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 reports
36,193 miles · Jun 4, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC 5 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP REPEATEDLY BLEW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN ROUGHLY, STALL, AND SURGE, B…
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1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC 5 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP REPEATEDLY BLEW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN ROUGHLY, STALL, AND SURGE, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD ITS INSULATION WORN OFF DOWN TO THE BARE WIRE, AND HAD SHORTED OUT. OTHER WIRES ALSO SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR, BUT ARE NOT YET WORN THROUGH. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE WIRES. THE WIRES WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE WAY THE FUEL PUMP WAS ASSEMBLED WITHIN THE GAS TANK. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS NOT LIMITED TO ONLY OUR CAR. FORD HAS ISSUED 3 TSB'S RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM (98251, 5226, AND 12189) AND I HAVE ALSO FOUND SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE (ODI ID 549996, 707889, 713208, 807546, 838030, 853283, 879245, 10018293, AND 8012733). I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT ONLY CAUSE COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE (LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES) AT ANY SPEED, BUT ALSO THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPARK INSIDE THE GAS TANK IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. THIS WIRING PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR ANY FORD TAURUS FIRES, OR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LOSS OF POWER. WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE RELATED ACCIDENTS INCREASES AS CURRENT VEHICLES AGE. FORD EVIDENTLY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, OR THEY WOULD NOT HAVE REVISED THE WIRING HARNESS AND GIVEN SPECIAL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO THEIR TECHNICIANS. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10021062
84,900 miles · Jun 2, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE,KEEPS SLIPPING AND SHIFTING UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVINGAT 65MPH. IT WILL SHIFT DOWN TO SECOND GEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10020935
40,000 miles · May 8, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. *JB WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, ETC., THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES, ESPECIALLY TO THE OVERDRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE UNLESS THE VEHICLE REVVED. THE PROBLEM CAN IMMEDIATELY BE CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE IN PARK AND RESTARTING. THIS P…
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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. *JB WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, ETC., THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES, ESPECIALLY TO THE OVERDRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WON'T MOVE UNLESS THE VEHICLE REVVED. THE PROBLEM CAN IMMEDIATELY BE CORRECTED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE IN PARK AND RESTARTING. THIS PROBLEM USUALLY WILL OCCUR 3-4 TIME PER DAY. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. *SCC
NHTSA ODI #10019517
98,000 miles · May 6, 2003
Electrical System
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ROUTED IN A WAY WERE IT CAUSED FRICTION AND WORE OUT THE INSTALLATION WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10018293
54,275 miles · May 1, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
PREMATURE ENGINE AND COMPONENT FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY HEAD GASKETS. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 55,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10016848
85,000 miles · Apr 21, 2003
Air Bags
WHILE PARKING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10017268
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2003
Air BagsInjury
MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT CAUSING MY WINDSHIELD TO SMASH AND PASSENGER WINDOW TO BLOW OFF THE TRACK. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016249
65,000 miles · Apr 15, 2003
Electrical System
THE VEHICLES INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR AJAR CHIME CAME ON AND STAYED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015916
117,000 miles · Apr 15, 2003
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED A LIQUID SUBSTANCE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND MADE THE GEARS DIFFICULT TO SWITCH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10015848
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2003
Power Train
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN JOLT WHEN A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN WAS MADE. *TS *JB
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.
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.
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.
1997 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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