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: 93 of 825 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 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 182 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
69 crash reports12 fire reports45 injury reports
What owners actually said
825 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ENGINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STALLED/ JUST STOPPED WORKING.CONSUMER STEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DAY BEFORE THIS FAILURE, THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE STALL. THE DEALER SAYS THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS THE …
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ENGINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STALLED/ JUST STOPPED WORKING.CONSUMER STEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DAY BEFORE THIS FAILURE, THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE STALL. THE DEALER SAYS THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE, AND THAT THE ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #874101
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000
Electrical System
N O SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #735445
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #735099
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
MY CAR WAS RUNNING HOT. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE SERVICE. WHEN THEY DIAGNOISED THE CAR , I WAS TOLD IT WAS FREEZE PLUGS AND THAT THE CHARGE WAS 1,575.00. I TOLD THEM TO FIX MY CAR. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR IT WAS SHAKING. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT T…
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MY CAR WAS RUNNING HOT. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE SERVICE. WHEN THEY DIAGNOISED THE CAR , I WAS TOLD IT WAS FREEZE PLUGS AND THAT THE CHARGE WAS 1,575.00. I TOLD THEM TO FIX MY CAR. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR IT WAS SHAKING. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING. THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT TOOK MY HUSBAND 2 MONTHS TO GET THE MONEY IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR. IWAS TOLD TWICE TO DRIVE THE CAR. WHEN I FINALLY BROUGHT THE BACK IN THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THE SERVICE SOON LIGHT WAS BACK ON, I WAS TOLD THE I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND THEY WANTED ANOTHER 495.00 FROM MY HUSBAND AND ME TO FIX MY CAR.
NHTSA ODI #734993
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #734926
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Electrical System
AFTER THE TAURUS HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 30 MIN, YOU WILL LOSE POWER STERING AND THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHILE TAURUS IS RUNNING AND THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL P/S WORKS! SELECT REVERSE OR DRIVE YOU LOSE P/S, DASH BOARD ALARMS SEATBELT AND ABS BRAKES, THE RADIO MUTES,SELECT PARK OR…
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AFTER THE TAURUS HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 30 MIN, YOU WILL LOSE POWER STERING AND THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHILE TAURUS IS RUNNING AND THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL P/S WORKS! SELECT REVERSE OR DRIVE YOU LOSE P/S, DASH BOARD ALARMS SEATBELT AND ABS BRAKES, THE RADIO MUTES,SELECT PARK OR NEUTRAL EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL.
NHTSA ODI #734762
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2000
Visibility
WHEN DEFROSTER IS TURED ON, A MIST OF STICKY FUMES DEVELOPE AT THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. THIS MIST HAS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE HEADACHE AND STOMACH PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #873275
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
I LIKED THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT , BUT AM WONDERING IF I BOUGHT A LEMON
NHTSA ODI #734378
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET WAS NEVER ANY GOOD. I HAVE SPENT APPROXIAMATELY $2500.00 ON REPAIR COSTS AND SURVIVED TWO WINTERS WITHOUT HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. FORD COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND DID NOTHING.
NHTSA ODI #734332
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000
Electrical System
"DOOR AJAR" INDICATOR COMES ON WON'T GO OFF, OR INTERIOR ILLIMINATING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN DOOR IS OPENED AND NEVER GO OFF, HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE TO SAVE BATTERY, BUT CANNOT OPERATE WINDOWS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. THESE VEHICLES WERE INADVERTENLY EQUIPPED WITH AN 18-GALLON FUEL TANK RATHER THAN THE 16-GALLON AS SPECIFIED. THE 18-GALLON TANK HAS A SECOND VALVE LOCATION WHERE A SHIPPING PLUG SHOULD BE INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LOCATED ON THE FUEL RAIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS A VACUUM DIAPHRAGM THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING MANUFACTURE OF THE REGULATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DIAPHRAGM TEARS OR RUPTURES, LIQUID FUEL COULD ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM THROUGH THE VACUUM LINE RESULTING IN EITHER RELEASE OF FUEL FROM THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. FUEL RELEASE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THOSE REGULATORS PRODUCED DURING THE SUSPECT TIME PERIOD WILL BE REPLACED.
THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN. IF THE ROLL PIN IS DAMAGED, BOTH THE ROLL PIN AND THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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