2008 Ford Taurus X: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 20, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · FL

I bought this vehicle used from a lot. It had 2 previous owners and came with all the service history. I first noticed the vehicle seemed like it didn’t want to go into overdrive . It would get to about 70 mph which would have the rpm’s at 3k! The 2nd time or so that we got it to these speeds (on interstate) the vehicle suddenly clunked , steering wheel jerked , vehicle lost power - I had my 2 children in the vehicle and I was pregnant. We had to pull over immediately . After sitting side the road for a few , it crunk up and we rode out . Only for it to happen 2 more times. And this is not the only thing effected by this . Not long after I got it , I started noticing a hard shift / clunk / slam when going into gear and especially when the vehicle has just tried to downshift and I pressed the gas again . Due to this , I’m unable to tell when and if we can pull out into traffic and such. I must time it good in order to not risk getting T boned etc. Also, with 3 kids in tow , a vehicle slamming their necks and heads is dangerous and scary. So , I’ve had some work done on . Trying to help my issue. Apparently my issue is the same as a lot of others . Which is an intermittent issue . And apparently no matter if all the passed recalls were addressed. Or if the owners of the vehicle serviced it often and currant . Or if the pcm was reflashed , replaced etc - the Ford Taurus X will continue to have these issues . And these issues seem to be the same issues that were addressed in the ford recall in 2020 ( which didn’t include the Taurus X) and previous recalls . This drivertrain transmission has been an issue for the Taurus X since forever . Please check into this. Last thing we need is whiplash or life flights from this .

Filed Oct 4, 2017 · Acceleration, Engine · 57,945 miles · IN

The ford taurus x has 57,945 miles on it. Two times while driving the vehicle on the interstate highway the dash showed all zeros and the car lost power. The check engine light came on. The car exhibited slow acceleration and unusual shifting. I took it and had the obd code read. The code indicated that it was a speed sensor in the transmission (p720). The code was reset and the car is currently being driven. It happened twice within a two-week period. I own two 2008 ford taurus and it happened on the same day to both of them. I will be filing incident information on the other vehicle too.

Filed Mar 8, 2016 · Engine · 166,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus x. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated as the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ignition coils on cylinders 3 and 5 had melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure recurred and the vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ignition coils on cylinders 3 and 5 had melted yet again and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to a dealer but had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,000.

Filed Aug 27, 2015 · Steering · 116,804 miles · OH

Experienced intermittent "shudder" in steering system when cornering and/or maneuvering into parking spaces; this condition progressively got worse and finally, there was a sudden total loss of power assist to the steering system almost resulting in loss of control of the vehicle. Noticed large puddle of atf/power steering fluid under vehicle when parked. Upon inspection, discovered that power steering reservoir was empty and the steering rack housing had leaking seal where main steering shaft entered housing leading to catastrophic failure of the steering rack assembly. This is the second time the steering rack catastrophically failed on this vehicle (see: the federal safety agency id number: 10468922; date complaint filed: 08/02/2012; date of incident: 07/30/2012; component(s): steering). Brought vehicle in to ford dealer (brondes ford, maumee, oh) for service. Entire steering rack assembly was replaced again at a cost exceeding $1,000. Ford should be required to recall this vehicle for steering rack due to the numbers of complaints on the federal safety agency site alone due to the very nature of this failure - anything steering/suspension/brake-related should be subject for immediate consideration for recall. Ft

Filed Jun 10, 2015 · Steering · 84,600 miles · WV

When trying to make a ninety degree turn right or left into a parking space or pulling out while making a turn, I lose power steering and only have manual steering. I almost hit a car or the corner of the road/building as using all my strength, I cannot make a sharp turn. I have to back up and make wide turns. I am not driving this car much as afraid I will lose steering at a higher speed. It has become very difficult to pull into a parking lot to park at slow speeds as I completely lose the power assisted power steering and I have trouble steering in manual mode--can barely turn the wheel using all my strength at 1 mile per hour. I learned that ford has recalled thousands of cars for this recently and online blogs show there have been complaints about the power steering for this model.

Filed Feb 22, 2015 · Transmission · 160,000 miles · PA

We bought our taurus x used in 2013. Drove around fine for a month or two, would notice that occasionally it would buck as it shifted from 2-3 or 3-4; then would drive 'funny' until the car was shut off and then started back up; the speedometer would fluctuate and when accelerating the speedometer would drop even as we were increasing speed. If using cruise control on the highway it would go exceedingly fast as a result. This happened off and on for most of a year, we would just shut the car off and turn it back on and would be good to go. Could not recreate it, but would happen at least once a week. Last fall, the transmission finally cooked as a result. Now the car will only drive in reverse and 1st, when it shifts into 2nd, it loses power like the gear won't fully engage. Almost got smacked at a red light when this first occurred, since I was halfway through the intersection and lost power. Mechanic drained and flushed the tranny, he said the fluid was cooked. He tried an additive, but it was ineffective. Needs a new tranny. Been sitting since then, a replacement tranny with labor is at least 5k, and the car is only worth about that in perfect condition.

