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: 67 of 923 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 289 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 269 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
51 crash reports23 fire reports30 injury reports
What owners actually said
923 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Unknown Or Other
ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER BEGAN ERRATIC OPERATION; REPLACED AT 43, 916 MILES ON 02/01/1997. REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER DEVELOPED SAME ERRATIC OPERATION AND WAS REPLACED AT 85,421 MILES ON 08/10/98. THE THIRD SPEEDOMETER DEVELOPED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AT 127,250 MILES IN EARLY NOV OF 1999. WITH ALL THE SPEEDOMETERS, THE PROBLEM ALWAYS…
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ORIGINAL SPEEDOMETER BEGAN ERRATIC OPERATION; REPLACED AT 43, 916 MILES ON 02/01/1997. REPLACEMENT SPEEDOMETER DEVELOPED SAME ERRATIC OPERATION AND WAS REPLACED AT 85,421 MILES ON 08/10/98. THE THIRD SPEEDOMETER DEVELOPED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AT 127,250 MILES IN EARLY NOV OF 1999. WITH ALL THE SPEEDOMETERS, THE PROBLEM ALWAYS IS THAT THE NEEDLE BOUNCES WILDLY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN 50 MPH AND THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE SPEEDOMETER RANGE AND MAKES A WHIRRING NOISE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL PRE-1996 TAURUS. REPLACING THEM OBVIOUSLY DOES NO GOOD; FROM MY EXPERIENCE THEY DON'T SEEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AFTER 40,000 MILES. I CONTACTED FORD MOTORS AT THEIR 800 CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE NUMBER ON 11/22/1999 AND WAS TOLD BY "RAJ" THAT THEY WERE SORRY I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, BUT THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST ME. HOWEVER, IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINED, THEY WOULD CONSIDER A RECALL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVEL UNDER OR AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WITH ANY CERTAINTY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT PROVIDE YOU WITH RELIABLE EQUIPMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT YOUR RATE OF SPEED IS. THIS IS NOT A OWNER MAINTENANCE RELATED PROBLEM. REPLACING THE UNITS WITH A SIMILARLY FAILURE PRONE SPEEDOMETER FROM THE FORD PARTS BIN DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #731873
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKETS FAILURE AND TIMING CASE
NHTSA ODI #731742
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING OUT OF GEAR, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOON NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #554603
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WAS CONTACTED AND HAS CHOSE DO GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP ME OUT OF MY DILEMMA AT THIS TIME. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #731190
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure
ALL PROBLEMS WITH OUR 1994 TAURUS HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE, FORD HAS DENIED SEVERAL OF THE RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS LISTED AT NHTSA. THE CAR CONTINUES TO CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT AND RUN HOT, WE STILL CAN SMELL GAS THROUGH VENTS, DOOR HANDLE PROBLEMS, GAS CONSUMPTION PROBLEM, AND SEVERAL OTHERS STILL EXIST WITHOUT A…
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ALL PROBLEMS WITH OUR 1994 TAURUS HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE, FORD HAS DENIED SEVERAL OF THE RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS LISTED AT NHTSA. THE CAR CONTINUES TO CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT AND RUN HOT, WE STILL CAN SMELL GAS THROUGH VENTS, DOOR HANDLE PROBLEMS, GAS CONSUMPTION PROBLEM, AND SEVERAL OTHERS STILL EXIST WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM FORD (EVEN WHEN CONFRONTED WITH EXACT NUMBERS AND DATES OF RECALLS AND BULLETINS), ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST WITHOUT HELP FROM FORD. FORDS CUSTOMER CONCERN, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND QUALITY IN GENERAL IS SEVERELY LACKING. WE ARE TIRED OF RUNAROUNDS, TIRED OF DENIALS RELATED TO THESE PROBLEMS, TIRED OF FORD DENYING THAT WE HAVE MADE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, TIRED OF FORD REFUSING TO PROVIDE PAPER WORK THE FEW TIMES THEY HAD THE VEHICHLE. TIRED OF THIS SCARY LEMON WE OWN, TIRED OF FORD IN GENERAL.
