IllustrationWHILE 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
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
Steering complaints
59 reportsWHEN DRIVING ON WET STREETS OR OVER AN PUDDLE I LOOSE ALL STEERING AND CONTROLL OF CAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN I MAKE AN RIGHT HAND TURNS. BELTS SQUEEL FOR 10 TO 30 SECONDS AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS AWWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE A…
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WHEN DRIVING ON WET STREETS OR OVER AN PUDDLE I LOOSE ALL STEERING AND CONTROLL OF CAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN I MAKE AN RIGHT HAND TURNS. BELTS SQUEEL FOR 10 TO 30 SECONDS AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS AWWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
PROBLEM 1: DUE TO SIGNIFICANT FRONT END VIBRATION AT SPEEDS AT OR OVER 40 MPH, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE-ROD ENDS ON A CAR JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. PROBLEM 2: DISCOVERED THE SAFETY INFORMATION PLACARD ON THE DOOR POST DOES NOT LIST MANDATROY INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE AIR PRESSURES. THE OWNER'S MANUA…
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PROBLEM 1: DUE TO SIGNIFICANT FRONT END VIBRATION AT SPEEDS AT OR OVER 40 MPH, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIE-ROD ENDS ON A CAR JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. PROBLEM 2: DISCOVERED THE SAFETY INFORMATION PLACARD ON THE DOOR POST DOES NOT LIST MANDATROY INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE AIR PRESSURES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL REFERS TO THIS PLACARD, BUT ALSO DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED POWER WINDOWS TO FAIL. ALSO, STEERING MALFUNCTIONED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND APPOINTMENT WAS RECEIVED. *AK
SQUEAKING IN FRONT END, HAD TO HAVE TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED THEN THERE IS STILL A POPPING IN THE FRONT END WHEN I TURN THE WHEELS TO MAKE A TURN. *AK
WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD WORK ERRACTICALLY. SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THE SWITCH CAN TURN WIPERS ON & THEN WIPERS WOULD STOP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY, AND POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TAKING VEH…
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WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD WORK ERRACTICALLY. SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THE SWITCH CAN TURN WIPERS ON & THEN WIPERS WOULD STOP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY, AND POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TAKING VEHICLE DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEMS. *AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN UP A CURB AND INTO A BUILDING. THERE IS A TSB BULLETIN ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SHIMMY IN STEERING COLUMN DURING BRAKING INDICATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED REPAIR. PADS REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED AT 55000. STEERING COLUMN WOULD "GROAN" INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNED TO RIGHT AND THEN RETURNED TO CENTER. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDING REPLACEMENT. WOULD NOT PERFORMA UNDER…
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SHIMMY IN STEERING COLUMN DURING BRAKING INDICATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED REPAIR. PADS REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED AT 55000. STEERING COLUMN WOULD "GROAN" INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNED TO RIGHT AND THEN RETURNED TO CENTER. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDING REPLACEMENT. WOULD NOT PERFORMA UNDER WARRANTY. CAR ONLY HAD 58,000 MILES (WAY TOO SOON!)
STEERING EXHIBITS GROAN OR SHUDDER WITH SOME LOSS OF ASSIST WHEN RECOVERING FROM A RIGHT TURN. FORD HAS ISSUED OVER 10 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS MATTER. DEALER AND FORD MOTOR CONTACTED. FORD MOTOR TOOK INFORMATION AND INDICATED THAT NO ASSISTANCE WILL BE OFFERED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $500. I AM …
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STEERING EXHIBITS GROAN OR SHUDDER WITH SOME LOSS OF ASSIST WHEN RECOVERING FROM A RIGHT TURN. FORD HAS ISSUED OVER 10 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS MATTER. DEALER AND FORD MOTOR CONTACTED. FORD MOTOR TOOK INFORMATION AND INDICATED THAT NO ASSISTANCE WILL BE OFFERED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $500. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER ASSIST IN RECOVERING FROM A TURN WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THEIR REPAIR OF MY TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, I AM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR FOR THIS MYSELF. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? THEY BREAK IT, I PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THIS IS FORD QUALITY IS JOB1 AT ITS BEST.
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.