Complaints
150
Crashes
2
Fires
7
Injuries
3
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1986 Ford Taurus Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#113 complaints
Automatic Transmission
#211 complaints
Structure:Frame And Members
#39 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Ford Taurus.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 | — | 4 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Constant Velocity Joint | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — |
Automatic Transmission
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Constant Velocity Joint
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Taurus. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Taurus Years
1986 Ford Taurus — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1986 Ford Taurus reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Ford Taurus has 150 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 13 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Ford Taurus?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (13 complaints); Structure:Frame And Members (11 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (9 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Ford Taurus include 2 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Ford Taurus as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Ford Taurus?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Taurus reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1986 Ford Taurus
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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