IllustrationTRANSMISION IS GOING OUT.....TORQUE CONVERTOR ALSO FAILING. *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
Power Train complaints
214 reportsTRANSMISSION WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. FELT LIKE BEING REARENDED. FINALLY TRANSMISSION QUIT WORKING. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED BY MECHANIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BEING NON REPAIRABLE.*AK *SLC
97 V 097 000/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION SLIPPING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SLC
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 INCIDENTS WITH VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK. DURING FIRST INCIDENT CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN PARK, VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND GOT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN BACK TO VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS, AND HIT HER SON'S VEHICLE BEFORE SHE COULD GET TO IT. SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON 11TH …
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CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 INCIDENTS WITH VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS AFTER BEING PUT IN PARK. DURING FIRST INCIDENT CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN PARK, VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND GOT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN BACK TO VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS, AND HIT HER SON'S VEHICLE BEFORE SHE COULD GET TO IT. SECOND INCIDENT WAS ON 11TH OF MAY, AGAIN CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE IN PARK; BUT, THIS TIME WAS STILL INSIDE VEHICLE. ONLY WAY OF STOPPING WAS TO PUSH DOWN OF BRAKES AND PULL UP EMERGENCY BRAKE. POLICE HAD TOWING COMPANY TO COME OUT AND LOOK. THEY STATED EVERYTIME VEHICLE WENT IN REVERSE OR PARK IT LOCKED GEARS UP. TRANSMISSION WAS ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY, AND THEY ALSO FOUND GEAR CABLE WAS CUT. CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO PUT PARKING BRAKE ON FOR EACH NORMAL STOP. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET FORD TO COOPERATE WITH PROBLEM.*AK
FORD REFERRED TO THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 98-3-7 WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILURE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD VEHICLES AND THE ORIGINAL COMPONENT WAS MADE FROM ALUMINUM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED AND FORD TO RECALL THIS PART. *AK
CAR CONTINUES WITH THE NEUTRAL CONDITION OF TRANSMISSION AFTER REPAIR TRANSMISSION 7 TIMES. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS FOR 3 MONTHS, NOW IT JERKS VERY HARD AND RPM'S GET VERY HI BEING STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO WORK AND HAD TO BE REBUILT AT THE COST OF 1926.00. THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOP THAT DID THE WORK STATED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS UPDATES HE HAD TO DO TO THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT PROBLEMS THAT HAD COME DEFECTIVE DIRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY WHEN THE VEHCILE WAS NEW. I DONT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS T…
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THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO WORK AND HAD TO BE REBUILT AT THE COST OF 1926.00. THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOP THAT DID THE WORK STATED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS UPDATES HE HAD TO DO TO THIS VEHICLE TO CORRECT PROBLEMS THAT HAD COME DEFECTIVE DIRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY WHEN THE VEHCILE WAS NEW. I DONT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY AND HAVE FORD TELL ME , SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS.*AK
POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT FAILURE; FIRST BEGAN WHEN PLACING SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE GEAR, THEN LATER OCCURRED ALSO IN FORWARD DRIVE GEARS. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC PROBLEM SINCE RADIO SPEAKERS ALSO GO SILENT AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DISCOVERED THAT REMOVAL OF 15AMP FUSE CONTROLLING BACKUP LIGHTS…
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POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT FAILURE; FIRST BEGAN WHEN PLACING SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE GEAR, THEN LATER OCCURRED ALSO IN FORWARD DRIVE GEARS. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC PROBLEM SINCE RADIO SPEAKERS ALSO GO SILENT AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DISCOVERED THAT REMOVAL OF 15AMP FUSE CONTROLLING BACKUP LIGHTS/HEATER RETURN POWER STEERING AND RADIO CONTROL. ALL OTHER FUSES WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER IS NOT YET CONTACTED.
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.