IllustrationTRANSMISSION HAS WHINING SOUND WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS. *AK
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
Power Train complaints
214 reportsJUST THE TRANMISSION PROBLEMS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHIICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR CAUSING PROBLEMS IN TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AT RIVERVIEW FORD-MERCURY IN COLUMBIA, IL. *AK
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL BY NOT GOING INTO GEAR IN THE MORNING, IT THEN WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH AND HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO WHERE I PURCHASED IT AFTER I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO HELP AND BASICALLY DID NOT WANT ANY PART OF MY PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED FORD IF ALOT OF TAURUS' HAVE THIS PROBLEM THEY REFUSED TO RELE…
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TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL BY NOT GOING INTO GEAR IN THE MORNING, IT THEN WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH AND HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO WHERE I PURCHASED IT AFTER I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO HELP AND BASICALLY DID NOT WANT ANY PART OF MY PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED FORD IF ALOT OF TAURUS' HAVE THIS PROBLEM THEY REFUSED TO RELEASE THAT INFORMATION. I THINK I HAVE A ROGHT TO KNOW SINCE I AM AN OWNER OF A TAURUS AND I STILL OWE A VERY LARGE SUM OF MONEY ON THIS CAR. I THEN CHECKED IN TO IT MYSELF AND FOUND MIND-BOGGLING STORIES OF HOW FORD WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THESE TAURUS'. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE STUCK WITH THIS TYPE IF CAR WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION IT IS HORRIBLE, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CO. WILL NOT MAKE GOOD ON THESE CARS THEY KNOW ARE BAD. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER HAS VEHICLE IN PARK GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE IN DRIVE. GEAR SHIFT IS STUCK. *AK
COMPLETE TRANS FAILURE
WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD WORK ERRACTICALLY. SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THE SWITCH CAN TURN WIPERS ON & THEN WIPERS WOULD STOP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY, AND POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TAKING VEH…
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WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD WORK ERRACTICALLY. SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THE SWITCH CAN TURN WIPERS ON & THEN WIPERS WOULD STOP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY, AND POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TAKING VEHICLE DEALER TO CHECK OUT PROBLEMS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I WAS SOLD A 5 STAR LEMON. THE CARFAX WESITE HAS 6 LEMON HISTORY REPORTS. ALSO MY CAR HAS A RECALL ON AX4S AUTO-TRANS. I HAVE THE REPORTS. PLEASE CHECK ALL REPORTS, I FEEL ME AND MY FAMILY IS IN GRAVE DANGER, PLEASE I DON'T WANT TO DIE. PLEASE DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS. THANK YOU
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.