IllustrationDEALER POURED A NEW ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED HEATER CORE TO CRACK AND CAUSE FUMES TO ENTER INTO VEHICLE, STEAMING UP THE WINDOWS, AND RESULTING IN VISUAL DIFFICULTY. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 reportsWINDSHIELD MY WIPERS WILL NOT WORK ON ANY SELECTOR, BUT HIGH. *AK
TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE. DEALER REBUILT FIRST TIME AND EXACTLY A YEART LATER IT FAILED AGAIN. IT IS 8,000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. THEY OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. A NEW CAR SHOULD NOT DO THIS....TWICE! IT HAS BEEN FACTORY DEFECTS EACH TIME. *AK
FTER A HEAVY RAIN AND IF CAR GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER THE ENGINE WILL STALL. CONSUMER SAYS ENGINE WILL START BACK UP AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID CONSUMER NEEDED A REVISED AIR CLEANER. *AK
THE ENGINE OFTEN STALLS DURING A HEAVY RAIN OR AFTER RUNNING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT NEDED A "REVISED AIR CLEANER". IF I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY WATER IS SUCKED UP THROUGH THE AIR CLEANER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE REVISED AIR CLEANER IS A DIFFERENT DESIGN WHICH PREVENTS THIS FROM HAPPENIN…
Read full complaint
THE ENGINE OFTEN STALLS DURING A HEAVY RAIN OR AFTER RUNNING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT NEDED A "REVISED AIR CLEANER". IF I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY WATER IS SUCKED UP THROUGH THE AIR CLEANER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE REVISED AIR CLEANER IS A DIFFERENT DESIGN WHICH PREVENTS THIS FROM HAPPENING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE SYSTEM GOT STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NOISE IN FUEL SYSTEM TOOK TO DEALER TWICE NO SOLUTION. SOUND LIKE GURGLE. *AK
THE POOR DESIGN IN FUEL SYSTEM RESULTED IN FUEL PUMP WIRES RUBBING AGAINST THE FUEL FEED LINE AND SHORTING. YH
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT SEEMS CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATES UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO IDLE AND ACCLERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED TWO SENSORS WITH ELECTRONIC TIMING AND IDLER. PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN UP A CURB AND INTO A BUILDING. THERE IS A TSB BULLETIN ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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.