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 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
THIS VEHICLE QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED BACK TO OUR SHOP. THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD BLOWN. THE WIRES TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST A HOSE CLAMP AND HAD SHORTED TOGETHER. FORD DOES HAVE A TSB CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE NUMBER IS 98-25-1. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT IN…
Read full complaint
THIS VEHICLE QUIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS TOWED BACK TO OUR SHOP. THE FUEL PUMP FUSE HAD BLOWN. THE WIRES TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST A HOSE CLAMP AND HAD SHORTED TOGETHER. FORD DOES HAVE A TSB CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE NUMBER IS 98-25-1. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT IN THE HIGHLY FLAMMABLE ENVIRONMENT OF THE INSIDE OF A TANK FULL OF FUEL AND VAPOR. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS ONLY COVERED BY A TSB AND NOT A RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #713208
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1999
Seat Belts
SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT CORRECTLY AND LOCKUP AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. DEALER AND FORD MOTOR WERE CONTACTED AND ADVISED US THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??? THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (THROUGH TRAVELERS) AT ADDITIONAL COST -- SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS NOT COVERED. WE'RE…
Read full complaint
SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT CORRECTLY AND LOCKUP AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. DEALER AND FORD MOTOR WERE CONTACTED AND ADVISED US THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??? THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (THROUGH TRAVELERS) AT ADDITIONAL COST -- SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS NOT COVERED. WE'RE SCREWED. ESTIMATE OF OVER $400 TO CORRECT BY DEALER. PRESENTLY LOOKING AT AFTERMARKET ALTERNATIVES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE FORD COMPONENTS. NOT CERTAIN WHETHER "GENUINE" FORD PARTS WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS THEY MAY HAVE THE SAME NET RESULT.
NHTSA ODI #713103
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RISE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #849601
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Parking BrakeCrash
HAD TURNED VEHICLE OFF & PARKED IT. WENT BEHIND VEHICLE. CHILD IN VEHICLE & RELEASE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING FORWARD & DOWN A HILL. HIT A NEIGHBOR'S VEHICLE. NO KEYS IN VEHICLE AT TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #849295
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. ALSO, THE FUEL TANK DID NOT SHUT OFF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #849256
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HAS STALLED AGAIN GOING THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE. THIS TIME AT 2MPH. I'VE ALREADY CHECKED RECALL, CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND THEIR ARE OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU OR I CAN DO. READING REPORTS NOT GETTING ME ANYWHERE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. CAR CAN'T HANDLE ANY WATER ON ROAD AND DEALER CAN…
Read full complaint
ENGINE HAS STALLED AGAIN GOING THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE. THIS TIME AT 2MPH. I'VE ALREADY CHECKED RECALL, CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND THEIR ARE OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU OR I CAN DO. READING REPORTS NOT GETTING ME ANYWHERE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. CAR CAN'T HANDLE ANY WATER ON ROAD AND DEALER CAN'T REMEDY. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS
NHTSA ODI #712135
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1999
Steering
WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THEIR REPAIR OF MY TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, I AM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR FOR THIS MYSELF. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? THEY BREAK IT, I PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THIS IS FORD QUALITY IS JOB1 AT ITS BEST.
NHTSA ODI #712068
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1999
Service Brakes, Air
ABS PUMP FAILURE DEALER ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $ 1,500.00. FORD REFUSED ANY FINANCIAL HELP WITH THE PROBLEM
NHTSA ODI #711962
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE STALLS WHENEVER I HIT A WATER PUDDLE OF ANY SIZE REGUARDLESS OF SPEED. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T FIX.
NHTSA ODI #711918
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Power Train
"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, HAD A MECHANIC RUN COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS, CODES P0734 & P0761 READ ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. MECHANIC TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID IT DID NOT HAVE 4TH GEAR AND RECOMMENDED IT BE REBUILT. I HAD CONTACTED 2 FORD DEALERS BEFORE I KNEW THAT IT WAS A MAJOR TRANS…
Read full complaint
"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, HAD A MECHANIC RUN COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS, CODES P0734 & P0761 READ ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. MECHANIC TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID IT DID NOT HAVE 4TH GEAR AND RECOMMENDED IT BE REBUILT. I HAD CONTACTED 2 FORD DEALERS BEFORE I KNEW THAT IT WAS A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 1,000 MILES. I THINK THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED JASPORS THE MANUFACTURER OF TRANSMISSIONS AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT A CLIP OR SELONOID IS BREAKING AND THEY HAVE DONE 6 UPDATES TO THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION. A TRANSMISSION EXPERT SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPELETLY REBUILT. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL SOMETHING TRIGGERED THE ENGINE LIGHT. ONE DEALER OFFERED MY TO SELL ME THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE THEY WOULD COVER IT. I HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR WHICH IS OPERATING AS IT ALWAYS HAS AND TRYING TO DETERMINE THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1997 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration