IllustrationDEALER CLAIMS NO PROBLEM FOUND BUT BRAKES ABSOLUTELY FAILED. *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 reportsINTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO,WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SPEED UP FOR NO REASON. HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE SIGNAL ARM REPLACED.*AK
TIRES ON 1997, FORD, TAURUS HAD A TIRE SEPARATION ON REAR TIRE THEN ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE WITH LESS THEN 10 THOUSAND MILES ON EACH TIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH CONSUMER. TIRE SIZE IS P205-65R15. *AK *SLC
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY ENGINE BLEWOUT. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. WOULD HAVE WATER COMING OUT OF FREEZING PLUG. TOOK TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE.BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES, AND PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE.*AK
SWITCH IN DOOR TO ADVISE IF DOOR IS OPEN STAYS ON. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT CAUSES FOR DOME LIGHTS TO COME ON. CONSUMER HAS HAD REPAIRS ON VEHICLE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR.*AK
THERE IS A FUEL SMELL IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT DUE TO OIL LEAKING FROM OIL PAN.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE SMELL IS SO BAD IT MAKES HER SICK TO HER STOMACH. *SLC
SHIFT CABLE BROKE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, LEAVING IT INOPERABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
RACK AND PINION STEERING MAKES A GRINDING SOUND WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. DEALER SAYS THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING IS WEARING OUT, AND WILL GO PERFORM BADLY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. *AK
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
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.