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
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2002
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTED AND BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 10 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *AK CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY 1997 FORD TAURUSES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. (ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY)…
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTED AND BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 10 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *AK CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY 1997 FORD TAURUSES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. (ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY) *SCC
NHTSA ODI #8014821
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2002
Power Train
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF REPORTED FAILURES ON THIS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPONENT FOR THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #764757
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Power Train
ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR STARTING UP FROM A RED LIGHT IN HOT WEATHER, WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON VACATION, AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM SHOT UP TO APPROXIMATELY TO 4,200 RPM, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD TO LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND LET THE RPM DROP DOWN TO ABOUT 2400 RPM, WHEN …
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ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR STARTING UP FROM A RED LIGHT IN HOT WEATHER, WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON VACATION, AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM SHOT UP TO APPROXIMATELY TO 4,200 RPM, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD TO LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND LET THE RPM DROP DOWN TO ABOUT 2400 RPM, WHEN I APPLIED THROTTLE SLOWLY AND THE CAR SLOWLY ACCELERATED UP TO 55 MILES PER HOUR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN MAKING A U TURN AND THE CAR REPEATED THE SAME ACTION EVEN WHILE MOVING AT SLOW SPEED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY ROAD TESTED AND PUT THE CAR ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG WITH THE CAR OR TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF THE 1997 TAURUS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND MYSELF, AS I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK AND A CAR ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE PROBLEM AROSE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #764724
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE AND VEHICLE CUT OFF, WHICH WAS AS CAUSED BY CAM FAILURE. *AK *TT
NHTSA ODI #8014502
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Air BagsInjury
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY ,CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO PASSENGER. DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014272
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WILL SHIMMY, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL . *AK
NHTSA ODI #8013939
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Suspension
FRONT END WAS LOW DUE TO BOTH COIL SPRINGS BEING CRACKED. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED AT THE SAME TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8013938
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Visibility
IN WARM OR MOIST TEMPERATURE REAR LEFT WINDOW IS INOPERATIVE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8013795
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT NEAR THE FENDER HEAD LIGHT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS CONTAINED CHEMICALS THAT BURNED BOTH PASSENGER/AND OWNER ON THE FACE, AND THE OTHERS ON THEIR UPPER CHEST AREA. *AK *SCC
NHTSA ODI #8013761
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
PISTON CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A LATE ACCELERATION AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED.*AK
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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