IllustrationVEHICLE STALLS WITH NO INDICATION. *YC
1995 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Taurus years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 119 of 1,205 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 394 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 352 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
60 crash reports53 fire reports48 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
352 reportsTHE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. THE TRANSMISSION OIL WAS LEAKING, BUT LOCATION COULD NOT BE FOUND.*AK
WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE IS EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMID (ABOVE 90 DEGREES) AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, STALLING OCCURS, MOSTLY AT IDLE. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG TIME, PARKED, AND THEN STARTED AGAIN AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL IT HAS COOLED DOWN…
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WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE IS EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMID (ABOVE 90 DEGREES) AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, STALLING OCCURS, MOSTLY AT IDLE. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG TIME, PARKED, AND THEN STARTED AGAIN AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL IT HAS COOLED DOWN CONSIDERABLY. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE OTHER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT AND HAS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE IN THE TIME I'VE OWNED THE CAR. WHAT GIVES?
ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK OIL LIGHT TO COME ON. VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN RIGHT NOW. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *YC
ENGINE CONNECTING ROD BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO CRANKSHAFT AND CYLINDER WALL. MJS
CLOCK FAILED. MJS
NO SUMMARY
THE DESERT MOTORS SERVICE DEPT. SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, MY VEHICLE AND ENGINE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I SENT A LETTER OF COMPLAINT AND DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE FAILED AND DEFORMED HEAD GASKET TO FORD MTR. CO., CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CTR. IN DEARBORN, MICH. BUT SO FAR NO RESPONSE
OUR VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS USUAL PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN. WE HAD RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE TUNED UP, AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO A SKIP PROBLEM AND LOWER THEN NORMAL GAS MILEAGE. WE HAD JUST COMPLETED A 45 MINUTE TRIP IN THE VEHICLE AND STOPPED FOR DINNER. WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT FOR 45 MINUTES AND THEN RETURNED …
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OUR VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS USUAL PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN. WE HAD RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE TUNED UP, AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO A SKIP PROBLEM AND LOWER THEN NORMAL GAS MILEAGE. WE HAD JUST COMPLETED A 45 MINUTE TRIP IN THE VEHICLE AND STOPPED FOR DINNER. WE WERE IN THE RESTAURANT FOR 45 MINUTES AND THEN RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETE OUR TRIP. UPON LEAVING THE RESTAURANT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKIP BADLY, WITH SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, AND THE TEMPERTURE GAUGE BEGAN TO RISE. WE IMMEDITALLY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID WE HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. UPON CONTACTING OUR FORD DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THAT YES, FORD HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THAT WE WERE PAST THE DEC.31, 1998 DEADLINE AND THE 60,000 MILES. WE CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER INQUIRY DEPARTMENT, BUT WE WERE TOLD THE SAMETHING. WE FEEL THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
Official recalls
501V390000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Dec 21, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L AND 3.8L ENGINES AND MUSTANG VEHICLES WITH 3.8L AND 5.0L ENGINES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BEARING TO SEIZE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED WHICH COULD MELT THE FAN MOTOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. COMPONENTS INSIDE THE COOLING FAN MOTOR COULD IGNITE POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A CIRCUIT BREAKER. IF THE COOLING FAN IS INOPERATIVE, THE FAN AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
98V323000 · Structure:frame And Members
Dec 16, 1998
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.
97V025000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 26, 1997
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.
97V019000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Feb 25, 1997
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.
94V198000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Oct 11, 1994
THE RETAINER CLIP WHICH HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM IS MISSING OR NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED. THE PUSH ROD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL THE RETAINER CLIP.
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
4RQ99017 · 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.