Filed Oct 13, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · TX

I have a 2008 ford taurus x , it jerks intermittently, but there is never a specific speed - it jerks at take off, at low speeds, high speeds, there were 2 incidents and it was just for a moment that the vehicle seemed to have lost power no brake, no gas, no steering and I almost went out into traffic ( I was coming out of a parking lot). I called the dealer I bought it from because I thought it was the brakes and took it in they checked the brakes and found nothing wrong. The second "loss" of power was again in a parking lot at an incline I started rolling back and a couple of jerks the vehicle regained power, the check engine light would never come one, as the jerking kept happening and the 2 incidents of loss of power, I took it to a ford dealer and they said they will charge me $100 but if the check engine light is has not on, they will not find anything because the computer records mishaps and will indicate a record by lighting up. Then my transmission clutch fell apart and had to have that replaced on 9/22/14. I thought that must have been the issue with the jerking but was going out of town yesterday 10/12/14 and accelerated to pass an 18 wheeler and my vehicle jerked really hard and continue a couple more times after that. I had to drive 65mph on a 75 MPH, and not accelerate to much to fast.

Filed Nov 6, 2013 · Steering · 64,262 miles · MD

I was backing out of a parking space when I lost all power steering. Turning the wheel made a grinding noise and on the drive to the mechanic's garage some power came back, but it was much easier to turn left than right. My mechanic reported that he found a tsb from ford on this issue detailing the exact problem I had and how to fix it (replace rack and pinion unit, replace steering pump, power steering fluid exchange - cost approx. $1600) ford is aware of this problem. This is a safety issue. These vehicles should be investigated.

Filed Mar 9, 2013 · Acceleration, Transmission · 18,811 miles · FL

Harsh transmission engagement and loss of power with higher RPM and a max speed of about 20 MPH- replaced speed sensors tss & oss . Same problem occurred again 11,518 miles later replacing the same parts which ford or dealer would not cover at a cost of $593.00. Tsb 07-21-11 replacing with parts aa5z-7h103 and aa5z-7m101 on both occasions of failure. Had to limp home both times for many miles. Wife now refuses to drive car. I can't believe ford doesn't stand behind a problem like this when it has a tsb and a multitude of the same reported problem.

Filed May 13, 2012 · Acceleration, Body · 36,000 miles · PA

I have had nothing but problems with this car since I purchased it in 2010 with 32,000 miles on it. I purchased it in april and by the end of the first summer of driving it began to lose all power when driving slowly I would not be able turn the wheel or anything. Luckily all times it happened I was in a parking lot or at a stop sign. Ford said it needed a computer update which was not covered under the warranty. I paid 66.00 for the update, it did not work my car still lose power sometimes when coasting. My car also accelerates without warning. This is very scary because this is my main vehicle and I have two small children. Ford says there they haven't witnessed the issue while driving it so they can't find the problem. Also with in that first year of owning this car my wrench light came on and remained on took it to the dealer and it now needed the throttle body replaced. It was still under warranty so I "only" needed to pay the 100.00 deductible. I did and it was replaced. Sometimes the car will also unexpectedly grind to a halt. No idea what that is but it doesn??t happen frequently enough for them to witness it so they can't find the problem. To add to the list the passenger door is not sealed correctly and whenever it rains the inside of the door becomes filled with water, but that??s not covered under warranty at all. And finally the paint on the hood is bubbling and chipping. The car is four years old now and no longer under the factory warranty so they won't cover it. I feel completely taken advantage of and I have no idea where to turn or what to do but I feel this car will not last the length of the loan. And I feel very unsafe driving my children in this vehicle. It makes me sick. I will never ever buy another ford. Ford should step up and take responsibility before someone gets seriously injured.

Filed Feb 9, 2012 · Acceleration, Electrical · 50,506 miles · VT

The vehicle was traveling at 70 MPH with cruise control on, in heavy traffic. I tapped the brake pedal to release the cruise control and the vehicle lost all electrical power and stalled in the right hand lane of the interstate. Several commercial vehicles had to make a sudden stop to avoid a collision. The vehicle had to be pushed off the interstate. The local ford dealership performed a standard computer diagnostic test and informed us that the computer was unable to locate a reason for this complete loss of power. We contacted the ford customer service division and were advised to continue operating the vehicle until the problem recurred. In the event of another loss of power we were advised to have the vehicle towed to a dealership so the problem could be investigated.

Filed Jan 15, 2012 · Transmission · 35,000 miles · TN

We initially had issues at 35k miles with the transmission making loud noises and suddenly jerking while accelerating from a stop. Took the car to the dealership and they said they couldn't figure out what the problem was but since we reported it prior to the expiration of the warranty we would be covered if it continued to have problems. In september 2011 the problem was finally bad enough that it tripped the computer and they said that they just needed to replace the sensors (oss and tss), and that it would be a $600 repair. I reminded them that we brought it in for the repair prior to the expiration of the warranty and they eventually agreed to make the repair for a $200 deductible. A month later the transmission went out completely while driving down a narrow road at approximately 35mph. The car lost power but we were eventually able to limp home at 5mph. I agreed and they made the repair. At this point all of the jerking from the bad sensors had destroyed several gears in the transmission and necessitated a complete rebuild ($3900). If they had fixed the problem in the first place the transmission would never have been damaged from trying to shift at the wrong times due to the bad sensors! There were safety concerns throughout the life of this vehicle as is jerked, jumped, and ultimately failed in a completely unpredictable fashion.rebuild ($3900). If they had fixed the problem in the first place the transmission would never have been damaged from trying to shift at the wrong times due to the bad sensors! There were safety concerns throughout the life of this vehicle as is jerked, jumped, and ultimately failed in a completely unpredictable fashion.