RoadVitals

1993 Ford Taurus Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
115
Latest Jun 3, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 1,557 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 115 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 115, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 2004

THE DASHBOARD IS LEAKING AN UNKNOWN RESIDUE, LIKE CHEWING GUM, OVER THE BRAKE PEDALAND GOT STUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SHOE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10075601
Incident
Jun 3, 2004
BrakesEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

SUSPENSION FEELS SHAKY AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION. KEY LOCK IS FAULTY. I HAVE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS AS YOU CAN SEE WITH HEAD GASKET AND TIMING COVER GASKET. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE CIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER BUT AIR CONDITIONER NEVER WORKED.

NHTSA ID
10069218
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
200 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 5, 2003

I HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED AND AFTER ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS THE ROTORS WARP CAUSING PREMATURE PAD WEAR. I HAD TO THE REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS AT LEAST 2 TIMES A YEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014009
Incident
Apr 5, 2003
Mileage
151,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2002

BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO CORROSION. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. BRAKE PEDAL DESCENDED TO THE FLOOR WITH NO WARNING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AT THE BEND CROSSING RIGHT REAR SUBFRAME DUE TO CORROSION. THE OTHER DIAGONAL BRAKING SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. ALL BRAKE FLUID DRAINED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. *SCC

NHTSA ID
8016442
Incident
Aug 15, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 2002

BRAKE PRESSURE IS VERY LOW. BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT GOING ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDING STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER NOT AWARE WHETHER FRONT OR REAR BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013573
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+5 more
Filed Jun 3, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED AGAIN. *AK CONSUMER HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THE PAN PLUG LEFT UNDONE CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE OIL, THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVER TORQUE BOLTS WHICH BURSTED AROUND THE CORE, THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. CONSUMER HAS LOST TRUST IN THE DEALERSHIP. HEAD LIGHTS FAILED, LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE WIPERS WERE NOISY, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WIPER MOTOR. THERE IS A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING, THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT ON TURNS AND WHEN BACKING UP. THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT BLOWING COLD AIR, SHRATER VALVE AND A/C REFRIGERANT WAS REPLACED. THE KEY SWITCH FAILED. THE FAULTY ANTENNA MOTOR FAILED. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8010926
Incident
Sep 3, 2001
BrakesTransmission
Filed Aug 12, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FORABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
750279
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jun 27, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH FAILED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER, PASSENGER EXPERIENCED A BROKEN TAIL BONE AND STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT LEFT BRUISE MARKS ACROSS HER STOMACH WHICH STILL CAUSES PAIN, CONSUMER PURCHASED A 1995 TAURUS AND STATES THE ABS EXPERIENCES SAME PROBLEMS AS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, THE BRAKES LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK. (POLICE REPORT ATTACHED) *SLC

NHTSA ID
561809
Incident
Aug 20, 1999
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+6 more
Filed Mar 12, 2001

VEHICLE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY, AT ANY SPEED/ANY TIME. DEALER STATED THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION DEVICE. *AK VEHICLE WILL NOT START WHETHER IT IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL. STARTER, SPARKPLUGS, AND BATTERY HAVE BEEN REPLACED, DOOR CHIME WOULD SOUND WHEN KEYS WERE NOT IN IGNITION. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND EXPERIENCES ERRATIC SHIFTING. FAULTY FRONT STRUTS CAUSE VEHICLE TO OVERSTEER, TIRES WERE ROTATED AND FRONT WAS ALIGNED TO HELP PROBLEM, HOWEVER DID NOT REMEDY. DASHBOARD RATTLES, HOWEVER DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND THERE IS WIND NOISE WHEN DRIVEN OVER 20 MPH, LEFT DOOR WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. KEYLESS ENTRY FAILED, PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK INOPERABLE. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NEVER INSTALLED. THERE IS A CONSISENT WIND SOUND IN VEHICLE. FRONT END EXPERIENCED SHAKING. EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION. DIFFICULT AND NOISY STEERING OCCURRED, DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING LINE. FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED. EXHAUST REPLACED. FUEL PUMP REPLACED. WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 47114 MILES ON. *SLC

NHTSA ID
882786
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Mar 5, 2001
Fire reported

HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT BULB HOLDERS ARE BRITTLE, BROWN TO BLACK DUE TO BURNING. I HAVE CHECKED 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHTS AND THEY ARE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF OVERHEATING AT THE CONNECTION. APPEARS TO BE MUCH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WHICH RESULTED IN A MELTED/ BURNED WIRING CONNECTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
741949
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Feb 18, 2001

REAR BRAKES ARE FAULTY. *SLC

NHTSA ID
785289
Incident
Jan 18, 2001
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 23, 2001

BATTERY FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START. NLM

NHTSA ID
739815
Incident
Aug 11, 1999
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Nov 17, 2000

THERE WAS ALSO PROBLEM WITH NOTORIOUS "HEAD GASKET FAILURE" I HAD TO HAVE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
736442
BrakesTransmissionVisibility
Filed Sep 21, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
732136
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
BrakesElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 19, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
731878
Brakes
Filed Aug 17, 2000
Fire reported

