Two problems related to power steering fluid have 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.
Power steering has now failed twice once in 2012 and now in 2017. Complete rack & pinion was replaced in 2012 with 34800 miles, 2nd failure is now 1/22/2017 at 108000 miles. Now replacing steering rack and return line. 1st case exiting highway at 70 mph could not turn wheel or turn right. Could only make left turns. 2nd case leaking fluid and making noise while driving around town. 1st was very scary, thought we would crashing exiting express way. Call Ford cs and they would not do anything due to 4 years but less than 360000 miles. 2nd was less scary but did not have control of vehicle and took 5 days to get service by a local repair shop, to far to drive to a Ford dealer. Not very happy with this happing twice and very expensive over $3000 out of pocket expenses for this vehicle.
Experienced intermittent "shudder" in steering system when cornering and/or maneuvering into parking spaces; this condition progressively got worse and finally, there was a sudden total loss of power assist to the steering system almost resulting in loss of control of the vehicle. Noticed large puddle of atf/power steering fluid under vehicle when parked. Upon inspection, discovered that power steering reservoir was empty and the steering rack housing had leaking seal where main steering shaft entered housing leading to catastrophic failure of the steering rack assembly. This is the second time the steering rack catastrophically failed on this vehicle (see: NHTSA id number: 10468922; date complaint filed: 08/02/2012; date of incident: 07/30/2012; component(s): steering). Brought vehicle in to Ford dealer (brondes Ford, maumee, OH) for service. Entire steering rack assembly was replaced again at a cost exceeding $1,000. Ford should be required to recall this vehicle for steering rack due to the numbers of complaints on the NHTSA site alone due to the very nature of this failure - anything steering/suspension/brake-related should be subject for immediate consideration for recall. Ft.