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 · Nov 28, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE IN 1999 ABOUT ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE WHICH REPLACED RESERVOIR AND HEATER COIL. SINCE THEN, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO . ALSO, CONTACTED FORD, AND FORD STATED …
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CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE IN 1999 ABOUT ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE WHICH REPLACED RESERVOIR AND HEATER COIL. SINCE THEN, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO . ALSO, CONTACTED FORD, AND FORD STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND NOTHING THEY COULD DO. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #899607
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2001
Visibility
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #754660
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2001
Power Train
PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS DEFECTIVE CAR. NOM SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #754638
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 96 TAURUS SHO HAD SEVERE ENGINE FAILURE AT 66,682 MILES. THE ENGINE (CAMSHAFT) SHOULD NOT FAIL ON WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE WITH ONLY 66,682 MILES ON IT. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SHO ENGINE THAT IS CASUING HUNDERDS OF CONSUMERS TO PAY HUNDERDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WHY ISN'T ANYONE CAUSING FORD TO ADDRESS THIS. THERE OUG…
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MY 96 TAURUS SHO HAD SEVERE ENGINE FAILURE AT 66,682 MILES. THE ENGINE (CAMSHAFT) SHOULD NOT FAIL ON WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE WITH ONLY 66,682 MILES ON IT. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SHO ENGINE THAT IS CASUING HUNDERDS OF CONSUMERS TO PAY HUNDERDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WHY ISN'T ANYONE CAUSING FORD TO ADDRESS THIS. THERE OUGHT TO BE GREATER CONSUMER PROTECTION AGAINST A MANUFACTURER OF A DEFECTIVE AUTO. PLEASE ASSIST. THANKS!*AK
NHTSA ODI #753996
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #898568
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001
Exterior Lighting
SEAL ON BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS HAVE FAILED RESULTING IN CLOUDY LENSES . LENS ARE NOT REMOVABLE REQUIREING REPLACING EACH UNIT AT A PRICE OF $214. PER UNIT. IN DISCUSSING WITH SERVICE PEOPLE AT FORD GARAGE THEY SAY THIS IS OCCURING QUITE FREQUENTLY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT TO ENABLE CLEANING OF A HEADLI…
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SEAL ON BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS HAVE FAILED RESULTING IN CLOUDY LENSES . LENS ARE NOT REMOVABLE REQUIREING REPLACING EACH UNIT AT A PRICE OF $214. PER UNIT. IN DISCUSSING WITH SERVICE PEOPLE AT FORD GARAGE THEY SAY THIS IS OCCURING QUITE FREQUENTLY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT TO ENABLE CLEANING OF A HEADLIGHT LENS. THIS RESTRICTS THE VISIBILITY DUE TO DIMINISHED LUMENS AVAILABLE . THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #753952
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A TICKING SOUND FROM THE VALVE TRAIN AREA. THIS NOISE BECAME MUCH LOUDER OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A LOOSE SPROCKET ON THE REAR BANK INTAKE CAMSHAFT. AS A MEMBER OF THE V8SHO ORGANIZATION (WWW.V8SHO.COM), I AM AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S MANY OCCURRENCES. THER…
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THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A TICKING SOUND FROM THE VALVE TRAIN AREA. THIS NOISE BECAME MUCH LOUDER OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A LOOSE SPROCKET ON THE REAR BANK INTAKE CAMSHAFT. AS A MEMBER OF THE V8SHO ORGANIZATION (WWW.V8SHO.COM), I AM AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S MANY OCCURRENCES. THERE ARE NOW OVER 30 REPORTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM (WITH OCCURRENCES ON ANY ONE OF THE 4 CAMS), AND 14 REPORTED FAILURES IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2001 ALONE! THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AS THE SPROCKET IS MERELY "PRESSED" ONTO THE CAMSHAFT WITH NO OTHER MEANS OF ATTACHMENT. OVER TIME, THE CONNECTION WORKS LOOSE CAUSING THE OFFENDING CAMSHAFT TO SPIN FREELY, THUS ALLOWING THE VALVES TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE PISTONS, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO CATCH THIS ON MY ENGINE PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE. MYSELF AND NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY WITH LITTLE SUCCESS ON THEIR OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER'S FIX IS USUALLY TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT(S) AT A COST OF $1080 EA., FOR PARTS ALONE! THAT IS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AS THE OWNER IS STILL LEFT WITH A DESIGN FLAW, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT IT'S A NEW CAMSHAFT. MY BILL WILL BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2000+ AND THAT'S WITHOUT THE SPROCKET ACTUALLY COMING LOOSE! FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS GROSSLY NEGLIGENT DESIGN FLAW!*AK
NHTSA ODI #753886
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2001
Visibility
HEATER CORE BROKE OR RUPTURED AND ANTIFREEZE CAME OUT OF THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT PUT A GREASY FILM ON WINDOWS LIKE FOG OR STEAM. HEATER WILL NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER COULDN'T CONTINUE TO FIX VEHICLE BECAUS E WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #898143
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2001
Exterior Lighting
PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P20565R15)
NHTSA ODI #753504
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
A TICKING NOISE WAS HEARD IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. WHILE AT DEALER, CAM GEAR SPROCEKT HAD COMPLETE FAILURE, CAUSING THE VALVES TO IMAPCT HEAD, RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. *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.
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