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 · Sep 9, 2000
Tires
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY AS HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES UNDER RECALL. AT NO TIME DID THE TIRE DEFLATE. WHEN THE TREAD CAP SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE IT FLEW UP ONTO THE FENDER AREA AND CAUSED SOME SCRATCHING. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT OR IN…
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY AS HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE FIRESTONE TIRES UNDER RECALL. AT NO TIME DID THE TIRE DEFLATE. WHEN THE TREAD CAP SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE IT FLEW UP ONTO THE FENDER AREA AND CAUSED SOME SCRATCHING. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITHOUT INCIDENT OR INJURY TO ANY OF THE PASSENGERS AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED.( DOT NUMBER: A3UR442117 TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )
NHTSA ODI #730869
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Service Brakes, Air
WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR WE DISCOVER SHORTLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN BADLY RECKED THEY DID NOT TELL US TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY HAD A WHOLE NEW FRONT END ON SEVERAL PEICES OF GLASS WAS STILL IN THE CAR HAS HAD A POPPING NIOSE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT THEY KEEP SAYING THEY DONT HEAR IT THEY KEPT IT SO LONG EACH TIME WE TOOK IT TO …
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WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR WE DISCOVER SHORTLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN BADLY RECKED THEY DID NOT TELL US TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY HAD A WHOLE NEW FRONT END ON SEVERAL PEICES OF GLASS WAS STILL IN THE CAR HAS HAD A POPPING NIOSE SINCE WE BOUGHT IT THEY KEEP SAYING THEY DONT HEAR IT THEY KEPT IT SO LONG EACH TIME WE TOOK IT TO THEM WE HAD A ENGINE PUT IN IT AFTER NOT EVEN A YEAR HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY SO WE PAY FOR EVERY THING BUT IT HAS BEEN A LEMON EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT THE CAR LOT TRIED TO SAY THEY DIDNT KNOW IT HAD BEEN VERY BADLY WRECKED DIDNT TAKE ANY OFF THE PRICE AFTER WE FOUND OUT AND THE DOOR DOONT EVEN LINE UP RIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #730686
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #869698
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH AND RAN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, AND FRONTS WHEELS LOCKED UP. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE OF NOISE, AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN IT RAINS AND CONSUMER TURNS ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS THERE IS A GRAYISH FUME THAT COVERS WINDSHIELD, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #869007
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Tires
CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE SHE HEARD A BUMPING NOISE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND SHE DISCOVERED THAT RIGHT PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, ONE BIG CHUNK OFF TIRE. TIRES WERE GENERAL #G45 205/70 R15. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #868935
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IS THROTTLE "STICKS" IT IS AN ELECTRONICS CONTROL PROBLEM BUT SIMILAR TO OLDER CARS WHERE AUTO CHOKES STUCK, WHEN COMING TO A STOP ENGINE WILL CONTINUE AT 2500 TO 3000 RPM AND YOU HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO STOP. PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH MANY VISITS OVE…
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BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IS THROTTLE "STICKS" IT IS AN ELECTRONICS CONTROL PROBLEM BUT SIMILAR TO OLDER CARS WHERE AUTO CHOKES STUCK, WHEN COMING TO A STOP ENGINE WILL CONTINUE AT 2500 TO 3000 RPM AND YOU HAVE TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO STOP. PROBLEM IS ONGOING AND HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH MANY VISITS OVER LAST TWO YEARS WITH NO RESULT. ONE DEALER TOLD ME THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEM BUT HAS NO GOOD FIX. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AT TIMES AS CAR WILL CRUISE AT 30 MPH WITH FOOT OFF THROTTLE. IT WILL USUALLY IDLE DOWN AFTER A FEW SECONDS BUT VERY DANGEROUS IN GARAGE AND PARKING SITUATIONS. ALSO IF YOU ACCELERATE (AS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION) AND THAN SUDDENLY LIFT OFF THE THROTTLE, IT CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I NEARLY RAN OVER A PEDESTRIAN WHO STEPPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I AM NOT ONE TO BE TO PICKY ABOUT CARS BUT AFTER RESEARCHING YOUR SITE, IT APPEARS THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #728988
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, CONSUMER FELT IT WAS TOO SOON TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #868451
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING ONTO THE CATALYIC CONVERTER. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V097000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*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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