IllustrationWHENEVER STOPPING OR STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD RUMBLE/ VIBRATE AND SHAKE BADLY. TOOK TO DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED. WAS TOLD THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM OF VIBRATING AND RUMBLING STILL EXISTS. *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 reportsTRANSMISSION/OIL PUMP DRIVE FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 15 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FAILED, MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE, CAUSING THE SERVO COVER TO BLOW OFF. CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND DID'NT GET ANY HELP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MPH THE STEERING OSCILLATES. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE CLEANED AT 220 MILES. AT 600 MILES THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. AT 11, 959 MILES THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPEREINCING A PROLBEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
SINCE PURCHASING CAR IT HAS HAD A POPPING SOUND WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING.
DUE TO NO PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE TRUNK COURSTEY LIGHT, THE SLEEPING BAG IN THE TRUNK BY THE TRUNK COURSTEY LIGHTS CAUSED THE SLEEPING BAG TO BURN A HOLE, ALMOST RESULTED IN A FIRE. *AK
OWNER NOTICED 12 INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD OF PARK VEHICLE. DRIVING AT APPROX. 5 MPH, HEARD LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY A 13 INCH CRACK IN WINDSHIELD.
DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE OIL FILTER WITH WRENCH, WRENCH CAME IN CONTACT WITH WIRES NEAR THE STARTER MOTOR, ALOT OF SPARKS CAME OUT AND BURN MARKS WERE LEFT ON THE OIL FILTER, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE TRAVELLING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TAKES ON WATER AND GETS ON BELTS, CAUSING ALTERNATOR AND POWER FAILURE, AFFECTING STEERING, BRAKES, AND ENGINE OPERATION. DEALER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NOTHING CAN BE DONE, REFERRED TO HOTLINE. *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.