IllustrationOIL LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN LOW. 2. ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. 3 WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS WINTER, THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP ON ME AND I ALMOST HAD A COLLISION WITH TWO OTHER CARS BUT I HIT A CURB AND WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR MOVING AGAIN. 4.CAR IS LOUD WHILE DRIVING. 5 CAN'T GET GOOD GAS MILAGE.6.CAR HAS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK.
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
58 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BEING UTILIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL BUT FOUND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BEING UTILIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL BUT FOUND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION BUTTON WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION BUTTON WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,469. UPDATED 05/07/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/12/10*JB
I PURCHASED A USED 1997 FORD TAURUS ON NOVEMBER THE 10TH OF 2008 FROM A LOCAL DEALER. ON 11/21/08 AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 HOURS MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE, WHEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY IT'S SELF. MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING BOTH FEET TO TH…
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I PURCHASED A USED 1997 FORD TAURUS ON NOVEMBER THE 10TH OF 2008 FROM A LOCAL DEALER. ON 11/21/08 AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 HOURS MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE, WHEN FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY IT'S SELF. MY DAUGHTER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AT THIS TIME SHE DECIDED TO JUMP FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING SO THE VEHICLE CLIMBED A 6 % GRADE HILL APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET THROUGH A FIELD, BEFORE RAMPING A 6 FOOT PILE OF LIMESTONE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED 14 FEET THROUGH THE AIR BEFORE IMPATING THE GROUND. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND THE VEHICLE MADE A RIGHT TURN AND TRAVELED ANOTHER 1500 FEET BEFORE IMPACTING A DITCH AND A TREE. WITNESSES STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TRAVELING NEARLY 90 MPH AS TRAVELED THROUGH THE FIELD, THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATING AFTER STRIKING THE TREE. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF FOR THE ENGINE TO STOP ACCELERATING. TOTAL DISTANCE THE VEHICLE TRAVELED WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS 2190 FEET. REMEMBER THE FIRST 700 FEET WAS UP HILL THROUGH A FIELD (THE HILL WAS APPROXIMATELY A 6 % GRADE). *TR
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IT COMMENCED TO ROLL FORWARD AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK
WHILE BRAKING AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD INTO THE REAR BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON PRESSING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE ONLY WAY CONSUMER COULD STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. HOWEVER, THE LAST TIME SHE DID THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
SPEEDOMETER WOULD STOP OPERATING AND VEHICLE WOULD STALL AFTER DRIVING TWO MILES. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS. EACH MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT MIGHT BE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR THE OXYGEN SENSOR . *AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE BOLTED BACKWARDS AND STRUCK A BUILDING. *PH THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THE A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 1997 TAURUS' FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM
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.