Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the vehicle became inoperable. The contact shifted into park and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated while reversing, she heard an abnormal sound. The check engine and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the power train not being connected to the solenoids. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,367.
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.
Purchased vehicle in feb 2010. Driven to take children to and from school and back home approx total mileage round trip daily is 6 miles at most. First instance happened when approaching a stop sign and slowing down by pressing the brake but the motor accelerated rpms instead as if I were pressing the gas. Lasted few seconds and began doing as it should. Next instant happened couple months later when pressing the brake to stop after returning home from taking children to school. Tried to stop in my driveway when I reached the house and the motor accelerated instead and had to turn the switch off to make it stop making the acceleration noise. This has happened several times with each time a little more intense. Most recently, while taking my son to a travelball tournament I slowed to stop at a stop sign and it briefly revved the motor. …
Car would suddenly jolt forward even though I was securely stopped at a light or stop sign. Sometimes, it felt like it jolted forward as much as 4 feet - even though my foot was firmly on the brake at all times. (I tried turning off the A/C to see if there was a power surge causing the problem. A/C on or off made no difference at all.) this would happen so often, that I would have to stop more than a car length away from all intersections or other vehicles already stopped so I would not hit them when the car jolted. It became an expected event . Brakes were not sufficient to hold the car back from these sudden jolts - unfortunately. Coming home one night, car started accelerating beyond the amount I was pushing the gas pedal and then it suddenly lost power even though I was now trying to accelerate. New dash lights - wrench, airbag, and gas all came on. …
My 2008 Taurus sel felt like it was slipping between gears when pulling out of a parking lot. 100 yards later, on an uphill street, the car would barely move and roll backwards when I let off the brake. I was blocking traffic so I had to rev the engine at max RPM to barely make it out of traffic and onto the shoulder. When I started the engine, there was a loud clunk coming from the transmission. When I shifted into reverse, there was a loud clunk and a jolt like someone just rear-ended me. Same when shifting into n or l. The car needed to be towed. The OBD code reader indicated a pending p720 failure, "output speed sensor circuit malfunction". I contacted Ford customer service and they pretended to be unaware of this problem. The output speed sensor is located inside the transmission, not a user serviceable part. …
In March 2016 my vehicle began having problems. When making a turn, right front wheel spontaneously grabs intermittently. This disables the vehicle for a period of time. This has almost caused an accident several times, as it happens as I'm heading out into traffic. I have taken the vehicle into the valley Ford dealership here in kalispell, montana 3 times in an effort to resolve this issue. The first time I took it in right after it first started happening, they told me it was the brakes. So I paid $1070 to have the brakes and rotters replaced. However, this did not resolve the problem. I have since taken the vehicle back to them 2 more times and they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am very concerned that this is a very dangerous ongoing problem. I am seeking your help in resolution in this matter. This has occurred about a dozen times.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle begun to make an abnormal noise when accelerating from a completed stop as numerous indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact noticed that the speedometer was no longer working. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there were 13 error codes, however; the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and the failure was not able to be duplicated at that time either. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 31,000.
The Ford Taurus sel has 237,836 miles on it. Two times while driving the vehicle on the interstate highway then on a county road the dash showed all zeros and the car lost power. The check engine light came on. The car exhibited slow acceleration and unusual shifting. I took it and had the OBD code read. The code indicated that it was a speed sensor in the transmission (p720). The code was reset and the car is currently being driven. It happened twice within a two-week period. I own two 2008 Ford Taurus and it happened on the same day to both of them. I will be filing incident information on the other vehicle too.
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.
Transmission complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Ford Taurus, 25% of the model year's 175 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Ford Taurus transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2008 Ford Taurus, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Ford Taurus transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.