NHTSA ODI #730889
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Electrical System
IVE HAD THE IGNITION MODULE CHANGED 4X... THE CAR CONTINUES TO STALL IN THE WORSE CIRCUMSTANCES.....I HAVE ESCAPED REAR END COLLISIONS SO FAR.....THE ENGINE CUTS OUT WITH NO WARNING.....EVEN AT SPEEDS 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY...IVE HAD 18 WHEELERS COME RIGHT UP ON ME WHEN THE CAR WOULD STALL...THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE....SINCE…
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IVE HAD THE IGNITION MODULE CHANGED 4X... THE CAR CONTINUES TO STALL IN THE WORSE CIRCUMSTANCES.....I HAVE ESCAPED REAR END COLLISIONS SO FAR.....THE ENGINE CUTS OUT WITH NO WARNING.....EVEN AT SPEEDS 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY...IVE HAD 18 WHEELERS COME RIGHT UP ON ME WHEN THE CAR WOULD STALL...THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE....SINCE THE REPORT LAST WEEK I REALIZE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WHY SO MANY IGNITION MODULES HAVE CHANGED......THE MODULAR IT SELF HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE WRONG PLACE IN THE CAR.........I HOPE THESE CARS WILL BE RECALLED AND FIXED......
NHTSA ODI #730331
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Electrical System
THE STALLING OF MY FORD HAD ENDANGERED MY FAMILY ON A JUNE VACATION TRIP TO SAN DIEGO. THE ENGINE STALLED ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN DRIVING THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WHERE WE WERE TO BECOME THE VICTIMS OF THE SUMMER HEAT. REPEATED EFFORTS TO GET THE CAR GOING WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WE WERE TOWED …
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THE STALLING OF MY FORD HAD ENDANGERED MY FAMILY ON A JUNE VACATION TRIP TO SAN DIEGO. THE ENGINE STALLED ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN DRIVING THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, WHERE WE WERE TO BECOME THE VICTIMS OF THE SUMMER HEAT. REPEATED EFFORTS TO GET THE CAR GOING WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. WE WERE TOWED TO GILA BEND, AZ WHERE A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AT THAT TIME. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE OF A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. UNTIL THIS DEFECT IS ADDRESSED, THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO MY FAMILY AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME.
NHTSA ODI #730321
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR WAS FIXED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FORD DID PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR THE SAME GASKET BLEW AGAIN, FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT FORD PARTS WEREN'T USED IN THE CAR. ALSO IN 1997 THE PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION TORE UP THE CAR HAD 52,000 MIL…
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HEAD GASKET BLEW IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR WAS FIXED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FORD DID PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR THE SAME GASKET BLEW AGAIN, FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT FORD PARTS WEREN'T USED IN THE CAR. ALSO IN 1997 THE PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION TORE UP THE CAR HAD 52,000 MILES ON IT. IT COST ME $950 TO HAVE IT FIXED, FORD REFUSED TO PAY FOR THAT.
NHTSA ODI #729716
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR WAS SIDESWIPED WHEN NEW AND DECLARED TOTALED, HAD SIDE PANELS REPLACED AS NEW AND CAR RETITLED. HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS RETITLED THAT THE HEAD GASKET RECALL IS VOID. PLEASE ADVISE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
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
4
RQ99017 · Front Suspension Spring
Opened Aug 9, 1999 · Closed Feb 16, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA96024 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Sep 30, 1996 · Closed Apr 15, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
EA96019 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jul 31, 1996 · Closed Jan 26, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER FROM BRIEF FLICKERS (LESS THAN ONE SECOND) TO GREATER THAN 20 SECONDS.OVER TIME, THE OUTAGES GROW IN LENGTH AND DURATION BECAUSE OF HEAT-INDUCED DETERIORATION OF THE SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING.RECALL 98V-009 WILL APPLY TO APPROXIMATELY 506,000 TAURUS, SABLE, MARK VIII, AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM 1-DEC.-92 THROUGH 30-SEP-93 AT THE ATLANTA, CHICAGO,AND WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANTS.87% OF MY 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE AND 97% OF MY 1993-1995 MARK VIII WARRANTY REPAIRS (HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT) INVOLVED VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE DEC. 92 - OCT. 93 BUILD RANGE.
PE96033 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened May 2, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.
1994 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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