Illustration1997 TAURUS HEATING SYSTEM FAILED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE RADIATOR. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE RADIATOR FAILED. *JB
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 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A CLINKING SOUND THAT COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE WERE THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEH…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A CLINKING SOUND THAT COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE WERE THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM
OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT, REPAIRED SHORT, $110.00. THREE MONTHS LATER THE ALARM SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING, REPLACED ALARM SYSTEM WITH 2005, AND REPLACED COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS. *JB
1WHILE DRIVING 1997 TAURUS SHO AT 38672 MILES, THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE LEFT SPRING HAD BROKEN. *TS THE INCIDENT DESTROYED THE CONSUMER'S SNOW TIRE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT MAYBE THIS IS A NORTHEASTERN PROBLEM DUE TO THE SALT AND MOISTURE THAT CAUSES THE SPRING TO DETERIORATE. FORD ANNOUNCED 900000K TAURUS' FROM 1999-2001 W…
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1WHILE DRIVING 1997 TAURUS SHO AT 38672 MILES, THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE LEFT SPRING HAD BROKEN. *TS THE INCIDENT DESTROYED THE CONSUMER'S SNOW TIRE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT MAYBE THIS IS A NORTHEASTERN PROBLEM DUE TO THE SALT AND MOISTURE THAT CAUSES THE SPRING TO DETERIORATE. FORD ANNOUNCED 900000K TAURUS' FROM 1999-2001 WERE BEING RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM THAT THE CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED. *SC
INTERIOR LIGHTING WILL NOT TURN OFF, THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AS IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED MORE THAN ONCE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT A RETAINER WALL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED ,AND IS CURRENTLY AT A SALVAGE YARD. THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION TO SEE WHY THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCEN…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT A RETAINER WALL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED ,AND IS CURRENTLY AT A SALVAGE YARD. THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION TO SEE WHY THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE.*AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED THE AIR BIG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKED FOUR TIMES AND THEN WENT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE OR FOUR SECONDS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING THIS PATTERN WAS REPEATED OVER AND OVER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PRO…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED THE AIR BIG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKED FOUR TIMES AND THEN WENT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE OR FOUR SECONDS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING THIS PATTERN WAS REPEATED OVER AND OVER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
DT: CONSUMER OWNS A FORD TAURUS. THE HEADLIGHT LENS WAS NOT CLEAR, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE CLOUDINESS HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS. HAD TO BUY 2 NEW SEALED HEADLIGHTS.*AK *NM
I HAVE A 1997 FORD TAURUS LX. I WAS ON MY WAY TO LAS VEGAS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND SOMETIMES NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD HOME(IN ORDER TO NOT GET STRANDED IN VEGAS) AND ON THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO NOT WORK AT ALL. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE ABOUT 45 MPH THE WHOLE 3 HOURS BACK TO MY HOM…
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I HAVE A 1997 FORD TAURUS LX. I WAS ON MY WAY TO LAS VEGAS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND SOMETIMES NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD HOME(IN ORDER TO NOT GET STRANDED IN VEGAS) AND ON THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO NOT WORK AT ALL. I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE ABOUT 45 MPH THE WHOLE 3 HOURS BACK TO MY HOME ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS AND EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE SAID THAT YEAR TAURUS HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS...WHY DOES FORD NOT RECALL THE TRANSMISSION?*JB
I OWN A 97 FORD TAURUS WAGON, I PURCHASED IT USED FROM A NON FORD DEALER IN 2000 WITH 43,900 MILES ON IT. IN MAY 2001 I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT 54,000. MILES. NOW IN AUGUST 2005 AT 112,000 MILES ANOTHER TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE PUT IN. I DEFINITELY THINK THERE IS SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM OR DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMIS…
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I OWN A 97 FORD TAURUS WAGON, I PURCHASED IT USED FROM A NON FORD DEALER IN 2000 WITH 43,900 MILES ON IT. IN MAY 2001 I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT 54,000. MILES. NOW IN AUGUST 2005 AT 112,000 MILES ANOTHER TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE PUT IN. I DEFINITELY THINK THERE IS SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM OR DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IF THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 10 YRS OLD & IS GOING ON IT'S 3RD TRANSMISSION. FORD DID REPLACEMENT OF THE PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION, TOLD ME IT WAS A NEW ONE. *JB
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.