IllustrationWHEN VEHICLE REACHES ABOUT 50MPH SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE MOVES AND BOUNCES AROUND SPEEDOMETER.*AK
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
What owners actually said
1,205 reportsWHEN OPENING FRONT DOORS THE RETAINER FAILS TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN CAUSING IT TO SPRING BACK AND STRIKE CONSUMERS LEGS. NLM
WHEN CAR IS COMING TO A STOP IT LURCHES FOWARD, IT ALL MOST FEELS LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. SOME OTHER TIMES IF YOU DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO START GOING AGAIN, THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. THIS LAST 3 TO 5 SECONDS THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS A BANG AND THE CAR…
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WHEN CAR IS COMING TO A STOP IT LURCHES FOWARD, IT ALL MOST FEELS LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. SOME OTHER TIMES IF YOU DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO START GOING AGAIN, THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. THIS LAST 3 TO 5 SECONDS THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS A BANG AND THE CAR LURCHES FOWARD. BOTH THESE ITEMS ARE INTERMITTENT BUT ARE GETTING WORSE. I FEEL THEY ARE A SAFETY ITEM, IT COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO BUMP INTO SOMEONE ELSE OR HESITATE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. *AK
AT 45 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER FROM TRANSMISSION TO WHEELS. IT SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING, AND THEN IT WOULD GRAB AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH. AT TIMES THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONSISTENTLY UPSHIFTING LATE AND DOWNSHIFTING EARLY, AND SOMETIMES SLIPPING. ONE REPAIR SHOP COU…
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AT 45 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER FROM TRANSMISSION TO WHEELS. IT SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING, AND THEN IT WOULD GRAB AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH. AT TIMES THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONSISTENTLY UPSHIFTING LATE AND DOWNSHIFTING EARLY, AND SOMETIMES SLIPPING. ONE REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. GENE EVANS FORD QUICKLY DETERMINED THAT A FAULTY VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE. (THIS ALSO CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE INOP). THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AND THE TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY. THE PART COST $36.58. LABOR WAS $305.46. THE TOTAL BILL CAME TO $369.60. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, AND I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS COST. 6
MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE. THERE WAS RECALL 98V32300/ SUBFRAME CORROSION, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. *YH
SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUMP FROM 30 TO 80 WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE. WOULD NOT REMAIN AT CORRECT SPEED LIMIT WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS MADE IN BRAZIL & BROUGHT TO USA. SPEEDOMETER WAS CHANGED FROM KLM TO MPH. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING. *AK
THIS REPORTED DEFECT IS THE 2ND ONE FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP AGAIN ON 2/6/01. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THROUGH GEARS, DOESN'T STOP THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND JUMPS OVER GEARS. MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE CAN PUT THE VEHICLE IN NUETRAL, OR PARK TO DRIVE CAN PUT THE CAR INTO 2ND GEAR. THE VEHICLE…
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THIS REPORTED DEFECT IS THE 2ND ONE FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND IT WILL BE IN THE SHOP AGAIN ON 2/6/01. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THROUGH GEARS, DOESN'T STOP THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND JUMPS OVER GEARS. MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE CAN PUT THE VEHICLE IN NUETRAL, OR PARK TO DRIVE CAN PUT THE CAR INTO 2ND GEAR. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START IN PARK, AS IT IS NOT REGISTERING THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. IT CAN NOT BE STARTED IN NEUTRAL ALL THE TIME EITHER, AS THE GEAR SHIFT SOMETIMES JUMPS RIGHT PAST NEUTRAL. TO ENSURE THE VEHICLE STAYS STOPPED WHEN PARKED, I'VE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR SAFETY. I CAN NO LONGER SAFELY GO TO THE DRIVE THROUGH CAR WASH, AS THE CAR HAS JUMPED THE "RAIL" FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE, AND STOPPED THE WHOLE CAR WASH LINE.*AK
THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF EXCEPTIONALY,THERE IS NO REASON FOR A TRANSMISSION TO GO OR SPEEDOMETER.IAM A PROFFESIONAL DRIVER BY TRADE.THIS DEALERSHIP WAS EXTREMELY RUDE.NO SATISFACTION FROM ANYONE TO DATE .PLEASE HELP. I ALSO OWN 2001 TAURUS AND 1989 F-150 NOT BOUGHT AT THAT DEALERSHIP.THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCE'S AROUND 0-80+ …
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THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF EXCEPTIONALY,THERE IS NO REASON FOR A TRANSMISSION TO GO OR SPEEDOMETER.IAM A PROFFESIONAL DRIVER BY TRADE.THIS DEALERSHIP WAS EXTREMELY RUDE.NO SATISFACTION FROM ANYONE TO DATE .PLEASE HELP. I ALSO OWN 2001 TAURUS AND 1989 F-150 NOT BOUGHT AT THAT DEALERSHIP.THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCE'S AROUND 0-80+ ALL THE TIME,THE TRANY WENT IN AN INTERSECTION AS MY WIFE WENT TO PULL OUT THE ENGINE STALLED THE WIRES MELTED AND RUINED TRANSMISSION $1500.00 +*AK
VEHICLE OVERHEATED/STALLED & COLD AIR WAS COMING OUT OF DEFROSTER WITH HEAT SET AT HIGH. A SMALL AMOUNT OF FREON ENTERED VEHICLE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND THAT GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER EXTENDING WARRANTY TO GET THIS FIXED, BUT MILEAGE WAS OVER 9,000. A SECOND WARRANTY WAS SENT COVERING 1…
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VEHICLE OVERHEATED/STALLED & COLD AIR WAS COMING OUT OF DEFROSTER WITH HEAT SET AT HIGH. A SMALL AMOUNT OF FREON ENTERED VEHICLE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND THAT GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER EXTENDING WARRANTY TO GET THIS FIXED, BUT MILEAGE WAS OVER 9,000. A SECOND WARRANTY WAS SENT COVERING 100,000 MILES. BUT, CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVED IT. *AK *SLC
COOLANT GETTING INTO ENGINE OIL AND CAUSES PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE TIMING BELT COVER GASKET FAILURE CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE OIL. AFTER THE GASKET WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED AS THE RESULT OF COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL. *YH
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.