Problems · by component

2008 Ford Taurus X steering problems

42 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Taurus X cite steering, 27% of all 153 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
42
27% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STRAIGHT, OUR CAR MADE A POP SOUND AND SUDDENLY LURCHED AND STEERING WAS IMPAIRED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND THE ENGINE CRADLE/FRONT SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH INTERNALLY CAUSING THE SWAY BAR TO BREAK AWAY AND IT HAD PERFORATED AROUND THE MOUNT FOR THE CONTROL ARM. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THE CONTROL ARM DIDN'T COMPLETELY DROP OUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FAILURE IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE FORD ESCAPE SUBFRAME RECALL. DEALER TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAS REPLACED A LOT OF THESE ENGINE CRADLES IN THE TAURUS X'S FOR THE SAME FAILURE (SOME WORSE THAN OURS, COMPLETELY RUSTED IN HALF ETC.). LACK OF SUFFICIENT PAINT INSIDE OF THE CRADLES CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF THERE ARE ACCIDENTS REPORTED FOR THIS CONCERN. I HAVE REQUESTED THE ENGINE CRADLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER IT IS REMOVED FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2021Steering, SuspensionODI 11389333
“I WAS DRIVING HOME ON CITY STREETS WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, EVEN USING ALL MY STRENGTH. I COULD NOT HAVE REACTED TO ANY OBSTACLE THAT SUDDENLY PRESENTED ITSELF, AND I COULD HARDLY MAKE TURNS, EVEN AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2018SteeringODI 11145308
“STEER HARD RIGHT AND LEFT AT SLOW SPEED IN CITY DRIVING. AT FIRST IT STEERS HARD THEN SMOOTH AND YOU CAN OVER STEER . THE STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED & STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL. HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.GETTING WORSE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2018SteeringODI 11081594
“2008 FORD TAURUS X 135000 MILES VEHICLE STARTED BEING DIFFICULT TO TURN EITHER WAY. MY WIFE AND 4 KIDS WERE ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. ALL FLUID LEVELS WERE GOOD. CHANGED OUT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. IT OCCURS MOSTLY AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT ALSO OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE ISSUE BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS ONLINE OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO STEER TO DRIVE AND ALSO QUICKLY AVOID ANY HAZARDS ON THE ROAD AND WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2017SteeringODI 11002007
“POWER STEERING HAS NOW FAILED TWICE ONCE IN 2012 AND NOW IN 2017. COMPLETE RACK & PINION WAS REPLACED IN 2012 WITH 34800 MILES, 2ND FAILURE IS NOW 1/22/2017 AT 108000 MILES. NOW REPLACING STEERING RACK AND RETURN LINE. 1ST CASE EXITING HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH COULD NOT TURN WHEEL OR TURN RIGHT. COULD ONLY MAKE LEFT TURNS. 2ND CASE LEAKING FLUID AND MAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. 1ST WAS VERY SCARY, THOUGHT WE WOULD CRASHING EXITING EXPRESS WAY. CALL FORD CS AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING DUE TO 4 YEARS BUT LESS THAN 360000 MILES. 2ND WAS LESS SCARY BUT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TOOK 5 DAYS TO GET SERVICE BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, TO FAR TO DRIVE TO A FORD DEALER. NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THIS HAPPENING TWICE AND VERY EXPENSIVE OVER $3000 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2017SteeringODI 10947831
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A HOSE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN PREMATURELY DETERIORATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2016SteeringODI 10894824

Showing 6 of 42 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2008 Taurus X problem areas