RoadVitals

1994 Ford Taurus Sho Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Apr 26, 2010
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6

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.

5
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10327620 · filed Apr 26, 2010

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

NHTSA ID 10205005 · filed Oct 3, 2007

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.

2
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10176779 · filed Dec 21, 2006

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

NHTSA ID 758544 · filed Feb 24, 2002

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.

2
reports

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....

NHTSA ID 10127352 · filed Jul 3, 2005

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

NHTSA ID 558473 · filed Dec 12, 2000

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10327620 · filed Apr 26, 2010

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10145697 · filed Dec 20, 2005

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

Data on this page last refreshed .