Ford Taurus. Consumer states steering gear rack and pinion locked up.
NHTSA complaint 10428639
Quick answers
Is the 2008 Ford Taurus reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 84; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Taurus year by this measure since 2010 is 2018.
What are the most common 2008 Ford Taurus problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (29%), transmission & drivetrain (24%) and engine (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Taurus have?
1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Ford Taurus get?
18 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Ford Taurus problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 35,500 and 108,200 miles. The middle report was at 65,400 miles, from 162 complaints.
Does the 2008 Ford Taurus have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 24% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2008 Ford Taurus cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Ford Taurus have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Taurus year is better than the 2008?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works