1989 Ford Taurus reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1989 Ford Taurus — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 762
- on record
- Top problem area
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- 108 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 20 reported crashes · 23 injuries · 1 death · 100 fires
What owners report fails — 1989 Ford Taurus
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY 108
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH 55
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS 50
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 48
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 39
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1989 Ford Taurus
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1989 Ford Taurus units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1989 Ford Taurus reliable?
NHTSA has 762 consumer complaints on record for the 1989 Ford Taurus. The most-reported problem area is seat belts:front:buckle assembly (108 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1989 Ford Taurus units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Ford Taurus?
Owners most often report problems with: seat belts:front:buckle assembly (108), electrical system:ignition:switch (55), structure:frame and members (50), engine and engine cooling:engine (48). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1989 Ford Taurus?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.