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 · May 15, 1999
Electrical System
WITHIN THE LAST 6 MOS. WHEN CAR HIT APPROX. 60000 MILES WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON IT WILL NOT START. EVERYTHING IS DEAD. HOWEVER, POWER IN VEHICLE WILL COME BACK IF THE INTERIOR FRONT HOOD LEVER IS ACTIVATED. POWER WILL COME BACK AND THE RADIO WILL ALWAYS BE ON AM AND THE CLOCK WILL BE AT 12:00. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MA…
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WITHIN THE LAST 6 MOS. WHEN CAR HIT APPROX. 60000 MILES WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON IT WILL NOT START. EVERYTHING IS DEAD. HOWEVER, POWER IN VEHICLE WILL COME BACK IF THE INTERIOR FRONT HOOD LEVER IS ACTIVATED. POWER WILL COME BACK AND THE RADIO WILL ALWAYS BE ON AM AND THE CLOCK WILL BE AT 12:00. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS VERY SPORADICALLY. IN OTHER WORDS THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT IT WILL HAPPEN AND/OR MAKE IT HAPPEN.
NHTSA ODI #706537
Mileage unknown · May 14, 1999
Electrical SystemVisibility
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE MULTI-SPEED, BUT THEY ONLY RUN ON SLOW. YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON SEVERAL TMES TO GET THEM TO WORK RIGHT.THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN YOU TOOK THE KEY OUT THE ACCESSORIES CONTINUED TO RUN LIKE THE RADIO WOULD KEEP ON PLAYING WITH NO KEY IN THE CAR .THEY CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITC…
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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE MULTI-SPEED, BUT THEY ONLY RUN ON SLOW. YOU HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND ON SEVERAL TMES TO GET THEM TO WORK RIGHT.THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN YOU TOOK THE KEY OUT THE ACCESSORIES CONTINUED TO RUN LIKE THE RADIO WOULD KEEP ON PLAYING WITH NO KEY IN THE CAR .THEY CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT HELPED FOR A FEW THOUSAND MILES BUT NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK AGAIN.ALSO I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #706509
Mileage unknown · May 13, 1999
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING OFF AND ON FOR NO REASON. FORD REPAIR INFORMED ME IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA ODI #706486
Mileage unknown · May 6, 1999
Seats
DUE TO THE MATERIAL IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK TO THE OCCUPANT WHEN LEAVING VEHICLE. ALSO, SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1994 TAURUS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837547
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS. WHEN COME TO STOP, ENGINE OCCASSIONALLY RACES TO OVER 2200 RPMS. WHEN CRUSING AND LET OFF GAS, CAR IDLE DOES NOT NATURALLY GO DOWN. WAS FIXED BY DEALER ONCE, NOW RECURRING. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT UNPREDICTABLE IDLE/ACCELERATION CONDITIONS.
NHTSA ODI #706100
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 1999
Power Train
JUST STARTED TO PROCEED THROUGH INTERSECTION WHEN CAR SHIFTED FROM LOW GEAR AND ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DEALER I TOOK IT TO SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF PISTONS BEING MADE OUT OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL THAT LIKES TO CRACK.
NHTSA ODI #706035
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I HIT A CONCRETE POLE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I BRAKED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE CAR TOOK OFF LEAVING BLACK MARKS 9 FEET LONG. I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR WAS ACTING ON ITS OWN. I HIT THE F…
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I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I HIT A CONCRETE POLE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I BRAKED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE CAR TOOK OFF LEAVING BLACK MARKS 9 FEET LONG. I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR WAS ACTING ON ITS OWN. I HIT THE FRONT OF THE STORE. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED MY CAR WAS THE STEEL DOOR FRAME AND THE BRICK BUILDING. MY CAR WAS STILL MOVING AFTER I GOT OUT BECAUSE I HAD NOT PUT IT INTO PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. I HAD JUMPED OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE GLASS WAS COMING THROUGH MY SUNROOF ONTO ME. A WITNESS SAID "OH MY GOD, YOUR CAR IS STILL MOVING." I HAD TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THIS PROVES THAT THE CAR WAS GETTING FUEL SOMEWHERE BESIDES ME. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE FUEL SHUT OFF BUTTON LOCATED IN THE TRUNK SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS ACCIDENT. BUT IT DID NOT WORK; IN FACT, I AM THINKING SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED AND INSTEAD OF SHUTTING FUEL OFF THE CAR WAS GETTING FUEL WIDE OPEN.
NHTSA ODI #706029
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
SPOUSE BACKED OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE" THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND BEFORE ANY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN SHE COLLIDED WITH A STORE FRONT. THE "CRUISE CONTROL" HAD BEEN USED THE DAY BEFORE AND THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED THE SUDDEN FORWARD …
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SPOUSE BACKED OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE" THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND BEFORE ANY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN SHE COLLIDED WITH A STORE FRONT. THE "CRUISE CONTROL" HAD BEEN USED THE DAY BEFORE AND THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED THE SUDDEN FORWARD MOVEMENT. THE REASON FOR THIS ASSUMPTION IS THAT I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ON A PREVIOUS RECENT OCCASION, AND NOTICED THE LIGHT INDICATING CRUISE WAS ON ALTHOUGH I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I MAY HAVE BUMPED IT BUT NOW I AM SURE IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS WAS REENFORCED WHEN I TALKED TO THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH FORD PRODUCTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705902
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1999
Steering
RACK AND PINION STEERING IS MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835162
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1999
Interior Lighting
THE DOME LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. YH
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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