ON MY 1997 FORD TAURUS THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL SOMETIMES FAIL TO LATCH. ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *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.
What owners actually said
770 reportsWHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE CONSUMER LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB *ER *JB
I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES,I HAVE ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL IT MAKES A SQUEAKING SOUND.HAD THE CAR CHECKED WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE LUBED.HAD IT LUBED CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING.A COWORKER HAS A 1997 FORD TAURUS LIKE MY CAR AND THEY ARE EXPERENCING THE SAME NOISES. PLEASE ADVI…
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I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME LOST OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES,I HAVE ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN I TURN MY WHEEL IT MAKES A SQUEAKING SOUND.HAD THE CAR CHECKED WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE LUBED.HAD IT LUBED CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING.A COWORKER HAS A 1997 FORD TAURUS LIKE MY CAR AND THEY ARE EXPERENCING THE SAME NOISES. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON. *AK
1. STEERING AND POWER COMPLETELY FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR 2. HAD REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT IT,SOMETHING ABOUT MODULE, 3. AFTER ABOUT 4 MO. STARTED SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER OR FORD ABOUT MY CONCERNS,CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO HIT A TREE DAMAGING CAR HEAVIL…
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1. STEERING AND POWER COMPLETELY FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS AFTER BUYING CAR 2. HAD REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT IT,SOMETHING ABOUT MODULE, 3. AFTER ABOUT 4 MO. STARTED SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, NO RESPONSE FROM DEALER OR FORD ABOUT MY CONCERNS,CAUSED MY DAUGHTER TO HIT A TREE DAMAGING CAR HEAVILY AND CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO HIT HER HEAD RESULTING IN HEADACHES 4. HAD CAR REPAIRED FROM ACCIDENT AND LET IT GO BACK BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT 5. NOW WE'RE BEING CONSTANTLY HARASSED BY FORD MOTORS LAWERS WELTMAN,WEINBERG & REIS 323 LAKESIDE AVE. CLEVELAND 44113-1099, PHONE216.739.5081 WITH GARNESHMENTS NOW THEY TRYING TO GET OUR SOCIAL SECURITY. *NM
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING HIS VEHICLE, HE FOUND THE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *NM
THE SEAT BELT IN MY VEHICLE RANDOMLY COMES UNFASTENED WHEN I AM DRIVING. EVEN WHEN I PULL ON THE BELT AFTER FASTENING THE BUCKLE AND IT SEEMS SECURE, IT SOMETIMES STILL POPS OUT. *AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE CAR ACCIDENT WITH SOME STONE GUARD RAILS ON ROUTE 18 NORTH IN EATONTOWN, NEW JERSEY. MY SEAT BELT RELEASE ON IMPACT AND SENT ME FLYING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR ON TOP OF MY BOYFRIEND. ALSO THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AND WE HIT THE GURAD RAILS AT 65 MPH. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOMETHING BACK FROM S…
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I WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE CAR ACCIDENT WITH SOME STONE GUARD RAILS ON ROUTE 18 NORTH IN EATONTOWN, NEW JERSEY. MY SEAT BELT RELEASE ON IMPACT AND SENT ME FLYING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR ON TOP OF MY BOYFRIEND. ALSO THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AND WE HIT THE GURAD RAILS AT 65 MPH. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOMETHING BACK FROM SOMEONE AT THE FORD HEADQUARTERS. BECAUSE MY BOYFRIEND AND I COULD HAV LOST OURS LIVES DUE TO THE DEFECTS OF THIS CAR. THE CAR IS TOTALED OUT. ANDMY BOYFRIEND ONLY WALKED AWAY WITH A BRUISED SHOULDER AND WHIPLASH, WHILE I ON THE OTHER HAND HAD A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH AND VARIOUS MUSCLE STRAINS. I THANK MY GOD . *AK
VEHICLE MOVING DOWN A HILL. POWER BRAKES AND STEERING LOST POWER,ENGINE STILL RUNNING, BUT NO POWER TO BRAKES OR STEERING. FINALLY STOPPED VEHICLE WITH NO INCIDENT. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTED, POWER TO BRAKES AND STEERING RESTORED.*AK TOOK TO SERVICE.REPLACEMENT WAS MADE TO CAMSHAFT SENSOR. PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN COR…
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VEHICLE MOVING DOWN A HILL. POWER BRAKES AND STEERING LOST POWER,ENGINE STILL RUNNING, BUT NO POWER TO BRAKES OR STEERING. FINALLY STOPPED VEHICLE WITH NO INCIDENT. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTED, POWER TO BRAKES AND STEERING RESTORED.*AK TOOK TO SERVICE.REPLACEMENT WAS MADE TO CAMSHAFT SENSOR. PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, BUT RETURNED ABOUT 6 MOS. LATER...SAME CIRCUMSTANCES,ONLY IN FIRST INCIDENT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN APPEARING INTERMITTENTLY.
THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER OPERABLE. *JB
THIS COMPLAINT WAS FILED VIA E-MAIL. THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING AND INSTALLING FOUR NEW TIRES, ONE OF THE TIRES WENT FLAT, AND A PIN HOLE LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE SIDEWALL, NEAR THE BEAD. TWO MONTHS LATER, MADE A LEFT TURN TOO WIDE AND CLIPPED A CURB. THIS RESULTED IN FRONT RIGHT TIRE LOOKING LIKE IT WAS CUT IN MULTIPLE PLACES …
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THIS COMPLAINT WAS FILED VIA E-MAIL. THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING AND INSTALLING FOUR NEW TIRES, ONE OF THE TIRES WENT FLAT, AND A PIN HOLE LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE SIDEWALL, NEAR THE BEAD. TWO MONTHS LATER, MADE A LEFT TURN TOO WIDE AND CLIPPED A CURB. THIS RESULTED IN FRONT RIGHT TIRE LOOKING LIKE IT WAS CUT IN MULTIPLE PLACES THROUGH THE PLYS IN THE SIDEWALL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SHOWED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. PEP BOYS IMPLIED THERE WAS NO DEFECT ON THESE TIRES, AND OFFERED NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. COOPER, FUTURA PLUS TOURING SE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS THE DEFECTIVE TIRES IN HIS POSSESSION. *NM
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.
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