IllustrationWHEN DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING BECAUSE THE ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THE ORIGINAL ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED IN DEC OF 1997 WITH 55,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
1994 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Taurus years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Ford Taurus are substantially higher than the model-year median of 318.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 67 of 923 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 289 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 269 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
51 crash reports23 fire reports30 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
289 reportsENGINE HEAD GASKET AND GASKET COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALMOST CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AT 66,000 MILES. *AK
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAPPENS ELSEWHERE, BUT THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY IN CHARLOTTE, NC IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CAR JUST QUIT RUNNING, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THANKS. *AK
CAR WAS HAVING SLIGHT AND PERIODIC ROUGH IDLE, MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT WITH HAD GASKET FAILURE. TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED. HAVE CONTACTED FORD & THE DEALER, BOTH HAVE ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT THAT TH…
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CAR WAS HAVING SLIGHT AND PERIODIC ROUGH IDLE, MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT WITH HAD GASKET FAILURE. TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED. HAVE CONTACTED FORD & THE DEALER, BOTH HAVE ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT WAS OFFERED HAS EXPIRED. I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING ANY NOTICE FOR THIS DEFECT, NOR DID MY CAR HAVE PROBLEMS DURING THE RECALL PERIOD. I HAVE SURVEYED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH SAME 3.8 HEAD GASKET FAILURES AND FORD IS REFUSING TO RECALL OR REPLACE THEM. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE I CAN TALK TO PRIOR TO VISITING THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A LAWYER ? *AK
WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD,AND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THIS IS DUE TO A CRACKED PISTON. MECHANIC HAS FIXED IT. *AK
CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 09/09/1999 WHEN PROBLEM DETECTED IN STARTING THE CAR. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, ENGINE WILL CRANK AND START BUT IT STALLED WHEN KEY SPRING WAS LET GO AT RANDOM BASIS. DEALER CLAIMED TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED MULTIFUCTION SW AND IGNITION SWITCH, AND REPLACED BATTERY AND CLEANED THE…
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CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 09/09/1999 WHEN PROBLEM DETECTED IN STARTING THE CAR. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, ENGINE WILL CRANK AND START BUT IT STALLED WHEN KEY SPRING WAS LET GO AT RANDOM BASIS. DEALER CLAIMED TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED MULTIFUCTION SW AND IGNITION SWITCH, AND REPLACED BATTERY AND CLEANED THE TERMINALS. THIS COST ME $474 AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON 09/13/1999. ON 09/20/1999 DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS JUST THE ADJUSTMENT IN SAFETY SWITCH. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. AFTER THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY AND CONTINUE TO HAPPEN ON RANDOM BASIS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WILL CALL ME BACK WHEN THEY ARE READY TO FIX THIS. AS OF 11/22/1999 I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM FULLERTON FORD DEALER. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE NOW AND I CAN NOT EVEN START THE CAR. SO I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT 1-800-392-3673 AND SPOKE WITH DUANE. I TOLD HIM THAT DEALERSHIP HAS UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DESCRIBED THE CAR PROBLEM. I ASKED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HELP DEALER TO IDENTIFY AND FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE DEALER WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN FIXING THE PROBLEM AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. DUANE REPLIED THAT ONLY DEALER IS AUTHORIZED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I SHOULD TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THERE IS NOTHING FORD MOTOR COMAPNY CAN DO FOR ME. I ASKED DUANE THAT WHAT IS THE POINT IN TAKING CAR BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHEN AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS THEY HAVE NOT FIXED. DUANE REPEATED THE EARLIER STATEMENT OF TAKING CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING FORD MOTOR CO. CAN DO. AS FAR AS THE COOLING SYSTEM GOES, I ASKED THE FULLERTON FORD DEALER TO CHECK THE LEAKING COOLANT ON 05/17/1999. THEY CONDUCTED PRESSURE TEST AND REPLACED COOLANT AND TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO LEAK. HOWEVER AS OF 11/26/99 IT STILL LEAKS UPON STARTING THE CAR NEAR RADIATOR.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO DEFECTIVE MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. *YC
APPROACHING HIGHWAY ON RAMP, ENGINE TEMP WENT FROM "N" TOO RED BOX AT RIGHT OF GAUGE. DROVE TO DEALER, INFORMED MOST LIKELY A "HEAD GASKET" PROBLEM AND MAY HAVE DAMAGED ENGINE, NO WAY TO KNOW IF ENGINE IS DAMAGED UNITLL REPAIR IS ATTEMPTED.
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *ET
ANTI-FREEZE. LEAK GOT INTO THE ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING WHILE ENGINE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, AT THE TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED THAT THEY FOUND IT WAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM. LEAK COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE.…
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ANTI-FREEZE. LEAK GOT INTO THE ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING WHILE ENGINE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, AT THE TIME DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED THAT THEY FOUND IT WAS AN ENGINE PROBLEM. LEAK COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. *AK
Official recalls
498V323000 · Structure:frame And Members
Dec 16, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
98V009000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Jan 21, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 26, 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, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Feb 25, 1997
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4RQ99017 · Front Suspension Spring
Opened Aug 9, 1999 · Closed Feb 16, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA96019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 31, 1996 · Closed Jan 26, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER FROM BRIEF FLICKERS (LESS THAN ONE SECOND) TO GREATER THAN 20 SECONDS.OVER TIME, THE OUTAGES GROW IN LENGTH AND DURATION BECAUSE OF HEAT-INDUCED DETERIORATION OF THE SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING.RECALL 98V-009 WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 506,000 TAURUS, SABLE, MARK VIII, AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 1-DEC.-92 THROUGH 30-SEP-93 AT THE ATLANTA, CHICAGO,AND WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANTS.87% OF MY 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE AND 97% OF MY 1993-1995 MARK VIII WARRANTY REPAIRS (HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT) INVOLVED VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE DEC. 92 - OCT. 93 BUILD RANGE.
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.