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 · Jun 30, 2002
Power Train
4TH GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY. THOUGH CAR WAS SERVICED ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT BURNED, TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED PLANETARY GEARS. METAL CHUNKS AND BURNED FLUID FOUND WHEN EXAMINED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER 3.8L/FORD TRANSMISSION DEFECT FAILUR…
Read full complaint
4TH GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY. THOUGH CAR WAS SERVICED ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT BURNED, TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED PLANETARY GEARS. METAL CHUNKS AND BURNED FLUID FOUND WHEN EXAMINED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER 3.8L/FORD TRANSMISSION DEFECT FAILURE AS IS WELL DOCUMENTED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS BUT THUS FAR HAS REFUSED. WHEN IS ANYONE GOING TO FINALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM IN TAURUSES THROUGHOUT THE 90'S?. *AK
NHTSA ODI #763651
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2002
Power Train
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT
NHTSA ODI #566395
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
SCREW IN ENGINE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8012945
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1997 TAURUS SHO. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THE CAMSHAFT IS ATTACHED TO THE CAM BY SPLINES WHICH UNDER THE STRESS OF THE ENGINE SPIN UN THE CAM WHICH THROWS OFF THE TIMING AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED THE PEOPLE …
Read full complaint
THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1997 TAURUS SHO. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THE CAMSHAFT IS ATTACHED TO THE CAM BY SPLINES WHICH UNDER THE STRESS OF THE ENGINE SPIN UN THE CAM WHICH THROWS OFF THE TIMING AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED THE PEOPLE OF V8SHOW.COM TO SEND THEM SOME CAMS SO THEY CAN TEST THEM. I AM AN OWNER THAT OWES $6000 ON A VEHICLE WHICH IS COMPLETLY OUT OF ORDER SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5000 AND 15000 TO FIX IT. 5000 IS FOR A USED ENGINE WTH 50,000 MILES ON IT. 15,000 IS THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE FROM FORD. PLEASE HELP IN ANYWAY YOU CAN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #763551
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMPS POSITIVE WIRE WAS CUT ON A SHARP EDGE INSIDE OF FUEL TANK, WHICH LEFT THE WIRE EXPOSED TO THE FUEL TANK, AND CAUSED IT TO SHORT CIRCUIT.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT FORD IS AWARE…
Read full complaint
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMPS POSITIVE WIRE WAS CUT ON A SHARP EDGE INSIDE OF FUEL TANK, WHICH LEFT THE WIRE EXPOSED TO THE FUEL TANK, AND CAUSED IT TO SHORT CIRCUIT.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, AND NOW PLACES A PROTECTIVE COVER ON THE WIRES. *SCC
NHTSA ODI #8012733
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2002
EquipmentSteeringVisibility
ALL'S WELL IN PARK AND NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE RADIO QUITS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL, WINDOWS WON'T WORK, LOSS OF ABOUT 75% OF POWER STEERING. PUT IT IN NUETRAL AND ALL IS WELL. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. I FOUND 10 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE IN A 96 OR 97 FORD TAURUS.
NHTSA ODI #763445
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Power Train
UPON ACCELERATION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SLOWLY RESPONDING TO ACCELERATOR APPLICATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8012239
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Power Train
ERROR CODE 0761-HYDRAULIC FAILURE OF SOLENOID/TRANSMISSION. CAME ON. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, VEHICLE AS CONSUMER DESCRIBES, WAS "DRAGGING" UPON ACCELERATION. OWNER HAS ANOTHER TAURUS WITH SAME CONDITION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AKI
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FROM BETWEEN 65 TO 45 MPH THERE IS A SERIOUS SHAKING FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO MOTION. THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME HAVING THREE SMALL CHILDREN. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT ALSO DOESN'T SHUT OFF AS IT …
Read full complaint
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES FROM BETWEEN 65 TO 45 MPH THERE IS A SERIOUS SHAKING FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO MOTION. THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME HAVING THREE SMALL CHILDREN. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT ALSO DOESN'T SHUT OFF AS IT SHOULD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762972
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
CONSUMER STATES AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK, CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL POURING OUT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*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
Illustration