RoadVitals

1993 Ford Taurus Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
638
Latest Jun 4, 2008
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.
41%
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.
24
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 638 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 638, in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jun 4, 2008

THERE ARE ALOT OF RECALLS ON MY CAR AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229979
Incident
Jun 4, 2008
Mileage
42,988 mi
Engine
Filed May 16, 2008

THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE COMES INSIDE MY CAR...MAKING IT HOTTER ON THE INSIDE THAN OUTSIDE..DRIVING IT YESTERDAY THE A/C FAN FROZE UP CAUSING IT TO SMOKE AND WAS UNDRIVABLE. JUST HAD IT IN FOR A MAJOR TUNE UP A WEEK AGO YET STILL THIS PROBLEMS OCCURS.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227978
Incident
May 15, 2008
Mileage
59,963 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 28, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. ON MAY 30, 2007, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH LED TO THE VEHICLE BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SUSTAINED DAMAGE AS WELL AS THE ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND CAN OBTAIN A COPY OF THE SHERIFF'S REPORT. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10194836
Incident
May 30, 2007
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2007

1993 HEAD GASKET WENT BAD WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES

NHTSA ID
10192798
Incident
May 13, 2007
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 2006

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1993 FORD TAURUS WITH 3.8L ENGINE WITH 63,890 MILES. TOTAL REPAIR $2008.12. *JB

NHTSA ID
10169571
Incident
Feb 19, 2003
Mileage
63,890 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2006

CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 1993 TAURUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10156216
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Engine
Filed Nov 23, 2005

HEAD GASKET FAILED ON 1993 FORD TAURUS GL, 3.8L. THIS DEFECT IS PREVALENT IN THE MAJORITY OF AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURED WITH THIS ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10143589
Incident
Oct 22, 2005
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 1, 2005

FORD TAURUS HEATER STARTED BLOWING COLD AIR AND A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE REAR EXHAUST PIPE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. LIMP INTO DEALER WHO SAID THE HEAD GASKET IS SHOT WHICH IS COMMON ON THE 3.8L V6 ENGINES IN FORDS. MENTIONED TO THE DEALER THAT I ONLY HAD 63,890 MILES ON THE CAR AND HE SAID THAT'S WHEN THEY USUALLY START TO GO. PAID TOTAL OF $2008.12 FOR REPAIR INCLUDING NEW RADIATOR WHICH THEY SAID I NOW NEED AFTER PUTTING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS LEAKING COOLANT WHICH IT HAD NOT BEFORE I GOT CAR HOME AFTER BEING ALL FIXED AND IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT. RETURNED BACK TO FORD AND THEY FORGOT TO TIGHTEN A HOSE. I BELIEVE THE ORGINAL RADIATOR WAS FINE THE HOSE WAS NOT TIGHTENED ENOUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10104881
Incident
Feb 11, 2003
Mileage
63,890 mi
ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Oct 18, 2004

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS CONCERNING LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. *BF THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH INCLUDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, COOLING FAN, IGNITION WIRING, COIL SPRING FAILURE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALTERNATOR, HEAD GASKET AND MUFFLER. WHILE RESEARCHING THE VEHICLE ON NHTSA SITE THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED SEVERAL RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE RELATED THE FAILURES HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10097379
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. THREE YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A HEAD GASKET BLOW OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10087867
Incident
Aug 10, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2004

THE VEHICLE EMITTED WHITE SMOKE, STEAM AND LOTS OF COOLANT VIA TAIL PIPE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10062382
Incident
Mar 16, 2004
Mileage
124,211 mi
EngineFuel systemVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

