NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
770 reports50,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Steering
F YOU CAN REFERENCE THE "CAR TALK" ARTICLE FROM JULY 2002 IT EXPLAINS MY PROBLEMS TO A "T". NUMEROUS MECHANICS REPLIED TO THE ARTICLE AND "CAR TALK" RELAYED THAT INFO TO ME. MY TAURUS WAS 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED. MY DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WINDOW STARTED CUTTING OUT AT TIMES. THEN MY RADIO START…
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F YOU CAN REFERENCE THE "CAR TALK" ARTICLE FROM JULY 2002 IT EXPLAINS MY PROBLEMS TO A "T". NUMEROUS MECHANICS REPLIED TO THE ARTICLE AND "CAR TALK" RELAYED THAT INFO TO ME. MY TAURUS WAS 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED. MY DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WINDOW STARTED CUTTING OUT AT TIMES. THEN MY RADIO STARTED CUTTING OUT ONLY WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THEN WHEN IN REVERSE AND SO ON TILL IT DIDN'T WORK. MY WIPERS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS AT TIMES. ALL THESE WERE MINER TILL MY POWER STEERING STARTED CUTTING OUT. THAT IS THE TIME I SAW THIS ARTICLE AND GOT THE INFO THAT THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING OR ADMIT THAT THERE WAS A TREND. I GOT THE SENSOR REPLACED BY ONE MECHANIC WHO STATED HE HAD MANY FORD CARS ON WHICH HE REPLACED THE SENSORS, ALL THE SAME YEARS- 97-98S. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DID NOT REPLACE THE CONNECTOR PIECE AND THE PROBLEMS RETURNED. I THEN PAID THE BIG BUCKS AND HAD A DEALER REPLACE THE PIECE. THEY, OF COURSE, SAID THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND WANTED TO DO ALL THIS TESTING. I SHOWED THEM ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT I FOUND AND WHAT "CAR TALK" SENT ME. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE GETTING IT REPLACED. I AM INCENSED THAT FORD WOULD NOT RECALL A PIECE THAT ALLOWS YOUR POWER STEERING TO GO OUT. IF A RECALL OCCURS, I WOULD LOVE TO BE PART OF IT. I AM OUT 300$.
NHTSA ODI #10069632
44,200 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power TrainVisibility
RIGHT REAR WINDOW WON'T ALWAYS CLOSE AFTER OPENING. TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING LOW SPEED STARTS THROUGH INTERSECTION OR PARKING LOT. FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THEN WHEN TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, IT SUDDENLY LURCHES CHIRPPING THE TIRES.
NHTSA ODI #10069433
Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering
TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE, SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE,CAM SENSOR & FALSE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT, & MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN
NHTSA ODI #10069325
7,200 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
CRACKED FORWARD PISTON IN TRANS. I HAVE A`97,,,WASN`T THAT PROBLEM FIXED?
NHTSA ODI #10068794
63,941 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF...TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND REPAIRED AND IS NOW NEEDING REPAIR AGAIN...TIRES FROM NORMAL WEAR...BRAKES FROM NORMAL WEAR...
NHTSA ODI #10068718
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2003
Electrical SystemSteering
LTR FM M.L. MOODY (TX) RE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION . *MR THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH HAD INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP FOUR TIMES. T…
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LTR FM M.L. MOODY (TX) RE DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS, REQUESTS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION . *MR THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH HAD INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MECHANICAL ERROR. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10052015
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2003
Electrical SystemSteering
DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS. REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *PH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FOUR INCIDENTS OF STEERING LOCK UP. …
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DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN A 1997 FORD TAURUS. REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION. *PH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE RED LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DASH WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FOUR INCIDENTS OF STEERING LOCK UP. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10051638
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2003
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. IT WOULD SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND MAKE LOUD NOISE. *AK THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LEAVING HER IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. BY JIGGLING THE SHIFT LEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THEN …
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WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY. IT WOULD SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND MAKE LOUD NOISE. *AK THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED LEAVING HER IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. BY JIGGLING THE SHIFT LEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THEN INTO DRIVE. THIS HAD BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1991-1998 MODELS. FORD WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10037902
76,340 miles · Dec 2, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP WIRES ARCHED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH
NHTSA ODI #10040187
90 miles · Nov 14, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure
THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING IN LAYERS FROM THE FRAME OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE IS TSB 00203 CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10048007
Illustration