IllustrationTHE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO SPONTANEOUS OVERHEATING WHILE AT HJIGHWAY SPEED.*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 reportsTHE REAR SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES BECAME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND ARE NO LONGER OPERABLE. IN ADDITION THE METAL PIECE THAT FITS IN THE ANCHOR IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BROKE OFF THE WEBBING WHILE MY 35 POUND FOUR YEAR OLD WAS WEARING IT. ALSO, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE REPEATEDLY AND C…
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THE REAR SEATBELTS ON BOTH SIDES BECAME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND ARE NO LONGER OPERABLE. IN ADDITION THE METAL PIECE THAT FITS IN THE ANCHOR IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT BROKE OFF THE WEBBING WHILE MY 35 POUND FOUR YEAR OLD WAS WEARING IT. ALSO, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE REPEATEDLY AND COME APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. *AK
INTERIOR MAP LIGHT IS ALSO THE DOME LIGHTS. CANNOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN. WHEN THE DOOR SENSOR BREAKS THE SENSORS THINKS THE DOOR IS OPEN. THIS IS HAZARDOUS AT NIGHT SINCE THERE IS GLARE COMING OFF THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A LIGHT TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT LET CONSUMER GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
CAMSHAFT MAKES A TICKING SOUND THAT IS NOT AT ALL NORMAL. *AK
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, ENGINE OVER HEATED, NO COOLANT LEFT IN RESEVOIR. NO LEAKS? LET COOL AND FILLED WITH 5 QUARTS OF COOLANT. LIGHT STAYED ON. DROVE TO FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. REPORT BACK WAS COOLANT CONTAMINATED WITH HYDROCARBONS (USED GAS). DEALER BELIEVES HEAD GASGET BLOWN OR CRACKED BLOCK. RECOMMEND REP…
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SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, ENGINE OVER HEATED, NO COOLANT LEFT IN RESEVOIR. NO LEAKS? LET COOL AND FILLED WITH 5 QUARTS OF COOLANT. LIGHT STAYED ON. DROVE TO FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. REPORT BACK WAS COOLANT CONTAMINATED WITH HYDROCARBONS (USED GAS). DEALER BELIEVES HEAD GASGET BLOWN OR CRACKED BLOCK. RECOMMEND REPLACE WITH LONG BLOCK. APPROX $4800. ASKED DEALER ABOUT ALLDATA SERVICE BULLITAN 97-24-16 AND EXTRAPOLATING TO THE 3.8L EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALER SAID NO. NEVER RECIEVED NOTICE OF COOLANT PROBLEM THEY SAID OUT OF WARRANTY. NEED HELP.
THE REAR CAMSHAFT SPROCKET BROKE REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE USED ENGINE WAS $2000 AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WAS $2100. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE REPAIR COST. I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING WIDESPREAD.
FOOT HAD SLIPPED OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND VEHCLE HIT A TRAILER. UPON IMPACT WITH TRAILER, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT AIR BAGS WERE FAULTY. *AK
WHENEVER BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL LINKAGES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN NEEDED.*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.