Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 770 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Ford Taurus. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 770 · page 1 of 31
OIL LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN LOW. 2. ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. 3 WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS WINTER, THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP ON ME AND I ALMOST HAD A COLLISION WITH TWO OTHER CARS BUT I HIT A CURB AND WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR MOVING AGAIN. 4.CAR IS LOUD WHILE DRIVING. 5 CAN'T GET GOOD GAS MILAGE.6.CAR HAS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK.
AUTO TRANS. SHIFT QUAD QUICKLY BECAME SLOPPY AND IN FACT SOMETIMES WOULD NOT START IN PARK POS. AND YOU HAD TO HUNT FOR NEUTRAL WHERE IT WOULD ALWAYS START. THEN ON THE THIRD DAY, WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, IT DID START IN PARK, BUT WHILE ON A VERY HIGH IDLE I GOT OUT OF THE CAR FOR A SECOND AND WHILE STANDING BESIDE THE CAR IT SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE KNOCKING ME TO THE GROUND AS IT RAPIDLY SPED REARWARD TILL IT HIT AND CAME TO REST AGAINST A CONCRETE WALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED A FEW MILES FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. I SLOWED DOWN TO LOOK AROUND THE CAR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND JUST AS I WAS DRIVING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. VERY LUCKILY, I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE METAL REAR BRAKE LINES RUNNING UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND ONE OF THE LINES HAD BURST (THE ONE AFFECTING THE DIAGONAL BRAKE CIRCUIT FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE). THIS CAME WITHOUT WARNING, AND I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN STRANDED (OR KILLED) ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE JUSTIFYING A RECALL. AMAZINGLY, THE OTHER UNDERSIDE COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN THE BRAKE LINES. WHY FORD WOULD FAIL TO PROPERLY COAT OR PROTECT A CRITICAL COMPONENT LIKE THE REAR BRAKE LINES SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT CORRODE IS AN INEXCUSABLE SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE READ OF THIS REAR BRAKE LINE ISSUE ELSEWHERE BEING EXTREMELY COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE, SO THIS IS NOT A "ONE OFF" EVENT. SOONER OR LATER, SOMEONE WILL GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BE KILLED!
ON 4/3/2015 MY MOTHER IN LAW PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AFTER A 10 MILE TRIP TO TOWN. UPON PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY, AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING (WHITE SMOKE) THEN REALIZED THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE (BLACK SMOKE). SHE HAD TO BE HELPED BY AN IDAHO POWER EMPLOYEE WHO WAS DRIVING BY. A TOTAL OF TWO 15LB FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND GARDEN HOSE WERE USED TO KEEP THE FIRE AT BAY UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED FROM THE DASH PANEL FORWARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED AT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX LOCATED BY THE MASTER CYLINDER ON THE FIREWALL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS AN "ELECTRICAL FIRE", UP UNTIL THE FIRE THE CAR HAD NO KNOWN ELECTRICAL OR MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAD NO MODIFICATIONS AND WAS COMPLETELY STOCK. NO INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED AS I ONLY CARRIED LIABILITY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS JUMPSTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
MUDDY WATER IN OVERFLOW TANK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE A FRAME SHEARED OFF AND LANDED ON TOP OF THE STEERING BOX, CAUSING STEERING LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE A FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000.
I PURCHASED MY 1997 FORD TAURUS IN FEBRUARY 2010, AND SHORTLY AFTER EXPERIENCED MY ODOMETER STOPPING AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPING AT THE SAME TIME. IT USUALLY HAPPENS IF I DRIVE THE CAR LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES, OR IF I SIT AT A STOP LIGHT TO LONG. IT ALSO SEEMS TO HAPPEN AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR HIGHER. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, AND I WILL FIND MY CAR MOVING FORWARD AFTER STOPPING. I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO STAYING A GOOD DISTANCE FROM CARS SO I HAVE ROOM TO STOP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 4V332000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: COIL SPRINGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE 1999 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BEING UTILIZED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IN ORDER TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL BUT FOUND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING AN INSPECTION, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME ON THE BASE WAS RUSTED, DEEMING THE VEHICLE AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NON-REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,540. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ UPDATED 03/16/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER CLOSING HIS SEAT BELT, IT WOULD RETRACT BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000. I HAVE NOT HAD THE DEFECT REPAIRED. THE BUCKLE RELEASES BY ITSELF APPROX 2% OF THE TIME, EVEN AFTER I PULL ON IT INITIALLY AND IT SEEMS SECURE. I WAS IN A ACCIDENT APPROX 2-3 YEARS AGO, AND THE BELT DIDN'T RELEASE. IT WAS A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH ON INJURIES. [XXX] *LN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I HEARD RATTLING IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE WHEELS OF THE CAR. I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS MY BRAKES NEEDING REPLACED. I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AT WHICH TIME THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE BRAKES, THEY WERE STILL GOOD AND FOUND THAT MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM HAD FAILED (HYDRAULICS THAT ACTUALLY PUSH THE BRAKE PADS DOWN), THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55MPH LIKE I USUALLY DO WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE FORD TAURUS GL STATION WAGON ACCORDING TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN ALSO KEEPING IN MIND MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE OVER 100,000 MILES. SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. GOD FORBID THERE MIGHT BE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENS. FORD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW!! IT IS GOING TO COST ME $2100.00 TO HAVE THE PUMP AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEM REPLACED AND THIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION. I DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO BE WITH OUT IT. :( AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED ONE COMPLAINT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. LIVES ARE AT STAKE. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE RPMS INCREASED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER. THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUED TO SLIP AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,777.
