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: 93 of 825 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 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 182 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
69 crash reports12 fire reports45 injury reports
What owners actually said
825 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2002
Power Train
STARTET WITH WHIRRING SOUND WHEN CAR REACHED AVERAGE SPEED OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER. SEARCHED AND CHECKED ALL FLUIDS. THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER CAR. TOOK TO GARAGE. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE AGAIN BECAUSE THE NEW ONE WAS ALSO CRACKED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT TH…
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STARTET WITH WHIRRING SOUND WHEN CAR REACHED AVERAGE SPEED OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER. SEARCHED AND CHECKED ALL FLUIDS. THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER CAR. TOOK TO GARAGE. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BUT MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE AGAIN BECAUSE THE NEW ONE WAS ALSO CRACKED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TAURAS. THE MECHANIC HAD REPLACED SEVERAL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FIND THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IF TRANSMISSION HAS A DEFECT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #759625
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
EquipmentInjury
CONSUMER STATED THE JACK COLLAPSED DURING A TIRE CHANGE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON THE JACK JOINT IN THE JACK, IT SEPARATED CAUSING IT TO FOLD FOWARD, THEREFORE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL PINNING THE CONSUMERS WRIST BETWEEN THE FENDER AND THE TOP OF THE TIRE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #785920
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
BASED ON INFO READ FROM OTHER FORD TAURUS SHO OWNERS, CAMSHAFT PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT DID MY CAM REPLACEMENT SHOWED ME THE DEFECTIVE CAM AND THE SPROCKET THAT WAS ATTACHED TO IT, THAT MOVED FREELY. IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A MOVEABLE PART. MOST COMPLAINT APPEAR TO BE…
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BASED ON INFO READ FROM OTHER FORD TAURUS SHO OWNERS, CAMSHAFT PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT DID MY CAM REPLACEMENT SHOWED ME THE DEFECTIVE CAM AND THE SPROCKET THAT WAS ATTACHED TO IT, THAT MOVED FREELY. IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A MOVEABLE PART. MOST COMPLAINT APPEAR TO BE FOR THE SAME TYPE OF CAMSHAFT ENGINE FAILURE. PROBLEM IS, I HAVE BEGUN HEARING THE SAME CLICKING NOISE AGAIN. THERE ARE 4 CAMSHAFTS IN THIS ENGINE AND ONLY ONE WAS REPLACED FOR THE $2200.00 FEE. IF ANOTHER ONE GOES, I WILL HAVE A VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS, THAT WILL BE OF LITTLE VALUE WITHOUT THE SHO ENGINE, IT WAS PURCHASE FOR. YOUR HELP PLEASE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #759602
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND TURNING. ALSO, STALLS IN WARM WEATHER. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8005896
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
WHEN DRIVING HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SPLASHED WATER ON SERPENTINE BELT WHICH STARTED TO SLIP, PULLING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. LOST POWER STEERING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE ALTERNATOR WAS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE SPLASHING WATER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. *YH
NHTSA ODI #8005886
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
NORMAL CAMSHAFT FAILURE ACCURRING IN THESE MODEL CARS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #759474
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 66MPH VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. EVERYTHING LOCKED UP. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DALER INDICATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8004350
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2002
Unknown Or Other
THE DISPLAY SHOWS THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR WHEN IT IS NOT, THIS PREVENTS THE DOORS FROM LOCKING AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FROM GOING OFF. *TT
NHTSA ODI #785886
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET HAS FAILED.THE FIRST TIME WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME.NOW MY WARRANTY IS OUT AND THE ESTIMATED BILL IS OVER $3,000.THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER ALL AT ONCE.THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN TRAFFIC.I HA…
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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A CAMSHAFT SPROCKET HAS FAILED.THE FIRST TIME WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME.NOW MY WARRANTY IS OUT AND THE ESTIMATED BILL IS OVER $3,000.THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER ALL AT ONCE.THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN TRAFFIC.I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM(AT LEAST 20 OTHER INCIDENTS).WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE BEING KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758413
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
MY CAR BROKE DOWN 10/21/2000. I LOST ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. I TOOK MY CAR TO 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY I FOUND AN INDEPENDENT MACHINE SHOP WHO WAS COMPETENT ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY DIAGNOSE AND FIX MY CAR PROPERLY, BUT THEY HAD TO PIECE MY E…
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MY CAR BROKE DOWN 10/21/2000. I LOST ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. I TOOK MY CAR TO 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY I FOUND AN INDEPENDENT MACHINE SHOP WHO WAS COMPETENT ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY DIAGNOSE AND FIX MY CAR PROPERLY, BUT THEY HAD TO PIECE MY ENGINE (INCLUDING THE AXLES) TOGETHER AFTER A FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PUT MY CAR BACK TOGETHER. I HAD NO VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS AND HAD TO PAY $3171 FOR THE REPAIRS NOT TO MENTION 4 TOW TRUCKS. SHORTLY AFTER HAVING MY CAR FIXED I NOTICED IT WOULD IDLE HIGH WHEN SITTING AT STOP SIGNS OR LIGHTS. EVENTUALLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND RECENTLY DISCOVERED IT IS EITHER THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR OR THROTTLE BODY. REGARDING THE CAM SPROCKET FAILURE, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 69 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TAURUS SHO MODELS. FORD REFUSES TO HELP FIX ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL HAVE TO DIE FROM THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. THANK YOU. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. THESE VEHICLES WERE INADVERTENLY EQUIPPED WITH AN 18-GALLON FUEL TANK RATHER THAN THE 16-GALLON AS SPECIFIED. THE 18-GALLON TANK HAS A SECOND VALVE LOCATION WHERE A SHIPPING PLUG SHOULD BE INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.
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.
THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LOCATED ON THE FUEL RAIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS A VACUUM DIAPHRAGM THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING MANUFACTURE OF THE REGULATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DIAPHRAGM TEARS OR RUPTURES, LIQUID FUEL COULD ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM THROUGH THE VACUUM LINE RESULTING IN EITHER RELEASE OF FUEL FROM THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. FUEL RELEASE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THOSE REGULATORS PRODUCED DURING THE SUSPECT TIME PERIOD WILL BE REPLACED.
THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN. IF THE ROLL PIN IS DAMAGED, BOTH THE ROLL PIN AND THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
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.
1996 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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