How many recalls does the 1990 Ford Taurus have?

The 1990 Ford Taurus has 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 1990 Ford Taurus has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 1990 Ford Taurus?

Of 542 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is structure.

1990 Ford Taurus Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1990 Ford Taurus has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,245,112 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 542 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STRUCTURE 98V323000 1998-12-16 2,697,000 affected

Defect

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,…

Consequence

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.

SEAT BELTS 92V113000 1992-08-17 565,000 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

Remedy

FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH END RELEASE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DESIGNED TO PREVENT LATCH PROBLEMS.

WHEELS 92V065000 1992-05-11 654,000 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 91V134000 1991-08-06 325,000 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

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…

Remedy

REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

WHEELS 90V159000 1990-08-28 1,212 affected

Defect

WHEELS MAY CONTAIN CRACKS THAT COULD PROPOGATE IN RAISED PORTION OF WHEEL CENTER.

Consequence

UNDER SEVERE DUTY, THIS COULD RESULT IN EVENTUALSEPARATION OF WHEEL RIM FROM CENTER WITH LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLY ACOLLISION.

Remedy

REPLACE WHEELS WITH WHEELS OF A REVISED DESIGN.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 89V171000 1989-10-13 2,900 affected

Defect

AN INCORRECT TRANSISTOR MAY CAUSE AUTOLAMP SYSTEM LIGHT SENSOR MODULE MALFUNCTION.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

REPLACE LIGHT SENSOR MODULES.

Complaints by component

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17117

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

AIR BAGS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

Total complaints542

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine nhtsa recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # nhtsa 90e043001; nhtsa 98v323000; nhtsa 93v106002; nhtsa 91v34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What…”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 2009-12-12

“How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine nhtsa recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # nhtsa 90e043001; nhtsa 98v323000; nhtsa 93v106002; nhtsa 91v34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2009-12-12

“How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine nhtsa recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # nhtsa 90e043001; nhtsa 98v323000; nhtsa 93v106002; nhtsa 91v34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What…”

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · reported 2009-12-12

“How do I get ford motor company to honor genuine nhtsa recalls on a 1990 ford taurus wagon??? It currently has complaint # nhtsa 90e043001; nhtsa 98v323000; nhtsa 93v106002; nhtsa 91v34000. I cannot get dealership to replace air bag module defect, seat belt defect or cpu replacement defect. What…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2009-12-12

“Tl*the contact owns a 1990 ford taurus. While driving approximately 15 mph, the contact heard a loud noise underneath the vehicle. Suddenly, the steering wheel locked up. The driver experienced extreme difficulty steering the vehicle, which resulted in greater effort to turn the steering wheel.…”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 2009-07-21

“Tl*the contact owns a 1990 ford taurus. While driving less than 30 mph, the front driver's side air bag deployed without warning or a crash occurring. The contact sustained injuries to her arms, lacerations on her face and arms, and a large burn on her lip. The manufacturer sent an inspector to…”

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · reported 2009-03-04

“I had a loose ignition on my 1990 ford taurus in which I could remove my key while it was still running I had this changed while I was having other work done on the car and less then a week later I had a very expensive paperweight because after they placed a new ignition into my car it caught fire…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2008-06-11

“Check engine lights came on stayed on. Air bag light came on flashes 9 times pauses and then flashes 9 times repeats. Cruise control stops working. *jb”

AIR BAGS · reported 2006-07-10

Defect investigations

Investigation DP95004 Opened 1995-08-08 · closed 1995-08-30

ALLEGED DEFECTIVE TIE RODS

Investigation DP96014 Opened 1996-11-14 · open

DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR

CFAS SENT A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON DECEMBER 12, 1996, TO CHANGE THE INTENT OF THE PETITION TO AIRBAG AGGRESSIVITY AND DEPLOYMENT VARIABILITY.NHTSA 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…

Investigation EA90045 Opened 1990-09-28 · closed 1991-09-12

BRAKE DISC HUB SEPARATIONS

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Investigation EA90045 Opened 1990-09-28 · closed 1991-09-12