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
What owners actually said
923 reports
137,719 miles · Feb 22, 2003
Exterior Lighting
FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION AFTER REPLACING HEADLIGHT SWITCH. WORKED FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN SHUT OFF. FUSES CHECKED OK OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKS DID NOT REMEDY SITUATION. NOTED 2 BURNED PLUG HOLES IN WIRING HARNESS AT SWITCH. VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR IS ON A RECALL FROM FORD FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TOLD BY FORD SERVI…
Read full complaint
FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION AFTER REPLACING HEADLIGHT SWITCH. WORKED FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN SHUT OFF. FUSES CHECKED OK OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKS DID NOT REMEDY SITUATION. NOTED 2 BURNED PLUG HOLES IN WIRING HARNESS AT SWITCH. VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR IS ON A RECALL FROM FORD FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TOLD BY FORD SERVICE TECH THAT MY VEHICLE (VIN# [XXX]) WAS NOT IN RECALL. ALSO REAR LIGHT OVER HATCH HAS LEAKED SINCE NEW AND CAUSED LIGHT TO SHORT OUT. NOTICED MANY OTHER 94 WAGONS WITH SAME PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10007980
28,396 miles · Feb 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS ON A 1994 FORD TAURUS WITH THE 3.8L V-6 MOTOR WITH ONLY 28,396 MILES (ORIGINAL) ON THE ODOMETER
NHTSA ODI #10007771
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10007478
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2003
Exterior Lighting
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.*JB. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10007071
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10004195
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other
MY CAR STALLS OR JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, IT WILL GO FROM 60MPH TO 0MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 20 TIMES. I TOOK IT TO PEFFLEY FORD FOR REPAIRS, THEY CHARGED ME $669.36 AND 6 DAYS LATER MY CAR CUT OUT ON ME AGAIN AND THEY TOWED IT TO THEIR SHOP. THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT MY CAR WITHOUT ME PAYING MORE MONEY FOR REPA…
Read full complaint
MY CAR STALLS OR JUST STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, IT WILL GO FROM 60MPH TO 0MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 20 TIMES. I TOOK IT TO PEFFLEY FORD FOR REPAIRS, THEY CHARGED ME $669.36 AND 6 DAYS LATER MY CAR CUT OUT ON ME AGAIN AND THEY TOWED IT TO THEIR SHOP. THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT MY CAR WITHOUT ME PAYING MORE MONEY FOR REPAIRS AND THE TOW TRUCK. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS FOR MY CAR AND I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME I GET INTO THAT CAR. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL CUT OUT AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR. I FOUND OUT THAT 8 PEOPLE OWNED THAT CAR BEFORE ME, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE SALESPERSON SAID THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR MY TWO YOUNG GIRLS TO RIDE IN HE WAS WRONG. I HAVE ALL OF MY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND WILL SEND COPIES TO YOU. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE ONE OR ALL OF MY FAMILY END UP INJURED OR DEAD. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE, KAREN JUDKINS.
NHTSA ODI #10002723
Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE IS OVER HEATING DUE TO ANTIFREEZE GETTING INTO THE OIL. CONSUMER STATES' TOOK TO FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIATOR, AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS AND THE OVER HEATING STOPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001448
8,500 miles · Dec 20, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AND CONSTANTLY LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE AND OIL. CAUSE OF LEAK UNKNOWN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RADIATOR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THEN THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND THE OVER HEATING STOPPED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001341
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2002
Power Train
CAR WAS STALLING AT STOP SIGNS AND MAJOR INTERSECTIONS. WHEN TRING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INITIALLY UNTIL EXTRA GAS WAS APPLIED. THEN IT WOULD LUNGE INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CAR COULD BE DRIVEN, AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT STOP. THE WARMER THE CAR GOT, THE WORSE THE PROBLEM WOULD GET AND MORE IT WOULD STALL. I …
Read full complaint
CAR WAS STALLING AT STOP SIGNS AND MAJOR INTERSECTIONS. WHEN TRING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INITIALLY UNTIL EXTRA GAS WAS APPLIED. THEN IT WOULD LUNGE INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CAR COULD BE DRIVEN, AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT STOP. THE WARMER THE CAR GOT, THE WORSE THE PROBLEM WOULD GET AND MORE IT WOULD STALL. I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING REAR ENDED AND STARTED CALLING NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION SHOPS. I THEN FOUND OUT THAT TAURUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE A COMMON PROBLEM AND TRANSMISSION SHOPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN FIXING EARLY AND MID 90'S TAURUS FREQUENTLY OVER THE YEARS. ALSO, FORD NEW OF THE PROBLEM AND WAS THE SOURCE OF THE IMPROVED REPLACEMENT PART. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NAME OF THE FAULTY PART, BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN CALLED AN ALUMINUM CLUTCH CYLINDER. THE COTTMAN TRANSMISSION SHOP GUY NEW WHAT THE PROBLEM SOURCE WAS JUST BY TALKING TO HIM OVER THE PHONE AND HE SHOWED ME THE HAIR LINE CRACK IN THIS THIN ROUND ALUMINUM PART. HE ALSO SHOWED ME THE STEEL REPLACEMENT PART BOUGHT FROM FORD. I ALSO HAD TO PAY OVER $1400 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED SINCE THE FAULTY PART CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHE PARTS. I HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REBUILT. PRETTY BAD CONSIDERING THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAD ABOUT 60,000 MILE ON IT. DT
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.
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.
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.
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
4
RQ99017 · 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.
1994 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration