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
What owners actually said
770 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Steering
BOUGHT CAR 1-97 IN OCTOBER OF 97 TOOK IN TO DEALER FOR NOISE WHEN STEERING--SAID NOTHING WRONG IN JAN 98 TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD RACK AND PINION WAS MAKING THE NOISE--TOOK BACK TO DEALER THEY SAID RACK AND PINION SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED BEFORE COMING OFF LOT BECAUSE OF SAFETY UPGRADE BUT WAS NEVER REPLACED!! SO …
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BOUGHT CAR 1-97 IN OCTOBER OF 97 TOOK IN TO DEALER FOR NOISE WHEN STEERING--SAID NOTHING WRONG IN JAN 98 TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD RACK AND PINION WAS MAKING THE NOISE--TOOK BACK TO DEALER THEY SAID RACK AND PINION SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED BEFORE COMING OFF LOT BECAUSE OF SAFETY UPGRADE BUT WAS NEVER REPLACED!! SO THEY DID REPLACE IT---THEN IN 1999 TOOK CAR BACK FOR POWER STEERING LEAK--THEY COULD NOT FIND ONE--NOW I HAVE OBVIOUSLY LEAK WITH ONLY 15,000 MILES ON CAR--AND DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO HELP FIX SINCE MY WARRANTY IS OVER!! ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS???
NHTSA ODI #734189
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train
AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #555771
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2000
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPER SPEED CHANGES FROM SETTING,SOMETIMES TO ONLY INTERMITTENT. OCCURS AFTER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE USED FOR A WHILE, AND WHEN TURN SIGNALS ARE USED. DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #733115
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR, DON'T KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT NEXT FAILURE. NO CONTACT FROM MANUFACTURER, DO THEY CARE?NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #732970
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2000
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN WHEN YOU MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED OF APPROX. 60 MILES AN HOUR. THE WHOLE CAR JERKS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER TO THE CAR TURNS OFF IT IS SUCH A HARD SHIFT. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AT 32,000 MILES TO JIM SKINNER FORD. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, "TAURUS'S D…
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THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN WHEN YOU MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED OF APPROX. 60 MILES AN HOUR. THE WHOLE CAR JERKS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT FEELS LIKE THE POWER TO THE CAR TURNS OFF IT IS SUCH A HARD SHIFT. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AT 32,000 MILES TO JIM SKINNER FORD. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, "TAURUS'S DO THAT". IT ALSO JERKS REALLY HARD WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE BUT THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL ALSO. PERIODICALLY, WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP IT SURGES FORWARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #732774
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2000
Power Train
THE CAR BARELY MOVES, IF AT ALL, WHEN IN ANY GEAR. TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A LOUD BUZZING NOISE. FLUID WAS CHECKED AND IS NOT LOW. *AK
NHTSA ODI #732413
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Electrical SystemPower Train
BEARINGS FAILED. NLM
NHTSA ODI #554948
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2000
Equipment
A VEHICLE WHICH IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD SUFFERS A FAILED CLUTCH ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. AFTER CHECKING INTO POSSIBLE PART RECALLS THROUGH NHTSA, A HARD COPY SHOWS THE LAYOUT OF WHAT THE PART SHOULD LOOK LIKE , WITH SERIAL NUMBERS TO IDENTIFY THE PART. UPON INSPECTION OF THE COMPRESSOR, NO SERIAL NUMBERS WERE FOUND, JUST WHA…
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A VEHICLE WHICH IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD SUFFERS A FAILED CLUTCH ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. AFTER CHECKING INTO POSSIBLE PART RECALLS THROUGH NHTSA, A HARD COPY SHOWS THE LAYOUT OF WHAT THE PART SHOULD LOOK LIKE , WITH SERIAL NUMBERS TO IDENTIFY THE PART. UPON INSPECTION OF THE COMPRESSOR, NO SERIAL NUMBERS WERE FOUND, JUST WHAT TYPE OF REFRIDGERANT SHOULD BE USED. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PART I NOW POSSESS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL PART THAT WAS USED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE. FURTHER RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENT WITH THE TAURUS, BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL HAS YET TO BE LISTED. I NOW WISH TO MAKE IT KNOWN. THE THEORY OF THE PART NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSED OVER AND SUPPRESSED FROM THE CONSUMER. ADDITIONALLY, AS OF 09/15/00 ONE OF THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED AND NO LONGER WORKS. THIS ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS AND NEVER HAD THESE SORT OF PROBLEMS. I WISH TO RELAY THE INFORMATION OF WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THIS MODEL FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )
NHTSA ODI #731658
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 TO 50 MPH DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #870373
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Power Train
SERVICE BULLETIN 98-3-7: INTERMITTENT NEUTRAL CONDITION - NO WARRANTY COVERAGE EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS UPGRADED THE PART. DEALER QUOTE WAS $2500. TRANSMISSION SHOP UPGRADED FOR $1500. *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
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