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1991 Ford Taurus problems

The most common problem on the 1991 Ford Taurus is transmission and drivetrain, typically around 102,000 miles. It has 3.2 times the complaints of a typical Taurus model year.

Typical year3.2x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
647
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
71
Worst area
Transmission
Fuel economy
18-21mpg

The worst 1991 Ford Taurus problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1991 Ford Taurus

Transmission failure 82Ball joint 37Power steering loss 20Airbag light 19Stalling 19Slipping 17No deployment 13Jerking 12Fire or smoke 10Loss of power 9Overheating 9Hesitation 8Sudden acceleration 7Wipers 7ABS 6Door locks 6Fuel pump 6Won't start 5

Recalls 4

Structure: frame and membersReported December 16, 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
If both rear corners drop, steering would become suddenly very difficult, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.

Recall number 98V323000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed controlReported February 26, 1997 · 212,700 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with 3.8l engines and originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, iowa, idaho, illinois, indiana, kansas, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, north dakota, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. Water can accumulate within the speed control cable conduit. If enough water accumulates, it could freeze within a low area of the cable routing when exposed to a long term cold soak at temperatures at least several degrees below freezing.
Risk
Driver control of vehicle speed using the speed control system or the accelerator control system would be diminished increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Dealers will add a boot to the speed control cable.

Recall number 97V025000 · Recall details

WheelsReported May 11, 1992 · 654,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Remedy
Replace the self-latching assembly currently used in the rear storage compartment with a latch assembly that can only be closed with a key.

Recall number 92V065000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotorReported August 6, 1991 · 325,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 distances, possibly resulting in an accident.
Remedy
Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.

Recall number 91V134000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 1991 Ford Taurus

Defect investigations

Audio system firesOpened May 4, 1998, closed May 8, 1998

See resume for details.

SQ98008

Defective air bag crash sensorOpened November 14, 1996, still open

Cfas sent a follow-up letter on december 12, 1996, to change the intent of the petition to airbag aggressivity and deployment variability.the federal safety agency received the letter on 12/12/96; accordingly, the petition due day was changed to april 12, 1997.cfas petitioned the agency to conduct an investigation to determine whether the airbag crash sensor and/or deployment systems for the 1991-92 chevrolet corsica/beretta, 1990-92 ford taurus, and 1994-96 chrysler minivans are defective.cfas allege that information on low speed crashes here occupants have suffered fatal injuries suggests [that the above vehicles] have defective airbag crash sensor and/or deployment systems.

DP96014

Engine cooling fan firesOpened September 30, 1996, closed April 15, 1997

There is no summary currently available

EA96024

Engine cooling fan firesOpened May 2, 1996, closed September 30, 1996

In december 1995, ford recalled 119,313 vehicles in canada to remedy the subject condition in certain 1992-95 taurus, sable, tempo, topaz and continental vehicles.ford is aware of similar incidents occurring in northern regions of the united states, but maintains that the frequencies do not warrant a finding of an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.

PE96033

Alleged defective tie rodsOpened August 8, 1995, closed August 30, 1995

Alleged defective tie rods

DP95004

Broken tie rodsOpened February 16, 1994, closed February 27, 1995

There is no summary currently available

EA94008

Polycast road wheel cracksOpened December 2, 1993, closed June 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

PE93100

Failure of wheel studsOpened July 27, 1993, closed November 22, 1993

There is no summary currently available

PE93070

Underbody fuel line failsOpened July 15, 1993, closed November 30, 1993

There is no summary currently available

PE93065

Broken tie rodsOpened June 15, 1993, closed February 16, 1994

There is no summary currently available

PE93058

Sub-frm/unibody absor.failOpened November 30, 1992, closed June 30, 1993

There is no summary currently available

EA92040

Storage compar suffocationOpened October 28, 1991, closed May 21, 1992

===

EA91042

Anti-lock brakesOpened September 24, 1991, closed January 30, 1992

Anti-lock brakes

DP91013

Storage compar suffocationOpened August 1, 1991, closed October 28, 1991

There is no summary currently available

PE91108

Technical service bulletins for the 1991 Ford Taurus 71

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 71 bulletins for the 1991 Ford Taurus

