A PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS. HEADLIGHT LENS IS SO FOGGY THAT VISIBILITY IS POOR ENOUGH THAT IT MUST BE REPLACED. FORD SAYS THE DETERIORATION IS DUE TO AUTOMATIC CAR WASH SOAP. HOWEVER, CAR WAS HAND WASHED. THE APPROXIMATE COST FOR PARTS ALONE IS $500 AS THE LENS IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. CARS IN TH…
Read full complaint
A PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS. HEADLIGHT LENS IS SO FOGGY THAT VISIBILITY IS POOR ENOUGH THAT IT MUST BE REPLACED. FORD SAYS THE DETERIORATION IS DUE TO AUTOMATIC CAR WASH SOAP. HOWEVER, CAR WAS HAND WASHED. THE APPROXIMATE COST FOR PARTS ALONE IS $500 AS THE LENS IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. CARS IN THE JUNK YARD ALSO HAVE SAME CONDITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234203
71,735 miles · Oct 10, 2006
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY LIGHT SWITCH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10170450
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2005
Exterior Lighting
DT: CONSUMER OWNS A FORD TAURUS. THE HEADLIGHT LENS WAS NOT CLEAR, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE CLOUDINESS HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. HAD TO BUY 2 NEW SEALED HEADLIGHTS.*AK *NM
NHTSA ODI #10132131
13,000 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train
WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS/STEER THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. *AK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT, THE RADIO WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEM WOULD START WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. THE SEAT BE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS/STEER THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. *AK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT, THE RADIO WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEM WOULD START WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, REVERSE, OR NEUTRAL. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF WITHOUT CAUSE. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10087207
88,000 miles · Aug 9, 2004
Exterior LightingInterior LightingVisibility
RANDOM CHANGES IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED, REGARDLESS OF SETTING. HAZARD SIGNALS FAILED OR ONLY ONE SIDE FLASHING. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE (OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CONSOLE LIGHTS). FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTING TO TURN OFF AFTER DOORS CLOSED. FAILURE OF POWER WINDOWS (ALL FOUR). SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REQUIR…
Read full complaint
RANDOM CHANGES IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED, REGARDLESS OF SETTING. HAZARD SIGNALS FAILED OR ONLY ONE SIDE FLASHING. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE (OF EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CONSOLE LIGHTS). FAILURE OF INTERIOR LIGHTING TO TURN OFF AFTER DOORS CLOSED. FAILURE OF POWER WINDOWS (ALL FOUR). SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF GEM MODULE. TURN SIGNAL/WIPER CONTROLS REPLACED. GEM MODULE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10086455
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Exterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY WIGGLE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO KEEP HEADLIGHTS ON. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8005986
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. THE ONLY WAY WAS FOR TO LIFT HOOD UP AND DISCONNECT BATTERY TO CABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #899108
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2001
Exterior Lighting
THERE ARE NO LIGHTS AT ALL IN OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. LIGHTS IN FRONT WENT OUT FIRST, AND THEN THIRD LIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #885807
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2000
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHT BEZEL IS DISCOLORED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A FOG INSIDE THE BEZEL. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATES "SOMETHING" MUST HAVE BEEN SPRAYED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BEZEL. I WAS TOLD THAT SOME OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A GASKET LEAK AND THAT WAS …
Read full complaint
THE HEADLIGHT BEZEL IS DISCOLORED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A FOG INSIDE THE BEZEL. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER STATES "SOMETHING" MUST HAVE BEEN SPRAYED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BEZEL. I WAS TOLD THAT SOME OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A GASKET LEAK AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGAURDING THIS PROBLEM? *AK
NHTSA ODI #722333
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2000
Exterior LightingVisibility
WHILE DRIVING ON I95 DURING A RAINSTORM, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN I ACTIVATED MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL. VISIBILITY SUDDENLY BECAME ZERO AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS CRASH. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO RESTORE PARTIAL USE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BY SWITCHING ON MY HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I TRIED…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON I95 DURING A RAINSTORM, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN I ACTIVATED MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL. VISIBILITY SUDDENLY BECAME ZERO AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS CRASH. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO RESTORE PARTIAL USE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BY SWITCHING ON MY HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHTS. I TRIED THIS PROCEDURE BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ARE ALL CONTROLLED BY THE SAME HANDLE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT INSIDE THE STALK THAT HOUSES THE WIRING FOR THESE CONTROLS. I HAVE RARELY USED THIS CAR IN THE RAIN ( THERE HAS BEEN A VIRTUAL DROUGHT IN MY AREA) AND THIS IS THE FIRST REAL WORKOUT OF THE WIPERS.*AK
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.
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.
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.
1997 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration