IllustrationJUST STARTED TO PROCEED THROUGH INTERSECTION WHEN CAR SHIFTED FROM LOW GEAR AND ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. DEALER I TOOK IT TO SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF PISTONS BEING MADE OUT OF A COMPOSITE MATERIAL THAT LIKES TO CRACK.
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 reportsINTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, FAILING TO GO INTO GEAR DURING TAKE OFF. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR THE TRANSMISSION STOPS PULLING THE VEHICLE. FIVE REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.
I HAVE HAD THE FORWARD CLUTCH PACK FAIL ON A 14- MONTH OLD NEW AUTO.MOBILE.THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY RECOMMENDATION OF THE FORD DEALER. THIS REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIR COST ESTIMATE IS PARTS $1100, LABOR $500. I FIND THIS PREMATURE FAILURE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A 14-MONTH OLD CAR THAT HAS BEE…
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I HAVE HAD THE FORWARD CLUTCH PACK FAIL ON A 14- MONTH OLD NEW AUTO.MOBILE.THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY RECOMMENDATION OF THE FORD DEALER. THIS REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIR COST ESTIMATE IS PARTS $1100, LABOR $500. I FIND THIS PREMATURE FAILURE UNACCEPTABLE FOR A 14-MONTH OLD CAR THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND VERY WELL TAKEN CAR OFF. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN EXTERNAL CAUSE FOUND TO JUSTIFY THE FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT ANY OTHER COMPANY REPRESENTITVE OTHER THAT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, WITHOUT A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *AK
FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 2ND OR SOMETIMES 3RD GEAR. ENGINE RACES IN NUETRAL AND CAR DECELERATES. THEN VERY HARSH SHIFT INTO GEAR WITH TIRE NOISE AND BANG IN TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE A ROARING NOISE WHICH AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE, AND CANNOT GET INTO GEARS. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS OF GOOD QUALITY.WHEN A SITUATION AROUSED I WAS TOTALLY GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER BY THIS DEALERSHIP.NOW I AM STUCK WITH PARTIALLY OPERABLE VEHICLE. I AM A U. S. SOLDIER AND I JUST FEEL LET DOWN BY THE QUALITY OF FORD AND THE HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION BY BRIGGS. NO DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY…
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I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS OF GOOD QUALITY.WHEN A SITUATION AROUSED I WAS TOTALLY GIVEN THE COLD SHOULDER BY THIS DEALERSHIP.NOW I AM STUCK WITH PARTIALLY OPERABLE VEHICLE. I AM A U. S. SOLDIER AND I JUST FEEL LET DOWN BY THE QUALITY OF FORD AND THE HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION BY BRIGGS. NO DEFECT MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YC
TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM
WHILE DRIVING REGULAR ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SLOWED DOWN TO 20 MPH, FOOT ON GAS PEDAL, VERY HIGH NOISE, THERE WAS NOTHING. VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE. TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ASSUMES A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION QUIT MOVING THE CAR WHEN BOTH FRONT WHEELS BEGAN TO SLIP CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AT AN INTERSECTION.
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.