1991 Ford Taurus fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.0L 6‑cylFWD182621
3.8L 6‑cylFWD1623-2618-19

What 1991 Ford Taurus owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 28, 2012 · Acceleration, Brakes · 89,163 miles · TX · crash

My 1991 non sho ford taurus was parked in the driveway for 1 day. I walked out to my car in the early morning to take it to work. I put the key into the ignition and shifted the car into reverse. It was at this moment, that the car accelerated and I ended up going in reverse down the street without brakes at a very rapid speed. I came to a jarring stop after I impacted a car that was parked on the street. Brakes were squishy and non-functioning. The car was unable to stop by mechanical means. The car accelerated to 45 miles an hour. The car is now totaled and is visually completely wrecked. I experienced whiplash and if the car was not in the street that morning, I would have smashed into a house, possibly killing someone or myself in the process. I have photos of the damage if anyone is interested.

Filed Oct 15, 2010 · Airbags · SC

1991 ford taurus. Consumer writes regarding a recall on the airbag module *tgw the consumer stated the air bag module failed for the second time.

Filed Oct 13, 2010 · Transmission · 69,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 1991 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stopped moving forward and would not shift into reverse gear. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The vehicle had not inspected or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 69,000.

Filed May 11, 2010 · Steering · 148,000 miles · NH · fire

A power steering fluid leak near the rack resulted in a fire, which destroyed the vehicle, after about 30 minutes of highway driving.

Filed Mar 24, 2010 · Transmission · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 1991 ford taurus. While driving an approximate speed of 35 MPH, the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where the independent mechanic replaced the radiator, battery, motor and transmission mounts. The contact confirmed that the vehicle was repaired previously under the federal safety agency campaign id numbers: 98v323000 (structure: frame and members) and 91v134000 (service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor) yet did not correct the failure. The dealer made repairs a second time and the manufacturer was notified to report the failures. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 102,000.

Filed Mar 9, 2010 · Acceleration · 25,480 miles · FL · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 1991 ford taurus. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed that the bumper was partially out of the garage. He drove approximately 1 MPH, to clear the garage door did not touch accelerator pedal, and the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a wall. The vehicle has not been repaired; however, there was $5,000 in damages to vehicle. There were no injuries. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 25,480.

Filed Nov 12, 2007 · Visibility · 138,000 miles · GA

The blower motor in my 1991 ford taurus is starting to go out. This problem has been happening for the last week and a half. I will turn the heat on high in the mornings to warm up the car an within a 10-15 minute time frame - the motor will either stop blowing completely or barely blow. I understand there is an existing recall under 03v087000 and complaint number 10184014. As I understand this is a common problem for ford vehicles and needs to be addressed immediately.

Filed Aug 15, 2005 · Body · 125,000 miles · NE

I was advised by a mechanic recently that my vehicle was unsafe. He showed me the rear subframe bolt that was deteriorated to about half of its original size and that the subframe was rusted heavily and cracked completely through. This was after the recall was done on my vehicle in 1999 for the federal safety agency article no. 98v323000. So the work that was done to keep the subframe from falling is not holding up and it appears that it could break soon.

Filed Jan 14, 2005 · Transmission · IL

While driving gears jump. There is recall 96v166000. Consumer has contacted the dealer. The problem still remains. *ak recall campaign. The consumer was told of other ford vehicles with design defects.

Filed Nov 29, 2004 · Tires · TX

Belts on tire bcame separated, causing tire to come apart.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 1991 Ford Taurus before you buy

Compare the 1991 Ford Taurus

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Other model years

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Questions about the 1991 Ford Taurus

Is the 1991 Ford Taurus reliable?

Owners have filed 647 complaints about the 1991 Ford Taurus, 3.2 times a typical Taurus model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1991 Ford Taurus?

Transmission and drivetrain, with 260 complaints, typically around 102,000 miles. Next is engine (115).

How many recalls does the 1991 Ford Taurus have?

4 recalls, covering structure, vehicle speed control and wheels.

What year does the Ford Taurus have bad transmission?

The Ford Taurus model years with the most transmission complaints are 1995 (393 complaints), 2003 (316 complaints) and 1994 (265 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1991 Ford Taurus get?

Official estimates for the 1991 Ford Taurus range from 18 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 18 city and 26 highway.

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