1994 Ford Taurus Sho Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Ford Taurus Sho, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance545.5%
- Brakes218.2%
- Electrical218.2%
- Airbags19.1%
- Engine19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; IT SLID SIDEWAYS AND THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLICE, ROLLED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES AND CRASHED INTO THE LIGHT POLE AGAIN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND HOSPITAL REPORTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 07/08/10 *BF UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB UPDATED 07/22/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS THE THROTTLE CABLE. UPDATED 07/26/10*JB
1994 FORD TAURUS CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE DESTROYING THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT FORD SHOULD GIVE HER HOWEVER MUCH MONEY THE CAR IS WORTH. SHE STATES THERE WAS A INCIDENT REPORT INDICATING THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HAS INCIDENT REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATING THE FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING A PANIC STOP IN MY 1994 FORD TAURUS SHO I EXPERIENCED A HYDRAULIC FAILURE IN MY BRAKES. THIS WAS DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. I CAME WITHIN 6 INCHES OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. I REPLACED BRAKE LINES FROM THE AREA WHERE IT WAS SOUND BACK TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE FORWARD LINES PROBABLY SHOULD ALSO BE REPLACED. *JB
ONE DAY THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPS TO THE FLOOR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. BRAKES PUMP UP OK. BLEED BRAKES WHEN I GET HOME, THEY'RE SOFTER THAN USUAL BUT STOP FINE. NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM WINDSHIELD WIPER AREA AT A STOP ABOUT A WEEK LATER. OPEN HOOD, I DON'T SEE ANY VISUAL DAMAGE, SMOKE IS GONE BY THE TIME I CHECK.. 2 DAYS LATER BRAKE PEDAL DROPS TO THE FLOOR, DOESN'T PUMP UP. BLEEDING DOESN'T HELP, PEDAL STAYS SOFT. I NOTICE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A SWITCH OR SENSOR THAT SCREWS INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. IT'S WET AND WHEN I FEEL IT I CAN TELL IT'S BRAKE FLUID. I TRY TO PULL OFF THE CONNECTOR BUT IT SNAPS OFF, I NOTICE THAT IT'S BEEN ON FIRE OR HAS BEEN VERY HOT. I CHECK WITH THE DEALER AND IT'S CALLED A HYDRAULIC DISCONNECT SWITCH, IT DISENGAGES THE SPEED CONTROL WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKES. APPARENTLY IT STARTED LEAKING AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I LOST THE PEDAL. APPARENTLY WHEN I NOTICED THE SMOKE IS THE TIME THE CONNECTOR BECAME VERY HOT OR WAS ON FIRE, BECAUSE THE HYDRAULIC SWITCH LEAKED AND ALLOWED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE CONNECTOR. I ORDERED A SWITCH BUT IT'S ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER. I STILL HAVE THE CHARRED SWITCH AND CAN CUT OFF THE CONNECTOR IF IT NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
1994 FORD TAURUS SHO. CAR WAS SITTING IDLE NOT RUNNING FOR HOURS AND SUDDENLY STARTED ON FIRE. APPROXIMENTLY 1 MONTH BEFORE THIS THE CRUISE CONTROL JUST STOPPED WORKING. ALL WIRING IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE MOTOR IS NON REPAIRABLE. THE FIRE WAS FROM UNDER THE HOOD, DRIVERS SIDE, NEAR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT STARTED BEHIND THE FIREWALL. I HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS AND HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE CALLED 1-888-327-4236, AND THEY SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON IT. WHY, MAY I ASK, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN ON THE NEWS AND RADIO IF THERE WERE TO BE NO RECALLS? MY CAR IS STILL SETTING WHERE THE FIRE TOOK PLACE. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOME KIND OF ANSWER INVOLVING THIS ISSUE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO TRY TO FIX IT, MANY HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID "YOU KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MAKE AND YEAR, CHECK INTO IT". SO I AM FILING A COMPLAINT, HOPING I CAN GET SOME ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU....
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES STALLING DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A MODULE BECAUSE IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN ST. LOUIS. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; IT SLID SIDEWAYS AND THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLICE, ROLLED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES AND CRASHED INTO THE LIGHT POLE AGAIN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND HOSPITAL REPORTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 07/08/10 *BF UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB UPDATED 07/22/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS THE THROTTLE CABLE. UPDATED 07/26/10*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FORDS RECALL OF THEIR 3.8 V6 MOTOR IS A TRAVESTY THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT! THEY KNEW THE MOTOR WAS BAD, PUT OUT A RECALL WITH A MILEAGE LIMIT (100,000), BUT THEN ALSO A TIME LIMIT (7 YEARS)! HOW ABOUT A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVEN THE 100K, AND GETS THE PROBLEM? THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT IF ONE GOES 100K, THEN THEY GOT SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! THEREFORE FORD DID THEIR JOB! BUT WHEN ONE PAYS GOOD MONEY FOR THEIR SCREW UP, AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, AND DID NOT DO 100K, THEN THE PURCHASER DID NOT GET SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! FORD SHOULD STICK TO THE 100K, AND NOT THE TIME LIMIT! THE SOB'S HAVE ONCE AGAIN, GOTTEN AWAY WITH A LAZYASS DESIGN, AND WERE ABLE TO THROW A LAME EXCUSE AND GET AWAY WITH IT! I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WHO AND HOW TO SUE! SOME HAVE HAD SUCCESS, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THEY DID! *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .