IllustrationWHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEARS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT SEAL AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING DUE CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
1995 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Taurus years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 119 of 1,205 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.
- Power Train. Review the 394 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 352 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
60 crash reports53 fire reports48 injury reports
Power Train complaints
394 reportsTRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS. NEEDED TO BE REBUILT EVERY TIME. 65000 MILES 4/2001 88000 MILES 11/2002 103000 MILES 3/2004. *AK
I HAVE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON OUR 1995 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON (WHICH IS APPROX. 10,000 EASY HIGHWAY COMUTING MILES PER YEAR) AND HAVE NOW REPLACED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR, OR ABOUT ONE EVERY 30,000 MILES. (I THOUGHT 30,000 WAS THE TIME TO CHANGE THE FLUID, NOT T…
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I HAVE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON OUR 1995 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON (WHICH IS APPROX. 10,000 EASY HIGHWAY COMUTING MILES PER YEAR) AND HAVE NOW REPLACED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR. THIS IS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR, OR ABOUT ONE EVERY 30,000 MILES. (I THOUGHT 30,000 WAS THE TIME TO CHANGE THE FLUID, NOT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION). *AK
VEHICLE HAVING NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDING, NOT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND, HARSH UPSHIFT 1-2 , BUZZING NOISE, STALLING AT STOP, SLIPPING OUT OF ANY GEAR, TRANSSMISION CURRENTLY FAILING. *AK
1. THE ENGINE PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET 2. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS A PLANETARY GEAR MELTDOWN. I REPLACED THE PLANETARY GEARSET AND THE FIBER PARTS, PLATES AND SEALS. I ALSO INSTALLED AN AXOD DAM KIT MADE BY SHIFT TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS TO INCREASE THE LUBRICATION TO THE PLANETARIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRANSMISSION STILL …
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1. THE ENGINE PROBLEM WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET 2. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS A PLANETARY GEAR MELTDOWN. I REPLACED THE PLANETARY GEARSET AND THE FIBER PARTS, PLATES AND SEALS. I ALSO INSTALLED AN AXOD DAM KIT MADE BY SHIFT TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS TO INCREASE THE LUBRICATION TO THE PLANETARIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRANSMISSION STILL HAS THE SAME DELAYED SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO THIRD AND THIRD TO FOURTH AND A DELAYED AND HARSH THIRD TO SECOND DOWNSHIFT THAT IT ALWAYS HAD (IT WAS MY WIFES CAR WHEN I MET HER AND IT HAD 30000 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME). 3. RUNS ON THE HOT SIDE EVEN AFTER THE HEAD GASKET CHANGE. I'VE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT SEEVERAL TIMES AND THE WATER PUMP ONCE AND THE RADIATOR ONCE. I FINALLY REMOVED THE THERMOSTAT AND LET IT RUN WITHOUT ONE AND THE GAGE WILL STILL RUN IN THE MIDDLE. ALSO, THE COOLING FAN WORKS.
TRANSMISSION JERKS HARD WHEN STARTING IN DRIVE. IF YOU PRESS TOO HARD ON ACCELERATOR, TRANSMISSION WILL JERK HARD. I WILL DRIVE TILL GOES OUT COMPETELY BECAUSE OF HIGH COST TO REPAIR.
I HAVE ONE OF THOSE NOTORIOUS FORD TAURUS WITH THE AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION. IT IS A PIECE OF JUNK. WHY DIDN'T FORD STAND BEHIND THESE?
TRANS AXLE ERRATIC SHIFTING PROBLEM DEVELOPED ON MY 1995 TAURUS WAGON. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE NOT UPSHIFTING ON COLD ENGINE BUT WILL SHIFT HARD ON WARM ENGINE. ALSO INTERMITTENT DOWN SHIFT WHILE DRIVING ON DOWNGRADE AND WILL DOWN SHIFT HARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT MOMENT THIS PROBLEM STARTED. …
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TRANS AXLE ERRATIC SHIFTING PROBLEM DEVELOPED ON MY 1995 TAURUS WAGON. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE NOT UPSHIFTING ON COLD ENGINE BUT WILL SHIFT HARD ON WARM ENGINE. ALSO INTERMITTENT DOWN SHIFT WHILE DRIVING ON DOWNGRADE AND WILL DOWN SHIFT HARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. SPEEDOMETER FAILED AT MOMENT THIS PROBLEM STARTED. DEALER REPLACE SMALL GEAR ON END OF SPEEDOMETER CABLE AND THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS ALSO TIED TO A WORN GEAR ON END OF CABLE IN TRANSMISSION. THIS REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE A COMPLETE TEARDOWN OF THE TRANSMISSION. HAVE DRIVEN CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH SINCE REPAIR OF SPEEDOMETER. SHIFTING PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WITH NO PARTICULAR PATTERN. STRONGLY SUSPECT PROBLEM ALSO INVOLVES THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL IN THE CAR COMPUTER. READ MANY SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AND FIND IT AMAZING THAT FORD HAS NOT DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER SINCE IT WAS IDENTIFIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I HAVE OWNED MANY FORD PRODUCTS AND USUALLY HAVE MANY TROUBLE FREE YEARS. MY LAST TAURUS GAVE US 119K MILE WITH LITTLE TROUBLE.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. PART HAD BEEN REBUILT; HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK ONE PART IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ENGINEERED IMPROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION PISTON WHICH CREATES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE OF CAST IRON AND WON'T BREAK OR FATIGUE LIKE THE ALUMINUM ONE. THIS COUL…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED. PART HAD BEEN REBUILT; HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK ONE PART IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ENGINEERED IMPROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION PISTON WHICH CREATES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE OF CAST IRON AND WON'T BREAK OR FATIGUE LIKE THE ALUMINUM ONE. THIS COULD CREATE A ACCIDENT WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT GEARS. *PH
NEARLY EVERY PART OF TRANSMISSION WAS WORN OUT DUE TO PUMP NOT SUPPLYING FLUID AS REQUIRED. CAR ONLY HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT & HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY MY MOTHER WHO IS NOW 88 YRS. OLD. CAR ALWAYS SERVICE PER MANUAL. SERVICE MAN STATES THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION FROM FACTORY. *LA
Official recalls
501V390000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Dec 21, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L AND 3.8L ENGINES AND MUSTANG VEHICLES WITH 3.8L AND 5.0L ENGINES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING TO SEIZE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED WHICH COULD MELT THE FAN MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE COOLING FAN MOTOR COULD IGNITE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER. IF THE COOLING FAN IS INOPERATIVE, THE FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
98V323000 · 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.
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.
94V198000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Oct 11, 1994
THE RETAINER CLIP WHICH HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM IS MISSING OR NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED. THE PUSH ROD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL THE RETAINER CLIP.
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.