1990 Ford Taurus: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1990 Ford Taurus: 6 recalls, 381 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #89V171000 · 1989 · 2,900 vehicles
What's wrong: An incorrect transistor May cause autolamp system light sensor module malfunction.
Why it matters: Headlamps could turn off while vehicle is being driven orremain on after vehicle is parked. Loss of headlights while driving at nightcould be hazardous to the driver and other trafific.
The fix: Replace light sensor modules.
Wheels Vehicle recall #90V159000 · 1990 · 1,212 vehicles
What's wrong: Wheels May contain cracks that could propogate in raised portion of wheel center.
Why it matters: Under severe duty, this could result in eventualseparation of wheel rim from center with loss of control and possibly acollision.
The fix: Replace wheels with wheels of a revised design.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #91V134000 · 1991 · 325,000 vehicles
What's 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: Replace front brake rotors with full cast front brake rotors.
Wheels Vehicle recall #92V065000 · 1992 · 654,000 vehicles
What's 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Replace the self-latching assembly currently used in the rear storage compartment with a latch assembly that can only be closed with a key.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #92V113000 · 1992 · 565,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The rigid mounted safety belt buckles are defective in three ways. First, a fastened safety belt buckle will not unlatch when the release button is depressed. This results from interference between the buckle ejector finger and the buckle tongue window. The second defect is the safety belt buckle May not latch. The third possible defect is that the tongue May be retained by the buckle, but it May not be latched…
Why it matters: An insufficiently latched or unlatched safety beltincreases the risk of injury to seat occupants in the event of a sudden stop oraccident. If the safety belt buckle will not unlatch, it will not allow theoccupant to get out of the vehicle in an emergency situation.
The fix: Ford will replace the rigid mounted safety belt buckles with end release safety belt buckles designed to prevent latch problems.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #98V323000 · 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If both rear corners drop, steering would become suddenly very difficult, affecting vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install subframe rear mount bolts, reinforcement plates, and plate nuts.
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Airbags Equipment recall #90E043001 · 1990 · 172,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Threaded inflator components May have been damaged during assembly which May allow components to separate when inflator receives a signal to deploy the air bag.
Why it matters: Inflator component separation allows hot combustion gases to escape into the passenger compartment which could result in injuries to vehicle occupants.
The fix: Replace air bag modules containing potentially defective inflators.
Suspension Equipment recall #94E036000 · 1994 · 98,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The arc welds on the sway bar bracket, where it attaches to the strut reserve tube, did not fuse properly.
Why it matters: Over time, a portion of the bracket can tear away from the strut, falling into and puncturing the tire or causing damage to the wheel, which could result in an accident.
The fix: Monroe dealers will replace the strut free of charge.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 23 mention a fire, 26 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (78): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (13), fire / smoke (7).
- Body & structure (68): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (13), noise or vibration (6).
- Steering (51): the most common themes are steering problems (38), leaks (10).
- Transmission & drivetrain (42): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (6), leaks (3).
The 1990 Ford Taurus has 381 owner complaints, ranking #16 of 30 Taurus model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 563). Complaints peaked in 1999 (85 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 100,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1991 (649 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 3-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1990 Ford Taurus.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
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FAQ
Does the 1990 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 1990 Ford Taurus, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1990 Ford Taurus problems?
Owners have filed 381 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (78), body & structure (68), steering (51).
What gas mileage does the 1990 Ford Taurus get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1990 Ford Taurus repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.