IllustrationTRANSMISSION KEEPS GOING OUT, AND CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE. DEALER CONTACTED. *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 reportsDOME LIGHT STAYS ULUMINATED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT, CAUSING IT TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO STEER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK
UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM, NOW IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. DEALER WILL FIX AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *JG
VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT MAKING A TICKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST POWER STEERING. ONLY WARNING THAT WAS RECEIVED BY CONSUMER WAS A SHORT IN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *AK
TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED WHEN COMING TO A STOP. WHEN TRANSMISSION REENGAGEDF VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT COMPLETION OF STOPPING AT INTERSECTION. MUST WAIT TO REENGAGE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO PROCEED AT INTERSECTION. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER FOUND FREEZE PLUG HAD RUSTED OUT, DEALER STATED THAT THIS CONDITION WAS A DEFECT, MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY CLAIM. *TT
TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT ENGAGE FROM PARK, FOUND A BROKEN SHIFT CONTROL CABLE, REPLACED. IGNITION KEY TURNS AND DOES NOT START CAR, PROBLEM IN STEERING COLUMN, RR STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACED LINK FROM IGNITION SWITCH TO LOCK CYLINDER.
VEHICLE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AND REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER.*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.