IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION LEAKED A LIQUID SUBSTANCE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND MADE THE GEARS DIFFICULT TO SWITCH. *JB
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN JOLT WHEN A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. *TS *JB
1997 TAURUS WITH 75000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THEN WOULD EITHER BANG INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING, OR WOULD HAVE TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND PLACE IT IN DRIVE. OFTEN ALL WOULD BE FINE FOR 2-3 WEEKS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOUL…
Read full complaint
1997 TAURUS WITH 75000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THEN WOULD EITHER BANG INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING, OR WOULD HAVE TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND PLACE IT IN DRIVE. OFTEN ALL WOULD BE FINE FOR 2-3 WEEKS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ACT UP AGAIN. AFTER THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF THIS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. THERE ARE NO UNUSUAL NOISES, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS CLEAN AND FULL, AND THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO SHIFT FINE ONCE I GET GOING. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OR KNOWN DEFECTS (OF COURSE). THE DEALER URGED ME NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND BRING IT INTO THE SHOP RIGHT AWAY. HE SAID IT WOULD LIKELY COST BETWEEN $1300 AND $2600 TO REPAIR. *JB
THE FORWARD CLUTCH METAL BAND GAVE OUT CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO MOVE OR SHIFT INTO GEAR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, THEN TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION UNDER SERVICE PLAN.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN, CAUSING TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM., TS
AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON …
Read full complaint
AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO TRADE THE CAR FOR SOMETHING ELSE .I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE PROMBLEMS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SLIP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN 5 YEARS. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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.