IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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
What owners actually said
770 reportsTHE ENGINE FAILED WITH NO WARNING. AT 55 MPH, ENGINE LOST POWER, OVERHEATED WITH NO INDICATION FROM TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND QUIT. BROWN CRAP SPEWED FROM THE RADIATOR. LOST ALL FLUIDS. DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED ENGINE HEADS WERE CRACKED AND THE COMPRESSION TEST WAS LOW ON TWO CYLINDERS. A NEW ENGINE WAS REQUIRED. *AK
TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING PRIOR TO FAILURE. YH
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES TO COME TO A GRADUAL STOP AND BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE . WITH FULL PRESSURE ON BRAKES, VEHICLE KEPT GOING ABOUT 200 YARDS BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND FAILED WHEN ACCELERATING AND SLAMMED INTO 2ND GEAR THEN REFUSED TO POWER/ WORK AT ALL - 3RD REVERSE PISTON CRACKED DEALER SAID NEEDS REPLACING AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK
VEHICLE SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN AT A STOP POSITION. WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. VALVE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED, PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED, ALTHOUGH THERE IS ROUGH SHIFTING. *AK *ML
WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN GEAR, REACH ABOUT 25MPH AND DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THEN, ENGINE REVS UP TO 4,000 RPMS AND WHEN REACH 30MPH IT SHIFTS. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AIR CONDITIONER BELT CAME LOOSE. *AK
NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON DUE TO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT BEING ON IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER NOON WHEN TH CAR IS PARKED IN THE SUN LIGHT AND AFRAID TO CAUSE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS UNDERDASH LIGHT BEING SO BRIGHT. *AK
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.