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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 →
770Owner complaints

Model-year median: 318

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
923
19941,205
1995825
1996770
1997545
1998874
19991,195
2000
Compare all Taurus years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
214Engine And Engine Cooling
145Service Brakes, Hydraulic
67Electrical System
62Steering
59
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
58Visibility
57Air Bags
42Fuel System, Gasoline
28Suspension
28Structure
25Equipment
24Seat Belts
23Unknown Or Other
23Interior Lighting
22Tires
22Exterior Lighting
15Engine
5Fuel System, Other
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Service Brakes, Air
4Seats
3Wheels
3Child Seat
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes
1

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

Steering complaints

59 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

A/C COMPRESSOR SEIZED CAUSING DRIVEBELT FAILURE AND LOSS OF STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AND POWER BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751813

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

THIS PROBLEM IS WITH TAURUS, SABLE & WINDSTAR, IT CAN NOT BE REPAIRED...NOW WHAT? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK TSB 98-9-4 WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, THE CORRECTIVE ACTION BEING TO REPLACED THE FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #749655

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Steering

ERRATIC LOSS OF POWER ASSSITED STEERING AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING, SOMETIMES WITH SEAT BELT LIGHT ON AND POWER WINDOW CONTROL INOPERATIVE. CHATTERING NOISE SUGGESTS AN ELETRICAL PROBLEM. DEFINITELY DANGEROUS IF LOSS OR REGAIN OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING HAPPENS DUE TO OVER OR UNDER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747511

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2001
Steering

WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN AN UNUSUAL NOISE OCCURS. SHORTLY AFTER, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #891129

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2001
EquipmentPower TrainSteering

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT FAILURE; FIRST BEGAN WHEN PLACING SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE GEAR, THEN LATER OCCURRED ALSO IN FORWARD DRIVE GEARS. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC PROBLEM SINCE RADIO SPEAKERS ALSO GO SILENT AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DISCOVERED THAT REMOVAL OF 15AMP FUSE CONTROLLING BACKUP LIGHTS…

Read full complaint

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENT FAILURE; FIRST BEGAN WHEN PLACING SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE GEAR, THEN LATER OCCURRED ALSO IN FORWARD DRIVE GEARS. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC PROBLEM SINCE RADIO SPEAKERS ALSO GO SILENT AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN THIS OCCURS. DISCOVERED THAT REMOVAL OF 15AMP FUSE CONTROLLING BACKUP LIGHTS/HEATER RETURN POWER STEERING AND RADIO CONTROL. ALL OTHER FUSES WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER IS NOT YET CONTACTED.

NHTSA ODI #743982

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Steering

RACK AND PINION STEERING MAKES A GRINDING SOUND WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. DEALER SAYS THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING IS WEARING OUT, AND WILL GO PERFORM BADLY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881822

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2001
Steering

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740698

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2001
Seat BeltsSteeringStructure

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY NORMAL SPEED POWER STEERING WILL KICK OUT SOMETIMES. ALSO, SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF/ DOOR LIGHT WILL COME ON, AND SPEED CONTROL WILL COME ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878578

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Steering

BOUGHT CAR 1-97 IN OCTOBER OF 97 TOOK IN TO DEALER FOR NOISE WHEN STEERING--SAID NOTHING WRONG IN JAN 98 TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD RACK AND PINION WAS MAKING THE NOISE--TOOK BACK TO DEALER THEY SAID RACK AND PINION SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED BEFORE COMING OFF LOT BECAUSE OF SAFETY UPGRADE BUT WAS NEVER REPLACED!! SO …

Read full complaint

BOUGHT CAR 1-97 IN OCTOBER OF 97 TOOK IN TO DEALER FOR NOISE WHEN STEERING--SAID NOTHING WRONG IN JAN 98 TOOK TO OUR MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD RACK AND PINION WAS MAKING THE NOISE--TOOK BACK TO DEALER THEY SAID RACK AND PINION SHOULD OF BEEN REPLACED BEFORE COMING OFF LOT BECAUSE OF SAFETY UPGRADE BUT WAS NEVER REPLACED!! SO THEY DID REPLACE IT---THEN IN 1999 TOOK CAR BACK FOR POWER STEERING LEAK--THEY COULD NOT FIND ONE--NOW I HAVE OBVIOUSLY LEAK WITH ONLY 15,000 MILES ON CAR--AND DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO HELP FIX SINCE MY WARRANTY IS OVER!! ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS???

NHTSA ODI #734189

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Steering

POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867612

Official recalls

3

98V028000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.