One problem related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe has been reported for the 2008 Ford Taurus. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Ford Taurus based on all problems reported for the 2008 Taurus.
While driving my 2008 Ford Taurus with 80k miles on 01-21-11 the car started missing. Drove the vehicle directly to my mechanic. Diagnosis was a badly burnt coil on the #2 cylinder. In order to get to the #2 clyinder and spark plugs my mechanic made me aware that the air intake manifold needs to be removed and while that is taking place I should have a tuneup since one is recommended at 90k anyway. Coil in the #2 cylinder was replaced and tuneup completed and car was still missing. Further diagnosis showed that the computer that runs the engine and transmission was ruined when the coil burnt out and for the car to run as it is supposed to it will also need this computer. So I am going to incur a $1000. 00 or more in expense because my excelent condition 08', 80,0000 mile car is missing. It would seem to me that a system that allows this much possible damage and expense to happen when a coil goes bad is a flawed system.