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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 →
770Owner complaints

Model-year median: 318

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
923
19941,205
1995825
1996770
1997545
1998874
19991,195
2000
Compare all Taurus years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
214Engine And Engine Cooling
145Service Brakes, Hydraulic
67Electrical System
62Steering
59
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
58Visibility
57Air Bags
42Fuel System, Gasoline
28Suspension
28Structure
25Equipment
24Seat Belts
23Unknown Or Other
23Interior Lighting
22Tires
22Exterior Lighting
15Engine
5Fuel System, Other
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Service Brakes, Air
4Seats
3Wheels
3Child Seat
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes
1

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 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

IDLE SPEED WILL INCREASE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED HIGH IDLE/ACCELERATION RATE (IDLE SPEED INCREASES FROM 600-800 RPM TO 1500-2000 RPM) THAT MAKES STOPPING DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION, WITH THIS HIGH IDLE THE CAR WILL MAKE A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER OVER 18 TIMES, DEALER AND …

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IDLE SPEED WILL INCREASE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED HIGH IDLE/ACCELERATION RATE (IDLE SPEED INCREASES FROM 600-800 RPM TO 1500-2000 RPM) THAT MAKES STOPPING DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION, WITH THIS HIGH IDLE THE CAR WILL MAKE A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER OVER 18 TIMES, DEALER AND FORD ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM, HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS BUT WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIND ACTUAL CAUSE. FORD REFUSES TO MAKE REPLACEMENT AND/OR REPURCHASE OFFER OTHER THAN WHAT DEALER WILL OFFER AS MINIMAL "TRADE-IN" VALUE IF I PURCHASE A NEW FORD. DT

NHTSA ODI #769663

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE FROST PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. THIS CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF NEARLY ALL COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. THE LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, AND THE HEADS TO CRACK. WITHIN NINETY SECONDS, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND CONSUMER WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWE…

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THE FROST PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. THIS CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF NEARLY ALL COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. THE LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, AND THE HEADS TO CRACK. WITHIN NINETY SECONDS, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND CONSUMER WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER. *JG

NHTSA ODI #568126

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAM SPROCKET FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BEING NOTIFIED BY FORD. FORD HAS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS AS THERE IS APROCEDURE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. BY NOT WELDING THE CAMS ENGINE FAILURE ACCURS CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. PREVENTIVE WELDING FOR $ 500.00 CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE …

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CAM SPROCKET FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BEING NOTIFIED BY FORD. FORD HAS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS AS THERE IS APROCEDURE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. BY NOT WELDING THE CAMS ENGINE FAILURE ACCURS CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. PREVENTIVE WELDING FOR $ 500.00 CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $6,00.00 FOR SALVAGED MOTOR. DT

NHTSA ODI #769209

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAM FAILURE; APPARENTLY ROTATED RELATIVE TO CAMSHAFT. OCCURED AT LIGHT TIP IN UNDER 45MPH, UNDER 3200 RPM. ENGINE STARTED MISSING, (RUNNING ON 4 CYLINDERS) AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVEN 1/2 MILE TO FIND PARKING LOT. DEALER ESTIMATED COSTS AT $3000 - $9000. DT

NHTSA ODI #768996

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE IN MOTION THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN BEGAN TO FLASH. *JG

NHTSA ODI #568078

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. WE WERE CLOSE TO AN OFF RAMP, AND EXITED. AT THAT TIME, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO CLIMB, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE NEAR OUR HOME. AN ENGINE CORE PLUG HAD FAILED, THE RESULTANT LOSE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND DAMAGE THE…

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WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. WE WERE CLOSE TO AN OFF RAMP, AND EXITED. AT THAT TIME, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO CLIMB, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE NEAR OUR HOME. AN ENGINE CORE PLUG HAD FAILED, THE RESULTANT LOSE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, AND DAMAGE THE HEAD GASKET. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3900. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT THEY STATE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ENGINE PROBLEM, SO I AM SUEING THEM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. DT

NHTSA ODI #768908

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

RE: 1997 TAURUS 3.0 VULCAN - FROST PLUG CORROSION AND HEAD GASKET BLOWN!. *AK

NHTSA ODI #767516

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY, CAR OVERHEATED, THEN STALLED, THEN WOULDNT START. THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN, HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND THERE WAS WATER IN THE OIL. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY THRU UNIVERSAL AND THEY ARE NOT HONORING WARRANTY. WAS NEVER INFORMED ON THE COOLING RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #767500

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CAUSED TOTAL FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS INHIBITING BRAKING AND STEERING MAKING CONTROL OF THE CAR DIFFICULT AND ENDANGERING DRIVER, PASSENGERS AND SURROUNDING VEHICLES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #767416

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS RUSTED AND THE WATER PUMP IS WARPED. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8017985

Official recalls

3

98V028000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.