IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*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 FAILED.
VEHICLE INITIALLY LOST POWER ON INCLINE AND REGAINED ON DECLINE, UNTIL TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AFTER 2-5 MPH. OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, ON HIGHWAY TRIPS. DEALER INITIALLY REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER THEN REPLACED FUEL PUMP RELAY. AFTER FOURTH OCCASION, REPLACED FUEL PUMP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH, DIFFICULTY GAINING SPEED ON INITI…
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VEHICLE INITIALLY LOST POWER ON INCLINE AND REGAINED ON DECLINE, UNTIL TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AFTER 2-5 MPH. OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, ON HIGHWAY TRIPS. DEALER INITIALLY REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER THEN REPLACED FUEL PUMP RELAY. AFTER FOURTH OCCASION, REPLACED FUEL PUMP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION IS SLUGGISH, DIFFICULTY GAINING SPEED ON INITIAL ACCELERATION. THEN SUDDENLY SURGES/HESISTATES AND MOVES ERRATICALLY INTO GEAR. VEHICLE HESITATES AND ACTS AS IF IT STALLS OUT.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING OR AFTER A RAINFALL, WHEN DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER WHICH CAUSED AN UPWARD SPLASH UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT, THE ENGINE DIED , CAUSING LOSS OF POWER . ENGINE WOULD RESTART AS SOON AS VEHICLE CLEARED THE DEEP WATER AREA, BUT A SQUEALING OF THE POWER STEERING WOULD FOLLOW FOR ABOUT 30 SECO…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING OR AFTER A RAINFALL, WHEN DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER WHICH CAUSED AN UPWARD SPLASH UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT, THE ENGINE DIED , CAUSING LOSS OF POWER . ENGINE WOULD RESTART AS SOON AS VEHICLE CLEARED THE DEEP WATER AREA, BUT A SQUEALING OF THE POWER STEERING WOULD FOLLOW FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. DEALER AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT HA SYET TO REPLAC EPARTS. *AK
CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.
TRUNK LIGHT BULB IS UNPROTECTED AND BURNED ITEMS IN TRUNK.
WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED ON VEHICLE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY TRAUMA TO WINDSHIELD . THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS,FUEL SHUT OFF SWITCH FAILED ALSO DURING COLLISION.
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FOR UNKNOWN REASON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS . DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE IN ONE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN R…
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CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FOR UNKNOWN REASON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS . DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS CAUSED VEHICLE TO BE IN ONE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT CONDITION STILL REMAINS. *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.