RoadVitals

1997 Ford Taurus Heating & air conditioning Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the heating or air-conditioning system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Heating & air conditioning 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.
16
Latest May 14, 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.
2%
of 770 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 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 heating or air-conditioning

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Heating & air conditioning
Filed May 14, 2004

AIR COMPRESSOR APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL UNITS WITH NO REPLACEMENT NEW OR REMAKE . 1997 TAURUS AIR COMPRESSOR IS CRACKED IT IS A SHAME THE FORD MOTOR CO. CAN GET AWAY WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS THE 1997 TAURUS IS A FORD LEMON. FORD MAKE RIGHT YOUR BIG GOOF I AM SURE IF THE PUBLIC KNEW OF THIS THE 1997 TAURUS WOULD HAVE NO RESALE VALUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10072645
Incident
May 1, 2004
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 21, 2004

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MOTOR FROZE UP CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SNAP. I HAVE BOUGHT 2 DIFFERENT BELTS AND THE HAVE BOTH SNAPPED IN TWO. THERE IS NO WAY TO BYPASS THIS PROBLEM AND THE PART MUST BE REPLACED IN A SHOP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10062728
Incident
Mar 13, 2004
Mileage
109,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 4, 2002

AIR CONDITION UNIT SEALED NOW LEAKING AGAIN THE CV JOINTS WENT OUT AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP (MARTY'S AUTO DISCOUNT AT 13 AND HARRIS AVE) WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE REPAIRS SAID THE LOWER ARM CONTROL AND THE AXLE WERE IN UNSAFE CONDITION TO DRIVE . THE CAR IS STILL NOT RIGHT , THE DEALER WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND I WANT TO TRADE THE CAR FOR SOMETHING ELSE .I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE PROMBLEMS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

NHTSA ID
766702
Incident
Aug 10, 2002
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Aug 14, 2002

I HAVE A 9197 TAURUS THAT HAS WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A VERY SIMPLE AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEM.BUT THINGS HAVE GONE FROM BAD TO WORST. AS WE BEGAN TO FIND THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM(2 VERY SMALL CRACKS ON THE OUTER CASING OF THE COMPRESSOR), WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY TO CROSS MATCH THE YR/MAKE/MODEL TO FIND THE CORRECT COMPRESSOR. WHEN I PURCHASED THE COMPRESSOR AND COMPARED IT TO WHAT WAS ON MY CAR THERE WAS NOT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST RESEMBLANCE.WE THEN PROCEEDED TO GET THE COMPRESSOR # OFF THE PART ON MY CAR, WHEN WE CROSSED REFERENCED THAT # THE PART WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE PART ON MY CAR.WE CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT. AND FOUND OUT THAT THAT YRS MODEL HAD A "PILOT " PROGRAM FOR APPROX. 5000 CARS OR SO W/ A COMPRESSOR THAT HAS NO ORIGINAL PART FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPRESSOR. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIX MY A/C IN TEXAS IN AUGUST.I AM FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE SOME HONEST AND DEDICATED MECHANICS AROUND ME THAT ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR ME.I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED AN ACCUMULATOR AND ORFUS LINE WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALLED WHEN OR RATHER IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET A COMPRESSOR TO FIT.I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT FORD DID NOT INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS "PILOT" PROGRAM, AND OFFER TO REPLACE OR AT LEAST MAKE A PART THAT CAN REPLACE THE "MORPHED " PART THAT IS ON THESE CARS OUT THERE.THIS PROBLEM KEEPS COSTING ME MORE $$$$$$. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT FORD FEELS IT NEEDS TO BE DECEPTIVE TO SELL CARS. I WILL NEVER, NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND I WILL BE VERY VOCAL ON THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD W/ THEIR CARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
765619
Incident
May 15, 2002
Heating & air conditioningFuel systemTransmission
Filed Jun 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES 4 TIRES AND 1 SPARE WHICH ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15 INCH TIRE(S) (DOT # UNKNOWN) ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ARE HIGHLY DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, HOWEVER MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REIMBURSE OR REPLACE TIRES STATING THE CAMPAIGN WAS OVER. *TT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES AND THE AIR CONDITION WAS REPLACED. UPDATED.*JB

NHTSA ID
566395
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 6, 2001

A/C COMPRESSOR SEIZED CAUSING DRIVEBELT FAILURE AND LOSS OF STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AND POWER BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
751813
Incident
Sep 3, 2001
Heating & air conditioning
Filed May 10, 2001

AIR CONDITIONER AND COMPRESSOR AND RELATED PARTS FAILED. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS $1539.51. FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH COSTS DUE TO CAR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY (SINCE IT IS A '97 VEHICLE).*AK

NHTSA ID
745142
Incident
Apr 13, 2001
BrakesHeating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed Oct 21, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
734866
Incident
Sep 6, 2000
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 12, 2000

AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555771
Incident
Jun 26, 2000
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Sep 16, 2000

A VEHICLE WHICH IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD SUFFERS A FAILED CLUTCH ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. AFTER CHECKING INTO POSSIBLE PART RECALLS THROUGH NHTSA, A HARD COPY SHOWS THE LAYOUT OF WHAT THE PART SHOULD LOOK LIKE , WITH SERIAL NUMBERS TO IDENTIFY THE PART. UPON INSPECTION OF THE COMPRESSOR, NO SERIAL NUMBERS WERE FOUND, JUST WHAT TYPE OF REFRIDGERANT SHOULD BE USED. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PART I NOW POSSESS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL PART THAT WAS USED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURE. FURTHER RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENT WITH THE TAURUS, BUT MY SPECIFIC MODEL HAS YET TO BE LISTED. I NOW WISH TO MAKE IT KNOWN. THE THEORY OF THE PART NOT BEING THE ORIGINAL SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS PASSED OVER AND SUPPRESSED FROM THE CONSUMER. ADDITIONALLY, AS OF 09/15/00 ONE OF THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED AND NO LONGER WORKS. THIS ON A VEHICLE LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS AND NEVER HAD THESE SORT OF PROBLEMS. I WISH TO RELAY THE INFORMATION OF WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THIS MODEL FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )

NHTSA ID
731658
Incident
Aug 24, 2000
BrakesHeating & air conditioningTransmission+1 more
Filed Jul 21, 2000

TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING PRIOR TO FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ID
553145
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 28, 2000

A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AIR CONDITIONER BELT CAME LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
864433
Incident
Jun 25, 2000
Heating & air conditioning
Filed May 26, 2000

AIR CONDITIONER WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL UNIT FOR THAT YEAR. REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT COSTS 1500 DOLLARS AND EVERY PART MUST BE REPLACED. NO COMPRESSOR CAN BE PURCHASED TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
723234
Incident
May 23, 2000
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 1999

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
608180
Heating & air conditioningTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
607959
Incident
Nov 10, 1998
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+6 more
Filed Oct 27, 1997

VEHICLE VIBRATES, JERKS, HESITATES AND MAKES NOISE WHILE ENGAGING GEARS.

NHTSA ID
523850

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 .