I RECENTLY HAD NEW ROTORS AND PADS INSTALLED ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF MY 93 FORD TAURUS. SINCE THE REPAIR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE INTERMITTENTLY STICKS OR FAILS TO RELEASE. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND A NEW BRAND OF ROTOR AND PADS WERE INSTALLED. A WEEK LATER THE BRAKE STUCK AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE PADS, ROTOR, CALIPER AND LOAD SENSOR SWITCH ("EVERTHING MECHANICAL THAT COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM"). THE FOURTH TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURED, THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID. THE FIFTH TIME, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. THE SIXTH TIME IT HAPPENED (RIM SO HOT THE PLASTIC HUB CAP MELTED, BUT AT LEAST NO FIRE!) THE DEALER SAID EVERYTHING IN THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACING (3 COMPONENTS THAT COST $1600), AS WELL AS THE PADS, ROTOR, CALIPER, WHEEL BEARINGS FOR A TOTAL REPAIR COST OF $2000-3000. I NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM BEFORE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS DONE, AND IT HAS 80,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
728207
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Aug 2, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
726397
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Jul 26, 2000

THE ENGINE IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPYOMS AS THE FIRST HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. BRAKE ROTORS ARE BEGINNING TO 'PLUSE' INDICATING THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT. TRANSMISSION INDICATOR BROKEN. FORD HAD A PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE 3.8 ENGINE BUT THE 93 MODELS WERE NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINES ARE IDENTICAL. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A REAL 'DOG'. *AK

NHTSA ID
726078
Incident
Dec 5, 1995
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+5 more
Filed Jun 9, 2000

BRAKES REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. *MJS

NHTSA ID
552560
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 6, 2000

DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING BRAKING FLUID TO LEAK, AND RESULTING IN NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. ALSO, COULD NOT SHUT VEHICLE OFF WHILE IN USE, HAD TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF. DUE FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH. SWITCH REPAIRED. ALSO, ENGINE OIL PAN RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
863044
Incident
Jun 2, 2000
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 27, 2000

THERMOSTAT STUCK, BLEW OUT THE HEAD GASKET, AND WARPED THE ENGINE HEAD. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE BACK. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS HEAD GASKET. ON JUNE 23, 19 99 , POWER RELAY WAS REPLACED, AND CURRENTLY WENT OUT AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO START. ALSO BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
859251
Incident
Mar 15, 2000
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Mar 12, 2000

WARPED ROTORS:AFTER AWHILE THE ROTORS BECAME SO WARPED WE HAD TO PUT NEW ONES ON. WATER PUMP:THE CAR KEPT OVERHEATING AND THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED. RADIATOR: THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING OUT ALL OF THE FLUID. HEAD GASKETS: THE HEATER IN THE CAR WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND CAR WOULD NOT HOLD COOLANT FOR VERY LONG. FUEL PUMP:THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 45 MINUTES. TRANSMISSION: IT WENT OUT ON US AT THE SIDE OF ROAD WHEN WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PUMP. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE SMELLED SOMETHING VERY HOT, AND IT WENT OUT ON US WHEN THE CAR WAS RUNNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
720010
Incident
Aug 26, 1996
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+1 more
Filed Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, HOWEVER ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (99V-323) WHICH ONLY COVERS SUB-FRAME MOUNTS, CONSUMER WAS DENIED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
551298
Incident
Nov 27, 1998
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+5 more
Filed Jan 4, 2000

WHERE DO I START, THIS CAR HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT FROM DAY ONE! THE BRAKES HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED 3 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR--SIGNATURE FORD CLAIMED IT WAS ARE FAULT AFTER SOME ARGUMENT THEY FINALLY REIMBURSED US FOR THE BRAKES. WE DISCOVERED A SMALL LEAK, WE FOUND IT TO BE COMING FROM THE HEATER HOSE. WE DECIDED TO TRUST SIGNATURE FORD, THEY CLAIMED THAT WE NEEDED A NEW HEATER HOSE, WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR. WE TOOK ARE CAR BACK TO THE FIRST MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT IT AND HE SWORE THAT THOSE THINGS WERE NOT LEAKING WHEN THEY LEFT HIS SHOP, NO PROOF THOUGH SO WE HAVEN'T FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST SIGNATURE FORD. WE HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE HEATER HOSE AND WATER PUMP. WE ARE TAKING THE RADIATOR IN TO BE CHECKED OUT VERY SOON. WE HAD THE STARTER REPLACED AT SIGNATURE FORD, SINCE IT WAS FIXED THE KEYLESS ENTRY STOPPED WORKING. WE'VE HAD THE BRAKES COMPLELY FIXED, THREE TIMES. WE HAVE HAD THE OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. THE AIRCONDITIONER WILL NOT WORK, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEED A NEW COMPRESSOR AND CLUTCH. THERE IS A SHORT THAT CAUSES A FUSE TO BLOW, RESULITING IN LOSS OF GAUGES. ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. THE MOLDING AROUND SAID WINDOW DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY. THE POWER STEERING MAKES A STRANGE NOISE AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING; WE TOOK IT IN TO SIGNATURE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS FINE. WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR THE TIRES THAT WERE ON IT WERE TOO BIG RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE CURRENT TIRES SHOW SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INSIDE FRONT PASSANGER TIRE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN TOTALLY REBUILT, THE TECH. WHO FIXED IT SAID THAT THIS IS TYPICAL OF SHO'S. THE FOG LIGHTS SOMETIMES FAIL. THE LAMP OUT LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN NO LAMP IS OUT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES DURING ACCELERATION. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES. IF WE HAD KNOWN THEN WHAT WE KNOW NOW WE NEVER WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. WE CANNOT AFFORD ALL OF THESE COSTLY REPAIRS! *

NHTSA ID
716880
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Dec 14, 1999

RECALL (98V-323)REPAIR FOR THE ENGINE MOUNT WERE REPAIRED BUT ARE CURRENTLY FAILING AGAIN. *NLM

NHTSA ID
549934

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .