Suspension. Review the 180 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

61 crash reports16 fire reports46 injury reports

What owners actually said

874 reports

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2014

Electrical SystemFire

WAS DRIVEN DOWN THE HIGHWAY NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE NOTICED A BURNING WIRE SMELL.. PULLED OVER AND THE WHOLE TOP OF MY MOTOR WAS ON FIRE... THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL... MY CAR IS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574219

100,000 miles · Sep 30, 2013

Seat BeltsSuspensionCrashInjury

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MY SON IS 22 YRS OLD HE BOUGHT THIS 1999 FORD TAURUS FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN MARCH 2013,HIM AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,THE CAR JERKED TO THE LEFT REALLY HARD HE COULD NOT CONTROL IT NO STEERING CONTROL,NEEDLESS TO SAY HE WENT DOWN A DITCH THRU A YARD AND HIT THIS LADYS PARKED CAR IN HER DRIVE WAY TOTALING IT,AND HIT THE SIDE OF HER HOUSE,HIS GIRL FRIEND WAS CRITICALLY INJURED HAVING TO BE AIRLIFTED,THIS ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A SERIOUS INJURY AND SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE,HIS GIRL FRIENDS SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING HER TO GO FORWARD THE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY BUT BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK HER HEAD ENDED UP HITTING WINDSHIELD WHEN SHE GOT JERKED FORWARD.,,,AFTER ACCIDENT HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC,THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK TO THE LEFT AND CAUSING THIS SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546128

100,000 miles · Sep 28, 2013

StructureCrashInjury

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MY SON WAS DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED TO THE LEFT,RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AT 55 MPH CAR CRASH HIS GIRL FRIEND WAS AIRLIFTED, HE LEFT THE HIGHWAY WENT THRU A LADY'S YARD HITTING AND TOTALING HER CAR AND HITTING HER HOUSE,HIS GIRL FRIEND HAS 7 FRACTURED FACIAL BONES 3 CRACKED RIBS,AND POSSIBLY A BROKEN EYE SOCKET,HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED,AFTER LOOKING AT THE UNDERNEATH OF CAR DISCOVERED THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THRU AND BROKE,THIS RESULTED TO A LOT OF PERSONAL DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY. IS THERE ANY RECALL OR ANYTHING REPORTED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM PLZ RESPOND OF VITAL IMPORTANCE I HAVE SEEN OF FORDS PROBLEMS LIST THEIR WAS ONE OTHER ISSUE WITH THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10545764

90,000 miles · Sep 24, 2013

Power Train

THE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE THROTTLE CABLE SPECIFICALLY BUT I CANNOT FIND INFORMATION REGARDING THIS WITH THE NHTSA. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545247

139,500 miles · Aug 20, 2013

Service Brakes

ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUPTURED CAUSING GRADUAL BUT COMPLETE LOSS OF NORMAL BRAKING. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF IN TO A PARKING AREA JUST AS BRAKES QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. CAUSE OF RUPTURE APPEARS TO BE RUST. RUPTURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT LOCATION. NO PRIOR WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536401

155,000 miles · Aug 15, 2013

Service Brakes

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HIT THE BRAKES HARD WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SOFTNESS IN THE PEDAL VASTLY DEVELOPING INTO 98 % LOSS OF BRAKING CAPACITY. AFTERWARDS, NOTICED LEAK IN ONE OF BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE UNDERBODY ABOUT MIDWAY. APPROXIMATELY 4-6 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SCENARIO REPEATED ITSELF WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER BRAKELINE RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE REAR BRAKELINE CONNECTING THE PROPORTIONING VALVE WITH THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE HOSE SPRUNG A LEAK RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITIES. ALL OF THESE LINES RUPTURED DUE TO RUST AND OR CORROSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535577

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2013

Electrical System

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WAS DRIVING MY 1999 FORD TAURUS AT A SPEED OF 30-35 MPH AFTER DRIVING AT 70-75 MPH STEADY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE HWY AND THEN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM 30-35MPH TO 0-5 MPH AND STAYED AT THAT FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS AND MY CAR TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT AND DEEXCELERATE AND ALSO DROP THE TRANSMISSION INTO A LOWER GEAR ALL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN FROM MY CURRENT SPEED OF 30-35 MPH. IT DID THIS TWICE WITHIN 90 SECONDS OF EACH TIME. SINCE I WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY DESTINATION I MADE IT SAFELY TO MY LOCATION AND HAVEN'T DROVE IT SINCE. THIS ACTIVITY DID NOT OCCUR AT ALL WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY (41 NORTH) ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO DRIVING AT CITY SPEED OF 30-35 MPH AFTER EXITING FOR ABOUT 2 MILES TO MY FINAL LOCATION WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE ANY STOP AND GO DRIVING EXCEPT WHEN I GOT OFF THE HWY AND SLOWED TO 30-35 MPH ONTO PROSPECT AVE IN APPLETON, WI. I DID NOTICE A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN TO MY CAR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, BUT AT THAT TIME THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM ABOUT 55 MPH TO 0 A FEW TIMES WITHIN 5-10 SECONDS BUT IT DID NOT TRY TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR LIKE THIS TIME WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM INDICATORS QUIT ON ME WHILE IN OPERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510197

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2013

Power Train

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GOT A TRANSMISSION LEAK, THE TRANSMISSION PAN SEALS WERE REPLACED AS THEY WERE WET AND TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND REFILLED. NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS STILL LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID BROUGHT IT BACK TO SHOP WHERE THE SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WERE SHREDDED. WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND FILLED. GET TRANSMISSION BACK IN CAR AND O/D LIGHT IS ON. REPLACED THE CABLES AND SILINIOD PACK. NEXT DAY DRIVING THE CAR AT 10 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER AND WAS LIKE IN NEUTRAL. PARKED CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. TOWED TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID TRANSMISSION IS BUSTED/BROKE AND NEEDS REPLACING. AFTER READING HERE SEEMS THIS TRANSMISSION ON THIS YEAR OF CAR IS CRAP AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!! PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION AND PAY OWNERS FOR THERE SCREW UP!! THIS IS CRAP I LOVE MY CAR AND NOW THIS. MAYBE I GO FOREIGN. PS NO FEDERAL BAILOUT FOR THEM AS THEY DON'T HELP THERE CUSTOMERS THATS WHY THERE FAILING. GOOD CAR BAD TRANSMISSION /CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504933

160,000 miles · Mar 28, 2013

Suspension

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ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE AND THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE. NOW JUST THIS MORNING AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FROM FORD O4S17 FRONT COIL SPRINGS. HOWEVER THEY ARE SAYING MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT ORIGINALLY SOLD IN A SALT BELT STATE. WELL IT IS IN A SALT BELT STATE NOW AND IT IS BROKE. 2 FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND 2 TIRES. EVERYWHERE I CALL THE PRICE RANGE IS AROUND 1200 DOLLARS. I AM VERY UPSET WITH FORD. THEY SOLD A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. I WOULD RATHER PUT THE 1200 DOLLARS TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE THAN WASTE ANY MORE MONEY ON FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504795

160,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013

Suspension

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ON MARCH 11 2013 AS I BEGAN TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY MY FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED MY TIRE. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FROM FORD NUMBER 04S17.WHEN THEY RAN MY VIN THEY SAID THERE WAS NO OPEN RECALL FOUND. AFTER CONTACTING 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS THEY BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL. ALL 3 HAVE ADVISED ME TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT STRUT TOWERS. THE RECALL INFORMATION LISTED DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. MY CAR NEED TO BE FIXED THROUGH THE RECALL. THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504422

Official recalls

04V332000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jul 15, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE WINTER. A FRACTURED SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS. IN ADDITION, FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN ALL OTHER STATES, FOR FRACTURE ONLY, UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 31, 2005. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2000-2001 MY VEHICLES AND OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER ON JANUARY 10, 2005, ADVISING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 1999 MY VEHICLES BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2005 AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED THEN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

99V250000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.

98V288000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Nov 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH THE "CALIFORNIA" EMISSIONS PACKAGE. AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED. THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVER TIME, CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE.

98V204000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 1, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DASH INSULATOR RETAINER CLIP WAS NOT FULLY ASSEMBLED TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE DASH FITTING. THE CLIP CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND FALL INTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM PIVOT AREA.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ENGINE MAY NOT FULLY RETURN TO IDLE. ALSO, THE INSULATOR MAY NOT STAY IN THE INTENDED LOCATION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP, AND RE-INSTALL IF NEEDED.

98V198000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Aug 25, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

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

PE04044 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture

Opened May 24, 2004 · Closed Aug 16, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front; Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

ODI POSSESSES 130 VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRES (VOQ) ALLEGING FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT (MODEL YEAR 1999-2000) VEHICLES.AN ADDITIONAL 11 VOQS CONCERNING MY 2001 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN FOUND, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 141.MORE THAN 75% OF THESE REPORTS ALLEGE THAT THE BROKEN SPRING DAMAGED OR PUNCTURED THE ADJACENT TIRE.ALL OF THESE REPORTS ORIGINATED IN THE SALT BELT STATES LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.FORD WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-332) COVERING VEHICLES SOLDOR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO INSTALL SPRING SHIELDS IN MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES TO PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM DAMAGING THE NEARBY TIRE.FORD WILL ADDITIONALLY NOTIFY OWNERS OF ALL MY 1999-2001 TAURUS/SABLE VEHICLES THAT WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SPRING FRACTURES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS OF AGE OR 150,000 MILES.ODI ANALYZED FORD?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA AND FOUND THAT 99% OF THE SPRING FRACTURES OCCURRED IN THE STATES COVERED BY THE RECALL.THE OTHER INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE STATES OF FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, ALABAMA, AND GEORGIA.IN VIEW OF THE COVERAGE OF THE SPRING FAILURES BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, ODI IS CLOSING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTRY.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension:front

Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

PE02080 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture

Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Apr 29, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

A TOTAL OF 161 FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING FAILURES ARE KNOWN TO ODI AND FORD FROM ALL SOURCES, 59 OF THESE LEADING TO TIRE DAMAGE.THESE FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE CORROSION STATES, WHERE 253,814 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SOLD.WARRANTY AND CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATA SHOW THAT THE SUBJECT FLEET EXPERIENCED A SPRING FRACTURE RATE OF 0.009% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.03% AT 60,000 MILES.THESE RATES ARE VERY LOW WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF COIL SPRING FRACTURE:RECALLED '93 TAURUS (EA97-026): 0.1% AT 30,000 MILES AND 0.34% AT 60,000 MILES; AND RECALLED '98 WINDSTAR (EA00-027): 0.11% AT 30,000 MILES AND 1.25% AT 60,000 MILES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE RATES SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE OF COMPARABLE-AGED NON-RECALLED WINDSTARS SUBJECT TO EA00-027 (MY '95-'97).GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs