IllustrationCAM SENSORS ARE BEING REPLACED IN THE 1997 FORD TAURUS MODELS; SINCE THEY ARE RELATED TO THE THE FIRING OF THE ENGINE IT WILL CAUSE THE EMISSIONS TO INCREASE AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE COVERED UNDER THE 8YR/84000 MILE LAW. DT
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN, CAUSING TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
THE CONSUMER INTERIOR LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND WILL NOT GO OFF THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
IDLE SPEED WILL INCREASE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED HIGH IDLE/ACCELERATION RATE (IDLE SPEED INCREASES FROM 600-800 RPM TO 1500-2000 RPM) THAT MAKES STOPPING DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION, WITH THIS HIGH IDLE THE CAR WILL MAKE A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER OVER 18 TIMES, DEALER AND …
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IDLE SPEED WILL INCREASE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED HIGH IDLE/ACCELERATION RATE (IDLE SPEED INCREASES FROM 600-800 RPM TO 1500-2000 RPM) THAT MAKES STOPPING DIFFICULT. IN ADDITION, WITH THIS HIGH IDLE THE CAR WILL MAKE A SUDDEN SURGE WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER OVER 18 TIMES, DEALER AND FORD ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM, HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS PARTS BUT WERE NEVER ABLE TO FIND ACTUAL CAUSE. FORD REFUSES TO MAKE REPLACEMENT AND/OR REPURCHASE OFFER OTHER THAN WHAT DEALER WILL OFFER AS MINIMAL "TRADE-IN" VALUE IF I PURCHASE A NEW FORD. DT
CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER FAILED. TS *JB
WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON IT'S FRONT SIDE YET NONE OF VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TS *NLM
THE FROST PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. THIS CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF NEARLY ALL COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. THE LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, AND THE HEADS TO CRACK. WITHIN NINETY SECONDS, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND CONSUMER WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWE…
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THE FROST PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. THIS CAUSED RAPID LOSS OF NEARLY ALL COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. THE LOSS OF COOLANT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, AND THE HEADS TO CRACK. WITHIN NINETY SECONDS, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND CONSUMER WAS LEFT WITHOUT POWER. *JG
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT AFTER USE, NO LONGER PROVIDE TIGHT RESTRAINT, AND THEREFORE PUT PASSENGERS AT RISK. DT
CAM SPROCKET FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BEING NOTIFIED BY FORD. FORD HAS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS AS THERE IS APROCEDURE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. BY NOT WELDING THE CAMS ENGINE FAILURE ACCURS CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. PREVENTIVE WELDING FOR $ 500.00 CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE …
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CAM SPROCKET FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BEING NOTIFIED BY FORD. FORD HAS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED OWNERS AS THERE IS APROCEDURE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. BY NOT WELDING THE CAMS ENGINE FAILURE ACCURS CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. PREVENTIVE WELDING FOR $ 500.00 CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE TOTAL ENGINE AT A COST OF ABOUT $6,00.00 FOR SALVAGED MOTOR. DT
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM., TS
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.