2008 Ford Taurus X: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Sep 5, 2022 · ME

This has happened since we purchased the car. when driving down the road out of the blue the wrench light on the dash turns on and the car loses all power!! Dangerous! So dangerous. i have spoken with other foes tauras x owners and they too have the same issue. When it happens i pull over and shut the car off and wait a bit.. I turn it back on and the wrench light is off BUT CAR WONT SHIFT INTO GEAR!! it's very hard to get the shifter to move. when it does move it's a loud CLUNK CLUNk sound like u just dropped the transmission on the ground!! This is happening more often then not now. Hundreds of thousands of people who own this vehicle have complaints about the same issue. NO one can figure out the issue! Some say a sensor, yet a sensor would not make my transmission clunk like that! A lot say it's the control arm and ford has had the wrong control arm installed in all there does tauras x"s 2007 and 2009. My car has 77,609 miles on it. it's been doing this for the past 40,000 miles! I'm truely scared to drive this car aspecially in the winter!! FORD YOU already have been told and are well aware of this issue ! Fix it or get sued by tens of thousands of us all petitioning to do so and all together as a group. so buckle up Ford!

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 Feb 10, 2016 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · IL

Ongoing transmission upshift problems. Upon leaving the driveway first thing, or soon after coming to a stop and trying to accelerate again the transmission at times refuses to up shift then slams into gear at high RPM. Dealer/other mechanics have not been able to duplicate although there are 2 tsb on these 6f50 transmissions. Worse in colder months and somewhat random. Besides the cumulative damage this is doing we are worried that the transmission may fail entirely at the exact wrong time (waiting to turn left in an intersection, waiting to enter highway etc) resulting in serious injury. Researching online, this is a common problem for this transmission type ( see http://www.fordtaurus.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=15703&start=80 ) and especially the 2008 taurus x model year. The 2008 ford taurus x was a design refresh of the ford freestyle, which was later dropped by ford in 2009. Since there are fewer models on the road there are fewer datapoints--but it is a common problems amongst the owners (again please see the link). A common thread online is that any repairs at the dealer are not effective (PCM reflash tsb 08-26-13; tss, oss sensor replacement tsb 07-21-11 ) and the only fix is a $6000 transmission replacement upon total mechanical failure. Clearly, there is a engineering design flaw that is a safety issue in a critical component--the power train. Please investigate. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 22, 2014 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · KS

This vehicle was shifting incorrectly on a busy hwy ...from second to third. And slammed into gear eventually, extremely hard causing me to jerk the vehicle to the side. Took it to the dealer they supposedly fixed it. Doing the same thing took it back and they will not fix it because it will not throw a code. I got online and found several blogs about having the same issues and not throwing a code. It does all of this totally random. Several people have brought up the fact of being on a major hwy or interstate and this being extremely dangerous to them or their family. Someone will get hurt, this is an ongoing problem that dealers won't fix. Same transmission is used in several chryslers and they are having the same troubles. This is very dangerous and the dealers , warranty company, and ford keep playing the blame game and passing the buck. This can be as big as the toyato's that kept accelerating and killed a bunch of people.

Filed May 18, 2013 · Acceleration, Electrical · 98,000 miles · TX

Backing out of driveway- I noticed that steering column was not locked prior to inserting key. Inserted key, turned to start and no response from ignition. Kept turning steering column and decided to engage transmission from park to drive several times. I returned to park-ing the car and removed the key. Initially, steering column was not locked, then I turned the steering wheel several times and then the column locked. Turned the key and the ignition hesitated- the dials were jumping. After several seconds the engine turned over and dials went to normal. I commenced to back out of driveway- the engine RPM jumped, far more then what I was applying acceleration for and the transmission was hesitant ( clunking was audible). The vehicle reversed too rapidly and I applied quite a bit of brake to stop- I shifted to drive and again I could hear the transmission. The car hesitated to go forward ( transmission was clunking), jerking forward and slowing down and the engine RPM was erratic. I pulled to the side and placed car in neutral; waited a minute which during this time, the vehicle RPM went to normal. Ok, I placed gear in drive and vehicle responded normally. Have had several instances of some of the above described events happening since original occurrence. At this moment, steering column is not locked with the key removed and when turning car to start the ignition is just turning over.

Filed Dec 6, 2010 · Transmission · 6,000 miles · CT

We have been having transmission problems since we bought this car, they keep re-setting the computer so it does not show any codes now that it is out of warranty we need to purchase a new transmission on a car that is only 2 years old. The dealership says that they are not willing to help with this even though we have already purchased a new cooling system for the transmission, they have changed the throttle body and it has been in numerous times. As of friday dec 3,2010 they told me that we needed to purchase a new transmission so we told them that we wanted to have are car back after I got my car back they reset the code again when they put it back into my car. I took it to a transmission place it is not showing any codes... Ford did not fix the car they just re-set it 5,677 miles - windshield leaked they resealed 6, 000 miles - engine light came on they put in a new throttle body told us the gas cap was not on correctly 32,368 miles - sent back in because engine light came on again it was hard shifting in to 2nd. Tech verified it was shifting hard into second they re-set it and told me I had to get new tires. I purchased them 47,477 miles - sent back in because there car was smoking they found A/C/ condenser/oil cooler leaking we replaced it for over $400 58,923 we called because it was shifting hard again they could not see us for 2 1/2 weeks car is now over mileage warranty and they are stating that I need a new transmission. I came and took my car back and they put my transmission back in my car and re-set it again. I took it to a transmission place and it is not showing any codes because they re-set it. By re-setting it and not fixing it from the beginning now we are responsible for paying for a new transmission I believe that ford should pay for the new transmission because this matter was started and continued while under warranty they pushed me off until it was out of warranty. I do not feel we should be responsible for this on going problem.

Filed Sep 5, 2008 · Tires · 5,500 miles · PA

Submitted this yesterday but gave incorrect e-mail address. Clunking sound on some roads coming from tires on a 2008 ford taurus x automobile. Complained to dealer and they replaced two front pirelli p225/60r18 p6 tires made in brazil. Dealer said the tires were cupping. After about three weeks the sound is appearing again - possibly on the other two tires. Have you received any complaints from other people?

Filed Sep 4, 2008 · Tires · 5,500 miles · PA

Clunking sound on some roads coming from tires on a 2008 ford taurus x automobile. Complained to dealer and they replaced two pirelli p225/60r18 p6 tires made in brazil. Dealer said the tires were cupping. After about three weeks the sound is appearing again - possibly on the other two tires. Have you received any complaints from other people.