1990 Ford Taurus

The 1990 Ford Taurus has 5 recalls, the most serious being cracked wheels that can split apart while driving, causing sudden loss of control with no warning beforehand.

The wheel defect affects certain vehicles, and one recall specifically covers cars equipped with the police vehicle option package, though both describe the same failure: cracks form in the center section of the wheel and can spread until the rim separates entirely from the hub. On the safety restraint side, front seatbelt buckles can fail in two ways: a latched belt may refuse to release when the button is pressed, trapping an occupant, or the buckle may not fully latch in the first place, leaving the belt loose when it counts most in a sudden stop or crash. There is also an emissions concern where exhaust carbon monoxide levels can exceed regulated limits, which matters particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated driving situations. The headlight system rounds out the list: a faulty transistor in the automatic headlamp module can cause the headlights to shut off unexpectedly while driving at night, or alternatively, stay on after the car is parked and drain the battery.