I HAVE A 1993 FORD TAURUS 3.0 V6. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE 3.8 V6'S WITH HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. AT JUST 71000 MILES I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY PARENTS, WHO BOUGHT IT NEW. MY FATHER IS A RETIRED NYC TRANSIT AUTHORITY MECHANIC, AND HE WAS METICULOUS ABOUT THE UPKEEP OF HIS VEHICLES. NOW I AM FACE WITH AN AUTOMOBILE THAT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A HUGE PAPERWEIGHT.OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT SEEMS THAT I WAS JUST THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD. A COUPLE OF HUNDRED HERE, $700 FOR A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE A/C SYSTEM, ETC. I DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY $1300 ON REPAIRS. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I WENT TO YOUR WEBSITE AND BROUGHT UP THE INFORMATION ON MY '93 TAURUS. THE AMOUNT OF TSB'S THAT AFFECT MY CAR ASOUNDED ME. I HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS TO SOME, AND THOUGHT OTHERS WERE JUST AGE ISSUES. THESE TSB'S THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT MY AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED; 93-23-6,94-19-4,94-16-3,96-7-5,96-15-3,95-3-4,96-22-1,93-3-9,&95-19-1. AS I STATED, THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MY FAMILY. WHY HASN'T FORD TRIED TO CONTACT US ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES? ON ONE OF THESE TSB'S, WE DEVELOPED A LEAK IN A COOLING LINE. THE DEALERSHIP CHAGED US $360 FOR REPAIRS, WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY FORD, WE WERE ONLY REIMBUSED $60. FORD SAID THE DEALER SHOULD REIMBURSE US THE BALANCE, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE US. GUESS WHAT, EXCEPT FOR THE $60, WE NEVER GOT REIMBUSED THE ADDITIONAL $300. I AM AT WITS END. MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM MY MOTHER A 5 YEARS AGO, WHEN OUR FAMILY STARTED TO GROW. OBVIOUSLY WITH JUST 71,000 MILES SHE DOES NOT DO A LOT OF DRIVING. SHOPPING AND WORK FOR HER ARE ALL WITHIN A 15 MILE RADIUS. BUT WITH THE LOSS OF A VEHICLE SHE HAS HAD TO REDUCE THE AMONT OF WORK SHE WOULD NORMALLY PUT IN BY 50%. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE?

NHTSA ID
10070825
Incident
Aug 15, 2001
Mileage
63,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

CAR WILL DRIVE WHEN TRANSMISSION FLUID GETS HOT & JUMP OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ID
10070761
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Mileage
159,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Fire reported

MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. STEERING PINS REPLACED 4 DAYS AFTER MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, THE CAR CATCHES ON FILE FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. I DROVE THE CAR 1 TIME AFTER IT WAS OUT OF THE SHOP. 11 HOURS AFTER I DROVE IT, THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT

NHTSA ID
10070376
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
EngineSuspension
Filed Jan 15, 2004

HEAD GASKET FAILURE FRONT RIGHT SPRING FRACTURE

NHTSA ID
10069514
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Mileage
120,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

OUR 1993 TAURUS WITH A 3.8L HEAD GASKETS BLEW. FIXED TWICE AND WASN'T COVERED BY RECALLS. (1994-95 TAURUS) A/C WENT OUT FOR UNKNOWN REASON. TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. STILL NOT WORKING. WINDOW DIED IN WINTER. TOO EXPENSIVE AND POWER CUT FROM SWITCH

NHTSA ID
10069485
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

HEAD GASKET FAILURE RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
10069286
Incident
Mar 15, 2003
Mileage
126,000 mi
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
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE GASKETS BLEW ONE YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND THE FORD DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THEY RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM WITH FORD HEAD GASKETS. I PAID $4000 AND HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
10068833
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
31,500 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN. 2 LOCAL DEALERS REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
10068814
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
103,400 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2004

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1993, FORD, TAURUS WAS BLOWING SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING THAT THE MERCURY SABLE WAS DOING.*AK

NHTSA ID
10052286
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2003

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *LA

NHTSA ID
10045354
Incident
Oct 21, 2003
Mileage
89,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2003

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, AND THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. TSB 398-4-9 WAS FOUND IN REFERENCE TO 1998-1995 MODELS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10017339
Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2003

HEATER BLEW OUT COLD AIR - HAD TO HAVE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED ON 1993 FORD TAURUS. DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 20 MILES AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE - HAD TO HAVE ROD BEARINGS REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD SERVICE MECHANIC THAT THERE ARE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THE 3.8 L ENGINES. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010773
Incident
Mar 6, 2003
Mileage
83,687 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 12, 2003

ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10011505
Incident
Mar 6, 2003

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

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .