2008 Ford Taurus: jerking or lurching

Filed Oct 16, 2020 · Acceleration, Transmission · 157,087 miles · TX

This has happened about 3 times in the last 2 yrs but while sitting at a light my car suddenly went forward. It didn't go.to far. Maybe a ft or 2 but was enough to scare me. My foot was on the brake. It will also get stuck in gears and lose power on the road. No check engine light is on as of now. One light did come on today while sitting at a light and without notice my car would not go. It was the power throttle/transmission light. I turned the car off and then back on and it drove fine all the way home. It did jerk once. The gear shifting and loss of power happens when I am driving on the highway.

Filed May 4, 2018 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · AL

On 5/4/18. I had backed out put 2008 ford taurus in drive and pulling forward in traffic the cars RPM rev up loadly and car moved slowly forward with on coming traffic coming up behind me and several cars going around me. I pulled to left turning lane and stopped. I put the car in neutral then reverse felt a jerk then park. I sat there a few seconds. The wrench light appeared on dash. I put car in drive and proceeded home. While driving home the rpms rev up again twice. I pulled in my drive way as I put the car in reverse the car made aloud clunk sound and again in park the same loud clunk. In regards to recall for 2008 ford taurus. Website http://www.revbase.com/bbbmotor/tsb/download?pdfid=139970 and id=147402 respectively.

Filed Apr 6, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 85,197 miles · NE · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus. While driving 75 MPH, the vehicle jerked without warning. The contact drove and stopped at the interstate where she noticed a strong burning odor coming from the vehicle, which caused breathing issues. The contact had to open the windows while driving. The contact also stated that the engine light failed to turn on. Once the contact shut off and restarted the vehicle, the engine light turned on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the coil plugs, PCM, and computer burned out and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 85,197.

Filed Nov 5, 2016 · Engine · 165,000 miles · PA

I have seen many many complaints about this same exact issue. The wrench symbol lights up on dash when driving and engine revs as if it is in neutral, low gas mileage symbol lights up and instead of saying how many gallons until empty, there are just 3 dots ( ---). I pull over, turn car off and putting it in park or any gear, it jerks and is loud. It seems as if everything on the car is just shutting down, yet still working. The wrench symbol happens more often, and all the other symbols are only sometimes. I just spent $1000 on the transmission getting repaired so it shouldnt be that. It also says " tire pressure monitor fault" when this happens. The car is very jerky and jerks forward. Doesnt seem very safe. After pulling over and turning the car off, it seems ok if I let it sit for 10 minutes or so. Sometimes, not all the time though. I never know.

Filed Oct 6, 2016 · Transmission · 117,426 miles · NC

The wrench symbol and the check engine light came on after being parked overnight. The shift in the transmission is rough and jerky in motion. It did this when I first purchased and we had the code cleared and had a recall on the emission or PCM fixed by ford. Now the lights are back on and the shifting is as I said earlier rough and jerky.

Filed Jan 27, 2016 · Airbags · 130,000 miles · IL

The air bag light came on in passenger side as not on, my car then started to slow while I was on the highway, and jerked a bit, would not go when I hit the gas petal, had to pull in and about 10 min of turning car on and off, light for airbag went out and car was fine. Although at times light still comes on for airbag on passenger side but car has not stalled

Filed Oct 28, 2015 · 80,000 miles · IN

My car will jerk and hesitate when I am trying to excelerate slowly, also it will do it while I am doing 50-60 and trying to speed up to pass someone.. I have tried fuel injection cleaner all my fluids have been checked, tune was done, no check engine light and mechanic can not figure out why it is doing it..it mirrors another complaint exacly..also every once in a while the inginiton will sick.. This happens all the time.. Since about february of this year

Filed Jun 6, 2015 · 147,000 miles · TN

2008 ford taurus(automatic transmission) , I was on interstate doing speed-limit 60 MPH. When traffic became heavy so was slowed to 45 MPH. An when I went to accelerate the car began to jerk an had hesitation like transmission but only when pushed gas pedal. I have notice it bogs down around 60 MPH an jerks 3 or 4 times an seems like losing power an then it will pick back up normal drive few more miles an it will repeat. Also checked fluids an they are fine an dash isn't showing any service lights. But when o/d is off it gets intermittent power surge. Also leaving my house got to the stop sign an car would not hold it keep rolling backwards.

Filed Sep 23, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 15,000 miles · AL

This car has only about 16,000 on it. I was driving on the interstate when I started getting this hard jerk and then the car speed went down to about 30 MPH. After a few moments, the speed will pick back up for about a mile or 2. The hard jerk will come again and the transmission will not change out properly. This could have cause an accident on the interstate, so I got off the interstate and started traveling on the back roads to make it home. By the time I got home, I could have hardly make it. I had the car towed to a ford dealership and they informed me that the transmission was gone out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called the ford company, but said it was not a recall on the transmission. This is a very serious ordeal, someone could have gotten hurt from this situation. The hard jerk, the speed dropping while the transmission trying to change out. Please look into this matter. I am sure this has happen to others, but has not been reported.

Filed Jun 2, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 118,557 miles · KS

Started driving and car would just jerk and then would go again and not go into gear.only could get speed up to 20 or 40mph. Took to dealership and they state I need a new transmission. Called for and they can do nothing about it and still owe on it.

Filed Aug 14, 2013 · Engine · 85,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle jerked as there was a sudden loss of acceleration without warning. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure was unable to be replicated. The contact mentioned that the engine was replaced but did not resolve the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000 and the current mileage was 35,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jul 30, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 41,000 miles · IL

At a complete stop, car lurched forward at full throttle. I have had the car in for this problem previously. The dealership said no codes were stored and they could not duplicate the concern. This is a real safety issue.