Model year guide

2008 Ford Taurus

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Ford Taurus is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 157 on record.

2008 Ford Taurus — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Ford Taurus at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints175
Combined20 mpg
Typical price$4,689

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2008 Ford Taurus recalls 1

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #16V247000 · 26/04/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2008 Ford Taurus common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2008 Ford Taurus MPG & running costs

Combined20 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,175

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2008 Ford Taurus worth?

Low
$1,900
Typical price
$4,689
High
$7,600

From 156 comparable 2008 Ford Taurus listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Ford Taurus costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,875
Depreciation (5 yrs)$3,150
Total$19,025
Per mile$0.25

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($4,689) with the same model 5 model-years older ($1,522), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Ford Taurus trims & engines on record

Trims
SEL · Limited · SE · Eddie Bauer
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 263 hp

2008 Ford Taurus vehicles on record

2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP25W28G131981 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP28W48G162855 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W18G133867 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP28W98G102120 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W38G124734 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W88G108058 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W88G164453 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W78G148325 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W78G146445 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W68G102324 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP25W08G159715 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP28W48G165030 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24WX8G154832 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP25W68G154048 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W98G158600 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W78G111498 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP28W98G131830 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W78G100873 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP25WX8G178918 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W28G119038 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP25WX8G182628 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W68G154486 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus Limited1FAHP25W98G155193 2008 Ford Taurus 2008 Ford Taurus SEL1FAHP24W18G145131

Other Ford Taurus model years

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993

2008 Ford Taurus — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Ford Taurus have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for the 2008 Ford Taurus. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Taurus?

Based on 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, vehicle speed control, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Ford Taurus get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2008 Ford Taurus at about 20 mpg combined (17 city / 25 highway).

How much is a 2008 Ford Taurus worth?

Comparable 2008 Ford Taurus listings run roughly $1,900–$7,600, typically around $4,689 (from 156 vehicles).

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