IllustrationNO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1997 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Taurus years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 136 of 770 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 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
64 crash reports12 fire reports41 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
145 reportsWHILE DRIVING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE, THE VEHICLE AND DRIVER EXPERIENCED AN APPROXIMATE 4-5 SECOND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING EITHER IN RAIN OR OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER AND MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN , WATER WILL GET INTO THE SERPENTINE BELT, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING FOR ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS . THERE IS NO GUARD OR SHIELD TO PROTECT BELTS FROM GETTING WET. FORD CLAIMS THEY CANNOT FIX DEFECT. *AK *ML
WHILE FREEWAY DRIVING, THE CAR DIED. NO WARNING LIGHTSOR ANY OTHER VISABLE PROBLEMS. TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER AND WERE TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND COULD HAVE ANOTHER FOR 5,500.00. TOWED THE CAR HOME AND FOUND THE COOLING RESIVORE WAS CRACKED AND HAD EMPITIED ALL COOLENT. WE FIND FROM FORD MOTORS THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM, AND…
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WHILE FREEWAY DRIVING, THE CAR DIED. NO WARNING LIGHTSOR ANY OTHER VISABLE PROBLEMS. TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER AND WERE TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND COULD HAVE ANOTHER FOR 5,500.00. TOWED THE CAR HOME AND FOUND THE COOLING RESIVORE WAS CRACKED AND HAD EMPITIED ALL COOLENT. WE FIND FROM FORD MOTORS THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM, AND WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. *AK
ENGINE COOLANT IS TURNING BROWN. CHANGED COOLANT AT 20,000 MILES AND RECENTLY CHANGED AGAIN AT 45,000.SHOUD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A 97' VEHICLE.
CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL PRIOR TO PURCHASE, VEHICLE DENIED RECALL REPAIR DUE TO TIME RESTRICTIONS. (98B2) *MJS
IN COLD WEATHER ENGINE IDLES HIGH. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 3 TIMES, AND REPLACED SENSOR ON ENGINE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
ENGINE OPERATES ROUGHLY. *AK
HEATER CORE FAILED AFTER 4 TIMES AND 2ND ENGINE FAILED. COOLING PROBLEMS NEVER FOUND.*AK
CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR,I ORDERED A NEW ONE AWHILE BACK AND 4 COMP WERE OUT OF THEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD,SO I ASSUMED THAT MAYBE THERE WOULD BE A DEFECT WITH THEM. *AK
Official recalls
398V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Feb 10, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
97V097000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jun 9, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 5, 1996
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.