1990 Ford Taurus recalls
Structure · NHTSA 98V323000 · Dec 16, 1998
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…
Risk: If both rear corners drop, steering would become suddenly very difficult, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.
2,697,000 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Suspension · NHTSA 94E036000 · Nov 25, 1994
Problem: The arc welds on the sway bar bracket, where it attaches to the strut reserve tube, did not fuse properly.
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.
Fix: Monroe dealers will replace the strut free of charge.
98,000 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Seat Belts · NHTSA 92V113000 · Aug 17, 1992
Problem: The rigid mounted safety belt buckles are defective in three ways. First, a fastened safety belt buckle will not unlatch when the release button is depressed. This results from interference between the buckle ejector finger and the buckle tongue window. The second defect is the safety belt buckle may not latch. The third possible defect is that the tongue may be retained by the buckle, but it may not be latched…
Risk: An insufficiently latched or unlatched safety beltincreases the risk of injury to seat occupants in the event of a sudden stop oraccident. If the safety belt buckle will not unlatch, it will not allow theoccupant to get out of the vehicle in an emergency situation.
Fix: Ford will replace the rigid mounted safety belt buckles with end release safety belt buckles designed to prevent latch problems.
565,000 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Wheels · NHTSA 92V065000 · May 11, 1992
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.
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.
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.
654,000 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
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.
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…
Fix: Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.
325,000 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Air Bags · NHTSA 90E043001 · Oct 30, 1990
Problem: Threaded inflator components may have been damaged during assembly which may allow components to separate when inflator receives a signal to deploy the air bag.
Risk: Inflator component separation allows hot combustion gases to escape into the passenger compartment which could result in injuries to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Replace air bag modules containing potentially defective inflators.
172,000 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Wheels · NHTSA 90V159000 · Aug 28, 1990
Problem: Wheels may contain cracks that could propogate in raised portion of wheel center.
Risk: Under severe duty, this could result in eventualseparation of wheel rim from center with loss of control and possibly acollision.
Fix: Replace wheels with wheels of a revised design.
1,212 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Problem: An incorrect transistor may cause autolamp system light sensor module malfunction.
Risk: Headlamps could turn off while vehicle is being driven orremain on after vehicle is parked. Loss of headlights while driving at nightcould be hazardous to the driver and other trafific.
Fix: Replace light sensor modules.
2,900 units potentially affected · Full recall details →
Latest owner complaints
Structure · Dec 14, 2009 · 70,000 miles · MI
How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine NHTSA recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What do I do to get some action on these issues???? *tr
Electrical System · Dec 14, 2009 · 70,000 miles · MI
How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine NHTSA recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What do I do to get some action on these issues???? *tr
Air Bags · Dec 14, 2009 · 70,000 miles · MI
How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine NHTSA recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What do I do to get some action on these issues???? *tr
Seat Belts · Dec 14, 2009 · 70,000 miles · MI
How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine NHTSA recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # NHTSA 90E043001; NHTSA 98V323000; NHTSA 93V106002; NHTSA 91V34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What do I do to get some action on these issues???? *tr
Structure · Jul 22, 2009 · MO
Tl*the contact owns a 1990 ford taurus. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise underneath the vehicle. Suddenly, the steering wheel locked up. The driver experienced extreme difficulty steering the vehicle, which resulted in greater effort to turn the steering wheel. The driver pulled into a parking lot and roadside assistance towed the vehicle to…
Air Bags · Apr 6, 2009 · TX · 1 injured
Tl*the contact owns a 1990 ford taurus. While driving less than 30 MPH, the front driver's side air bag deployed without warning or a crash occurring. The contact sustained injuries to her arms, lacerations on her face and arms, and a large burn on her lip. The manufacturer sent an inspector to investigate the air bag failure. The failure and current mileages were unknown.…
Electrical System · Aug 7, 2008 · NJ · fire
I had a loose ignition on my 1990 ford taurus in which I could remove my key while it was still running I had this changed while I was having other work done on the car and less then a week later I had a very expensive paperweight because after they placed a new ignition into my car it caught fire while I was driving it burning out all the wiring and destroying the wires…
Air Bags · Jul 28, 2006 · WA
Check engine lights came on stayed on. Air bag light came on flashes 9 times pauses and then flashes 9 times repeats. Cruise control stops working. *jb
Seat Belts · May 31, 2005 · 83,000 miles · FL
The belts were replaced due to recall campaign# 92V113000 at 88K miles. At 120K miles, the driver side latch mechanism became stiff, then the outer sleeve had come apart. The sleeve was placed back into place and the belt was back functioning properly. *ak *sc *jb
Vehicle Speed Control · Feb 28, 2005 · 110,000 miles · PA · crash
Owner was driving and pulled out of a parking lot at approximately 5 MPH, applied the brakes, and the vehicle continued to accelerate. Owner had to avoid several possible accidents by putting the vehicle in park in order to get the vehicle to stop. However, owner's vehicle did hit another vehicle. Owner contacted the manufacturer, and was informed that there were no recalls…
Structure · Jan 4, 2005 · WI
Whole back end of car failed and had to have it all replaced. The bolts broke causing the rest of the back end to totally fail and brake. Had to have it all replaced including the bolts, rear suspension linkage, both shocks, and rear axle. We paid out of our own pocket for this to tune of 800. And now to do all of this the car is now acting like it is either having problems…
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Sep 24, 2004 · 240,000 miles · PA · crash
Vehicle was involved in a collision due to loss of brake fluid from the left front brake valve. Manufacturer was contacted.*ak
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1990 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls covering the 1990 Ford Taurus, the most recent one (98V323000) for structure. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Ford Taurus?
Based on 381 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most reported areas are engine and engine cooling (91), structure (70), steering (57).
Have there been crashes or injuries linked to the 1990 Ford Taurus?
Owners reported 29 crashes, 25 fires, 28 injuries and 0 deaths in complaints to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports, not findings of fault.
Is NHTSA investigating the 1990 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has opened 15 defect investigations that include this vehicle, most recently DP96014: Defective air bag crash sensor.