IllustrationWHILE PARKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
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
Air Bags complaints
42 reportsMY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT CAUSING MY WINDSHIELD TO SMASH AND PASSENGER WINDOW TO BLOW OFF THE TRACK. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY WERE HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. BEFORE THE CRASH A COMPLETE REPAIR KIT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE BUT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *SCC
NAR 3-10-03 INFORMATION REQUEST ON BEHALF OF FORD MOTOR COMPANIES ABOUT A COMPLAINT SENT TO THEM FROM THE CONSUMER ABOUT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS COVERAGE. FORD REQUESTED A WRITTEN EXPLANATION TO RESOLVE MATTERS. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POLE TRAVELING AT 2- 25 MPH. DURING THE PROCESS …
Read full complaint
NAR 3-10-03 INFORMATION REQUEST ON BEHALF OF FORD MOTOR COMPANIES ABOUT A COMPLAINT SENT TO THEM FROM THE CONSUMER ABOUT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS COVERAGE. FORD REQUESTED A WRITTEN EXPLANATION TO RESOLVE MATTERS. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A POLE TRAVELING AT 2- 25 MPH. DURING THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE AIR BAG, THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
ICE LANDED ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE'S ROOF, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *JB
THE CONSUMER INTERIOR LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND WILL NOT GO OFF THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON IT'S FRONT SIDE YET NONE OF VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TS *NLM
VEHICLE RAN OVER A POTHOLE AT 20-25 MPH ON A WET ROAD AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, AND PASSEGER'S AIR BAG BURNED OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY ,CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO PASSENGER. DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT NEAR THE FENDER HEAD LIGHT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS CONTAINED CHEMICALS THAT BURNED BOTH PASSENGER/AND OWNER ON THE FACE, AND THE OTHERS ON THEIR UPPER CHEST AREA. *AK *SCC
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.