CLUNKING SOUND EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IN FOR OIL CHANGE, WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE ( SUB-FRAME ) WAS DANGEROUSLY ROTTED OUT. CRADLE REPLACED WITH ONE WITHOUT ROT. *TR
I OWN A 1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. EMPHASIS ON WAGON. IT HAS THE SAME FRAME AS THE WINDSTAR VANS AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY ENGINEER HUSBAND, WHO SPENT YEARS IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE CAR AS, 'THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.' I HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY VERIFIED THE SAME. I CALLED THE FORD RECALL DEPARTMENT IN DETROIT AFTER SEEING THE WINDSTAR RECALL ON THE LOCAL NEWS. FORD TOLD ME TO HAVE IT FIXED AND SAVE THE SLIP IN CASE A FEW YEARS FROM NOW IT WAS PART OF A RECALL I MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED. THIS REPAIR IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I AM ON CHEMO WITH A CO-PAY OF $3102.98 AND FIFTEEN DOSES TO GO. I CAN EITHER NOT LIVE AND BUY A CAR OR LIVE AND NOT HAVE A CAR. AFTER EXPLAINING THIS TO THE FORD REP I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT YOU. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS CORROSION PROBLEM AND I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT IS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUE. THE FORD CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
BRAKE LINE BURST. CONTROL BECAME NONEXISTENT. GOT VERY LUCKY BRINGING IT HOME, ALTHOUGH I DID RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY GARAGE (BECAUSE THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF HIS GARAGE, THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AND RIPPED THE TIRE APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR PRIOR INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 176,000. UPDATED 12/29/10 *BF UPDATED 12/30/10
FRT AND REAR SPRINGS ON MY 97 FORD TAURUS BROKE PREMATURE. *TR
FORD HAS NOT INCLUDED THE 97 TAURUS WAGON-WE HAVE IN THE FRONT END ET. MOTOR CRADLE, FRAME FAILURE, IN THE RECALL, THEY HAVE YEARS BOTH SIDES. I HAVE LOST ALL TRADE IN VALUE ON THIS VEH. AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS, HAD IT NOT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY-- THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDES FAILED AND THE CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN, IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE OPEN ROAD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER/ STEERING WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE-- THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, JUST BY LIMITING THE YEARS COVERED-- IT IS HAPPENING TO ALL TAURUS' WITH THE SAME FRONT FRAME PROB. IT HAS COST ME A VERY GOOD CAR WITH ONLY 80K MILES ON IT, AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A TRADE ON A NEW VEH. I STILL HAVE THE CAR IN MY YARD FOR INSPECTION, IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED,WHICH I DOUBT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET AN ATTORNEY TO FIGHT THIS, AND I THINK THERE ARE MANY OTHER USERS IN THE SAME BOAT- POSS. SOME OF THEM INJURED IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS, YOU HAVE MY E-MAIL IF ANOTHER QUESTIONS NEED CLARIFYING THANKS *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION BUTTON WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,469. UPDATED 05/07/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/12/10*JB
THE PLASTIC OVERFLOW BOTTLE FROM THE RADIATOR KEEPS FAILING. I HAVE REPLACED IT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS,WAS TOLD AT PARTS STORE THEY SELL ABOUT 5 A MONTH BETWEEN THE FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE,IT IS GETTING COSTLY AND FORD HAS NO ANSWER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING AT 65MPH THE CAM SHAFT FAIL. THE CAM SHAFT SLIPPED INTO THE MOTOR WHERE EVERYTHING JUST SHUTS DOWN. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD HE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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