IllustrationMOTHER WAS DRIVING AND PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY WHILE DAUGHTER WAS SEATING IN THE REAR WITH THE WINDOW OPEN ONLY. AFTER PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WINDOW BOUNCED AND CAME DOWN QUICKLY, AND SLAMMED SHUT INTO HER FACE. *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 reportsTRANSMISSION QUIT. IF WE WERE ON INTERSTATE, WOULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR PROBLEM.
WHEN APPLYING THE GAS AND GOING DOWN HILL, TRANSMISSION MAKES A JERK FORWARD AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE CLUNKING AND JERKING HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. DEALER HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE, BUT DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT IT. *AK *ML
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S REAR SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
1. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS OPERATE AT THE RATE SELECTED. THEY OPERATE AT A LOWER RATE THAN SELECTED. 2. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED DURING THIS SWITCH FAILURE WITH THE KEY I…
Read full complaint
1. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT ALWAYS OPERATE AT THE RATE SELECTED. THEY OPERATE AT A LOWER RATE THAN SELECTED. 2. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED DURING THIS SWITCH FAILURE WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND/OR THE ENGINE RUNNING.
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTINTLY COME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM TWICE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. NOW THE PROBLEM IS ESCULATING. THE CAR NOW SHUTS OFF THE POWER TO THE RADIO SPEAKERS, POWER WINDOWS, POWER ASSIST AND PROBABLY OTHER COMPONENTS WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS TAK…
Read full complaint
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTINTLY COME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM TWICE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. NOW THE PROBLEM IS ESCULATING. THE CAR NOW SHUTS OFF THE POWER TO THE RADIO SPEAKERS, POWER WINDOWS, POWER ASSIST AND PROBABLY OTHER COMPONENTS WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS TAKEN OUT OF PARK. ALL COMPONENTS WORK FINE WHEN CAR IS IN PARK SHIFT POSITION. OF COURSE I'M REQUIRED TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED EVEN THOUGH IT COULD PROBABLY BEEN FIXED RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE DECISION TO STOP GOING BACK TO THE DEALER IS BASED ON THE WORK THEY DID DO (SHABBY) AND THEIR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM I TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THEM. IS THE CAR SUPPOSE TO HAD A HIGH WIND NOISE - I WAS TOLD THAT WAS PART OF THE DESIGN AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THAT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. YH
#1 DOOR AJAR SWITCH,LIGHT IN DASH STAYS ON AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE DRIVING. #2 WINDOW DID NOT WORK AT ALL, REPAIRED BY DEALER, #3 WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP, TOOK TO DEALER, TOLD TO TAKE DOOR APART AND BEAT ON MOTOR, WAS ABLE TO GET WINDOW UP.
WHILE DRIVING A RUBBING NOISE OCCURRED DUE TO THE TORSION BAR FAILURE. DEALER IS REWELDING THE TORSION BAR. *AK
DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT LOCK AND DOORS OPEN. WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER EXITING VEHICLE. ALSO, THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. FAILURES BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. *AK *ML
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.