IllustrationVEHICLE WAS IN A REAR END COLLISON AND BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS COLLAPSED, AND LAUNCHED BACKWARDS ON IMPACT.BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED.*AK
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER PUTTING KEYS INTO THE IGNITION TO START VEHICLE, KEYS GOT STUCK AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKING UP. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD PART REPLACED DEALER UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS.*JB
THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS RUSTED AND THE WATER PUMP IS WARPED. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB
AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON …
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AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO TRADE THE CAR FOR SOMETHING ELSE .I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE PROMBLEMS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
ENGINE IS TICKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND STATED THAT MOTOR NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
GENERAL AMERI G4S P20565R15. CONSUMER STATES HE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE STEEL CORE WAS EXPOSED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SLIP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN 5 YEARS. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT HAD COME LOOSE WHICH THREW OFF THE TIMING/PISTONS, HITTING A VALVE, AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SCC
THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ATLEAST 100 OF THE 20,000 TAURUS SHO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS DEFECT OR BAD DESIGN PROBLEM BECASUE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY LOSS OF LIFE. IT IS ONLY GOING TO BE UNTIL THERE IS SOME UNSUSPECTING MOTHER AND C…
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THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ATLEAST 100 OF THE 20,000 TAURUS SHO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS DEFECT OR BAD DESIGN PROBLEM BECASUE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY LOSS OF LIFE. IT IS ONLY GOING TO BE UNTIL THERE IS SOME UNSUSPECTING MOTHER AND CHILD THAT DIES FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON AN EXPRESSWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THEN MAYBE FORD WILL TRY TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO FORCE FORD TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE LOSS OF LIFE HAS OCCURED. NOT ONLY WILL FORD NOT FIX THERE MISTAKE BUT THEY HAVE THE ONLY PARTS TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLE AND HAVE SET THE PRICE TO PUCHASE THESE PARTS AT AN OUTRAGOUS AMOUNT. $1000 FOR A NEW CAM. $500 FOR A GASKET SET $12000 FOR A NEW ENGINE.*AK
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.