FordTaurus1991Overview/ford/taurus/1991/base/

1991 Ford Taurus

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Taurus.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1991 Ford Taurus is a passenger car that calls for 4.5 qt of 5W‑30 API engine oil. Owner reports show 833 total complaints, with the power train the leading trouble area and five recalls issued for the year. Compared with the model’s broader history from 1990‑2019 — where complaints peaked at 1,822 in 1993 and fell to 11 by 2019 — the 1991 figure places it well below the worst year but still above the later low‑complaint era, indicating a moderate reliability standing.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320121991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1054 alt RT1053

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length188.6 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight2961 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)65/35

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Taurus of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.6–7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 1991 SHO Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991SHO Sedan 3.0L V66.60 sec15.20 sec220 hpFWD
1991SHO Sedan 3.0L V67.70 sec16.20 sec220 hpFWD
1992SHO Sedan 3.0L V66.80 sec15.20 sec220 hpFWD
1989SHO Sedan 3.0L V66.70 sec15.10 sec220 hpFWD
1993SHO Sedan 3.2L V67.50 sec15.40 sec220 hpFWD
1995SHO Sedan 3.2L V67.70 sec15.80 sec220 hpFWD
1986LX Sedan 3.0L V69.80 sec17.40 sec140 hpFWD
1986LX Wagon 3.0L V610.70 sec17.80 sec140 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 24,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Ford Taurus recorded 833 complaints, 5 recalls, 14 investigations, and 72 Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs). This represents a notable increase in complaints compared to the 522 reported for 1990, though it remains lower than the 885 complaints seen in 1992. Within the early generation arc, complaints rose steadily until peaking at 1,822 in 1993, positioning the 1991 model on the upward slope of this trend. The most frequent issues for 1991 involved the Power Train (251) and Engine & Engine Cooling (112), although the data does not specify the root causes. Additionally, the 1991 model year saw 44 crash-related and 23 fire-related complaints. Because it precedes the severe spike in issues seen in 1993 but is less stable than the 1990 model, this is a mediocre year to buy.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
72
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
14
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
833
Owner complaints
44 involved a crash · 23 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 833 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train251
Engine & Engine Cooling112
Steering71
Service Brakes, Hydraulic67
Air Bags52
Structure49
Electrical System43
Vehicle Speed Control20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94E036000Suspension:Front:Shock AbsorberReported 25/11/1994

THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY. Remedy: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.

97V025000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 26/02/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Taurus. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Taurus take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Taurus have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.