IllustrationSCREW IN ENGINE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*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 reportsTHIS IS A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1997 TAURUS SHO. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THE CAMSHAFT IS ATTACHED TO THE CAM BY SPLINES WHICH UNDER THE STRESS OF THE ENGINE SPIN UN THE CAM WHICH THROWS OFF THE TIMING AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED THE PEOPLE …
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THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1997 TAURUS SHO. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THE CAMSHAFT IS ATTACHED TO THE CAM BY SPLINES WHICH UNDER THE STRESS OF THE ENGINE SPIN UN THE CAM WHICH THROWS OFF THE TIMING AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED THE PEOPLE OF V8SHOW.COM TO SEND THEM SOME CAMS SO THEY CAN TEST THEM. I AM AN OWNER THAT OWES $6000 ON A VEHICLE WHICH IS COMPLETLY OUT OF ORDER SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5000 AND 15000 TO FIX IT. 5000 IS FOR A USED ENGINE WTH 50,000 MILES ON IT. 15,000 IS THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE FROM FORD. PLEASE HELP IN ANYWAY YOU CAN. *AK
VEHICLE STALLED AT 70 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *YH
COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO MOTOR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER FOUND FREEZE PLUG HAD RUSTED OUT, DEALER STATED THAT THIS CONDITION WAS A DEFECT, MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY CLAIM. *TT
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD AND THEN STALLED OUT. HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, AND THERE WAS A "TICKING" NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT CAMSHAFT FAILED, AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
THIS IS THE SECOND BLOWER MOTOR TO NEED REPLACING. *AK
FORD PROVIDED A NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM, NUMBER 98B23 TO OWNERS OF 1996 AND 1997 TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. THE PURPOSE WAS TO CHECK THE COOLENG SYSTEM AND INSTALL A COOLANT BY-PASS KIT. THIS PROGRAM WAS ELIGIBLE THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 1999, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. ONLY FIRST OWNERS WERE CONTACTED. MY …
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FORD PROVIDED A NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM, NUMBER 98B23 TO OWNERS OF 1996 AND 1997 TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. THE PURPOSE WAS TO CHECK THE COOLENG SYSTEM AND INSTALL A COOLANT BY-PASS KIT. THIS PROGRAM WAS ELIGIBLE THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 1999, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. ONLY FIRST OWNERS WERE CONTACTED. MY DAUGHTER AS 2ND OWNER WAS NOT. SHE GAVE ME THE CAR IN JUNE,2001 AND NEITHER ONE OF US HAD AN INKLING OF THE COOLANT PROBLEM. MY CAR ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING. WE ARE LUCKY TO SURVIVE THE INCIDENT. FORD DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE INCIDENT. ALL THEY CAN SAY IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I THINK IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW SO THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF IT BEFORE IT CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO HEAR FROM YOU IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS.THANKS. *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.