Model year guide

1981 Ford Taurus

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1981 Ford Taurus is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1981 Ford Taurus at a glance

Safety recallsNone
Owner complaints2

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1981 Ford Taurus recalls 0

No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 1981 Ford Taurus.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1981 Ford Taurus common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

SUDDEN ACCELERATION Closed

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

NHTSA #DP86014 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Jul 1986 · closed Aug 1986

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 2

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

INFORMATION FOR CONCERNS OF GRUNT OR GROAN DURING WHEEL RETURN FROM FULL RIGHT TURN. *TT

Bulletin BC9584961001 · Steering · Oct 1996

PROCEDURE FOR UPDATING THE CALIBRATION FROM R-11 TO R-12 FOR STALLING ON DECEL & MISFIRE CODES ON 3.0L VEHICLES. *TT

Bulletin BC9683961001 · Power Train · Oct 1996

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the TAURUS. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Ford Taurus

The Ford Taurus is an automobile that was manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from 1985 to 2019. From 1985 to 2009, Ford marketed the Taurus alongside its rebadged variant, the Mercury Sable. Four generations of the high-performance version were also manufactured from 1988 to 1999 and 2009 to 2019.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1981 Ford Taurus vehicles on record

1981 Ford TaurusWF0TXXGBBTBR17000 1981 Ford TaurusWF0TXXGBBTBB05030 1981 Ford TaurusWF0FXXGBBFBA49773

Other Ford Taurus model years

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987

1981 Ford Taurus — frequently asked questions

Does the 1981 Ford Taurus have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists no safety-recall campaigns for the 1981 Ford Taurus. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1981 Ford Taurus?

Across all 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are tires, power train.

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.