IllustrationREAR WHEEL CYLINDER IS LEAKING , CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, WHICH COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *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 reportsUPON STARTING VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 12 MPH, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO GARAGE DOORS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
POWER STEERING IS LOST AND BATTERY-WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS WHENEVER I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE MORE THAN ABOUT AN INCH DEEP. FORD SEEMS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT (THEY SAID THE PART REPLACEMENT WAS MANDATORY AND COVERED BY WARRANTY), BUT THE DEALERSHIP STILL WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR --…
Read full complaint
POWER STEERING IS LOST AND BATTERY-WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS WHENEVER I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE MORE THAN ABOUT AN INCH DEEP. FORD SEEMS TO BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT (THEY SAID THE PART REPLACEMENT WAS MANDATORY AND COVERED BY WARRANTY), BUT THE DEALERSHIP STILL WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR --AT THE HEIGHT OF SOUTH FLORIDA'S RAINY SEASON-- FOR ANOTHER WEEK WHILE A PART IS ON ORDER FOR THE REPAIR. THEY DON'T SEEM TO APPRECIATE HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO DRIVE WITH INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING (IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD USE A FASTER METHOD TO SHIP THE REPLACEMENT PART).
WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IT MAKES A POPPING SOUND. *ET
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS UPON ACCELERATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. NLM
TRANS FAILED TO ENGAGE AT STOP-THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR. VEHICLE THEN STOPPED WHEN GOING 40-SLAMMED INTO GEAR AGAIN.
WAS DRIVING 55MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE CAME APART. THE TREAD OF THE TIRE CAME OFF. THE STEEL BELT IN MIDDLE OF TIRE WAS SLICED. *AK
BRAKES LOCKING UP. NLM
COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE RACING AND PULLING.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVER WAS MANUVERING A CURVE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE JUMPING A DITCH,ROLL OVER AND STOP AGAINST A POWER POLE UPSIDE DOWN. NLM
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.