IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FUEL TANK LEAKED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CATCH FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *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
What owners actually said
770 reportsAIR COMPRESSOR APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL UNITS WITH NO REPLACEMENT NEW OR REMAKE . 1997 TAURUS AIR COMPRESSOR IS CRACKED IT IS A SHAME THE FORD MOTOR CO. CAN GET AWAY WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS THE 1997 TAURUS IS A FORD LEMON. FORD MAKE RIGHT YOUR BIG GOOF I AM SURE IF THE PUBLIC KNEW OF THIS THE 1997 TAURUS W…
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AIR COMPRESSOR APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL UNITS WITH NO REPLACEMENT NEW OR REMAKE . 1997 TAURUS AIR COMPRESSOR IS CRACKED IT IS A SHAME THE FORD MOTOR CO. CAN GET AWAY WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS THE 1997 TAURUS IS A FORD LEMON. FORD MAKE RIGHT YOUR BIG GOOF I AM SURE IF THE PUBLIC KNEW OF THIS THE 1997 TAURUS WOULD HAVE NO RESALE VALUE. *AK
WHILE PULLING FORWARD BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO BURN HIS HAND, AND THE WINDSHIELD TO BREAK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. *AK
(1) INTERMITTENTLY, RADIO TURNED OFF WHEN BACKING UP OR DURING FORWARD TURN. (2) WHILE DRIVING, SEATBELT LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING WITH SEAT BELT FASTENED, THEN POWER STEERING FAILED AND RADIO TURNED OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY (3) VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY FIXED SAME PROBLEM ON 1997 TAURUS BY CHANGING THE PAR…
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(1) INTERMITTENTLY, RADIO TURNED OFF WHEN BACKING UP OR DURING FORWARD TURN. (2) WHILE DRIVING, SEATBELT LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING WITH SEAT BELT FASTENED, THEN POWER STEERING FAILED AND RADIO TURNED OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY (3) VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY FIXED SAME PROBLEM ON 1997 TAURUS BY CHANGING THE PARK-NEUTRAL SWITCH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP ,WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF. *AK *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB
IN JUNE OF 2003 I BOUGHT MY 1997 FORD TAURUS WITH ONLY 97,000 MILES, FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. IN SEPT. OF 2003 IT BEGAN TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SO I GOT THAT FIXED AND THEN IN OCTOBER I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND MY CAR WOULDN'T GO. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT AND FOUND OUT THATIT WOULD STILL GO FOWARD. I DROV…
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IN JUNE OF 2003 I BOUGHT MY 1997 FORD TAURUS WITH ONLY 97,000 MILES, FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. IN SEPT. OF 2003 IT BEGAN TO LEAK TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SO I GOT THAT FIXED AND THEN IN OCTOBER I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND MY CAR WOULDN'T GO. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT AND FOUND OUT THATIT WOULD STILL GO FOWARD. I DROVE IT TO MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE DOWN THE ROAD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING TIGHTENED AND I COULDN'T TURN. NOW MY CAR DOESN'T RUN AT ALL. IT IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED.*AK
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL DISPLAY THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING ICON AND THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING AND SECURING THE VEHICLE, THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR AN INDEFINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT CAN CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION FOR A WEEK-AT-A-TIME AND NOT HAVE A RE…
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THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL DISPLAY THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING ICON AND THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING AND SECURING THE VEHICLE, THE DOME LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR AN INDEFINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT CAN CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION FOR A WEEK-AT-A-TIME AND NOT HAVE A RECURRENCE FOR UP TO A MONTH. DEALER TOLD ME THAT UNLESS I COULD LOCALIZE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT BEGIN TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MOTOR FROZE UP CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SNAP. I HAVE BOUGHT 2 DIFFERENT BELTS AND THE HAVE BOTH SNAPPED IN TWO. THERE IS NO WAY TO BYPASS THIS PROBLEM AND THE PART MUST BE REPLACED IN A SHOP. *JB
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.