IllustrationENGINE IS KNOCKING AS CONSUMER ACCELERATES WITH SPEED. *AK TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 37OOO MILES. FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 15000 MILES. ROTORS FAILED AT 24000 MILES. *YH
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
67 reportsDEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM FOUND BUT BRAKES ABSOLUTELY FAILED. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
BRAKES KEEP WARPING. MATERIALS THAT ARE USED FOR BRAKE PADS CAUSE ROTORS TO OVERHEAT & BECOME WARPED. EVERY TIME BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES & MECHANIC CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE & WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING. WIRES FOR FUEL PUMP HAD RUBBED AGAINST FLEX HOSE, CAUSING IT TO EXPOSE THE WIRES & SHORT OUT. DEALER COLD DO NOTHING BECAUSE NO RECALL. *AK ALSO THE CV JOINTS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN CRACKED. THE BRAKES VIBRATED CAUSING THE STEERING TO VIBRATE TERREBLY. THE VEHIC…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE & WOULDN'T STAY RUNNING. WIRES FOR FUEL PUMP HAD RUBBED AGAINST FLEX HOSE, CAUSING IT TO EXPOSE THE WIRES & SHORT OUT. DEALER COLD DO NOTHING BECAUSE NO RECALL. *AK ALSO THE CV JOINTS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN CRACKED. THE BRAKES VIBRATED CAUSING THE STEERING TO VIBRATE TERREBLY. THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER SAYS, MUST BE DEFECTIVE. *YH
AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *SLC
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH AND RAN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, AND FRONTS WHEELS LOCKED UP. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE OF NOISE, AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
DEAR GENERAL, ON 6/17/00, I PURCHASE A USED VEHICLE FROM GERMAIN BIG LOT, NAPLES, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE PURCHASED WAS A 1997 FORD TAURUS GL, VIN# [XXX]. ON THE DATE OF PURCHASED, DURING MY TEST DRIVE, I QUESTION THE SALESWOMAN ABOUT THE FEEL OF THE BRAKES. HER REPLY WAS THAT I WAS USED TO DISC BRAKES AND THAT THE TAURUS HAD AN…
Read full complaint
DEAR GENERAL, ON 6/17/00, I PURCHASE A USED VEHICLE FROM GERMAIN BIG LOT, NAPLES, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE PURCHASED WAS A 1997 FORD TAURUS GL, VIN# [XXX]. ON THE DATE OF PURCHASED, DURING MY TEST DRIVE, I QUESTION THE SALESWOMAN ABOUT THE FEEL OF THE BRAKES. HER REPLY WAS THAT I WAS USED TO DISC BRAKES AND THAT THE TAURUS HAD ANTI LOCK BRAKES AND I WOULD GET USED TO THE FEEL. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WOULD PULSATE AND THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE SOME VIBRATION. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH AND UNDER THE ASSUMPTION I WOULD GET USED TO IT. THE SALES PERSON ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR HAD JUST LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND THAT IT HAD FACTORY WARRANTY UP TO 36,000. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING PRIOR TO FAILURE. YH
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES TO COME TO A GRADUAL STOP AND BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE . WITH FULL PRESSURE ON BRAKES, VEHICLE KEPT GOING ABOUT 200 YARDS BEFORE VEHICLE STOPPED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *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.