IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THERE IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO HESITATE WHEN DRIVING UP ON AN INCLINE, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON A LEVELED SURFACE.*SLC
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 reportsENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
THIS IS THE SECOND BLOWER MOTOR TO NEED REPLACING. *AK
FORD PROVIDED A NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM, NUMBER 98B23 TO OWNERS OF 1996 AND 1997 TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. THE PURPOSE WAS TO CHECK THE COOLENG SYSTEM AND INSTALL A COOLANT BY-PASS KIT. THIS PROGRAM WAS ELIGIBLE THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 1999, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. ONLY FIRST OWNERS WERE CONTACTED. MY …
Read full complaint
FORD PROVIDED A NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM, NUMBER 98B23 TO OWNERS OF 1996 AND 1997 TAURUS AND SABLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.0L ENGINE. THE PURPOSE WAS TO CHECK THE COOLENG SYSTEM AND INSTALL A COOLANT BY-PASS KIT. THIS PROGRAM WAS ELIGIBLE THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 1999, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. ONLY FIRST OWNERS WERE CONTACTED. MY DAUGHTER AS 2ND OWNER WAS NOT. SHE GAVE ME THE CAR IN JUNE,2001 AND NEITHER ONE OF US HAD AN INKLING OF THE COOLANT PROBLEM. MY CAR ENGINE BLEW WITH NO WARNING. WE ARE LUCKY TO SURVIVE THE INCIDENT. FORD DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE INCIDENT. ALL THEY CAN SAY IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I THINK IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW SO THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF IT BEFORE IT CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONTACTED TO HEAR FROM YOU IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS.THANKS. *AK
HEADLIGHTS WOULDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. THE ONLY WAY WAS FOR TO LIFT HOOD UP AND DISCONNECT BATTERY TO CABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED AND COMPLETELY STOPPED . WE HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT THE CAR HAD A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER GAVE ME THE CAR SO I WOULD HAVE A "SAFE" VEHICLE TO DRIVE. SHE OWNED IT FOR THE 3 YEARS PRIOR. BOUGHT WHEN IT WAS A YEAR OLD. WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL OR ADJUSTM…
Read full complaint
WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED AND COMPLETELY STOPPED . WE HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT THE CAR HAD A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM. MY DAUGHTER GAVE ME THE CAR SO I WOULD HAVE A "SAFE" VEHICLE TO DRIVE. SHE OWNED IT FOR THE 3 YEARS PRIOR. BOUGHT WHEN IT WAS A YEAR OLD. WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL OR ADJUSTMENT FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM BY A KIT PROVIDED BY THE FORD COMPANY.THE FORD CO. HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100000 MILES ON THEIR FORD TAURUS 3.8 ENGINE BUT NOT THIS 3.0L ALTHOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS, BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, CRACKED HEADS, ETC. WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP. THIS AT LEAST MY 4TH FORM I FILLED OUT TRYING TO GET AN ANSWER FROM YOU. CAN I EXPECT ONE OR AM I JUST BLOWING IN THE WIND? LILLIAN C. CARSON. *AK
THE DPS OFFICER ALSO SAID THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: JNKNOWN)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE. SERVO COVER COULD HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL, 97V097000, DEALING WITH TRANSMISSION SERVO COVER. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSMER STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL HIS CLAIM WAS DENIED BY MANUFACTURER ST…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE. SERVO COVER COULD HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL, 97V097000, DEALING WITH TRANSMISSION SERVO COVER. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSMER STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL HIS CLAIM WAS DENIED BY MANUFACTURER STATING THEY NEEDED A RECEIPT FOR EVERY 30,000 MILES SAYING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED, CONSUMER HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, HOWEVER THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS, AFTER THREE ATTEMPS TO FIX PROBLEM IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CLIP FOR 3-4 SHUTTLE VALVE BREAKS, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE CLIP.*JB
ENGINE HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
RADIATOR LEAKS WATER AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*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.