RoadVitals

1999 Ford Taurus Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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.
35
Latest Jul 21, 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.
4%
of 874 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 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 fuel system

The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jul 21, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON THE #6 CYLINDER. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS ANTIFREEZE ENTERING THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL ISSUE WITH THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH WOULD COST BETWEEN $1,500-$2,500 TO REPAIR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE IF THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; THEREFORE, HE WOULD HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES INSTEAD. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COAST DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM USING MORE GASOLINE THAN HE BELIEVED WAS NECESSARY. FOR ERRANDS AROUND TOWN, THE VEHICLE WOULD USE A HALF OF A TANK. THE HEADLIGHTS HAD A DINGY COLOR ON THE INSIDE. HE ATTEMPTED TO GET ANOTHER LENS CAP FOR IT, BUT COULD NOT CHANGE IT BECAUSE IT WAS PLASTIC. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER HEADLIGHT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS CLOSE TO TEN YEARS OLD. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND SLIP INTO ANOTHER GEAR. LASTLY, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES DIMMING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,400.

NHTSA ID
10235153
Incident
May 25, 2008
Mileage
117,400 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 22, 2005
Fire reported

DT: ON 06/13/05 CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE GARAGE. WHEN DRIVER WAS TURNING ON THE CAR SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER TOLD HER HUSBAND, AND AS HUSBAND CAME OUT TO THE VEHICLE, HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM CRACKS IN THE HOOD. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE ALONG WITH TWO OTHER GARAGES, ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THERE WAS AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR, WHO REPORTED THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT OF LAKEWOOD ISSUED REPORT # 105-15803-1331-445. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATOR LOCATED OUT OF NEWHALL OWNER HAS THE PHONE NUMBER AND NAMES OF THE INVESTIGATORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10126203
Incident
Jun 13, 2005
Mileage
105,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 12, 2005

GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH, AND LEAKING.

NHTSA ID
10125048
Incident
May 1, 2005
Mileage
132,200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 16, 2004

WHEN APPLYING THE GAS VEHICLE STALLED. THE GAS LINE WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TUNED, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10101045
Incident
Nov 19, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 2, 2004

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A HOLE WAS INSIDE OF THE GAS TANK WHICH WAS LEAKING GAS AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10099229
Incident
Nov 2, 2004
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Mar 26, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND IT BECAME HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND CALLED A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10065051
Incident
Jun 16, 2003
Mileage
54,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 30, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057185
Body & structureElectricalFuel system+2 more
Filed Nov 4, 2003

1999 FORD TAURUS IS SUFFERING FROM ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *MR THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING, THE LOCKS ON BOTH DOORS WERE OFF AND WOULD HAVE TO BE PLAYED WITH TO GET THEM TO OPEN AT TIMES, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, ALSO THE DASH LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE BEHIND THE GAS GAUGE/RADIO/HEATING/AC/CLOCK/AND SPEEDOMETER, THE RPM GAUGE WAS DELAYED AT START, THE PASSENGER DOOR MADE NOISES WHEN OPENED AND CLOSED, THE WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT, THE TURN SIGNALS WERE INTERMITTENT, THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNING BUT WOULD START AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH AND HAD POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO DEFECTIVE RELAYS WHICH WERE REPLACED. THE VIN# ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VIN# ON THE STICKER WERE DIFFERENT. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10046672
Incident
Feb 1, 2002
Mileage
27,430 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 15, 2003

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME AFTER 3 HOURS I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR HOME. 2 ED TIME I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. BILL WAS OVER $ 600.00 WITH TOWING. CALL TO FORD 800# LISTED ON THIS SITE AND THEY SAID NO RECALL AND NO RECOURSE AS OF NOW..

NHTSA ID
10038963
Incident
Sep 12, 2003
Mileage
42,320 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 2, 2003

CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL GAS FUMES, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THE SMELL WOULD FADE AWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026427
Mileage
80 mi
BrakesFuel systemSteering+1 more
Filed Oct 14, 2002

PROBLEMS WITH CAR SINCE DAY ONE. BEGAN WITH WIPERS TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES, SPOKE TO MECHANIC, SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THEN THE CAR KEPT REFUSING TO SWITCH GEARS (SECOND TO THIRD), THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD QUIT AND CAR DIED ON SIDE OF ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. ALONG WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE BRAKES SQUEALED VERY LOUD. CALLED DEALER, WOULD NOT HELP, SENT ME TO FORD DEALER (DAVE GOULDS). REPLACED SPEED SENSOR, SCRAPED "RUST" OFF BRAKES AND SAID THEY MAY CONTINUE TO SQUEAL, THEY DO! THE CAR PICKS UP SPEED FROM NO WHERE, SPECIALLY WHEN COMING FROM A STOP. VERY SCAREY, REFUSE TO LET MY DAUGHTER DRIVE BECAUSE OF IT. NOW THE POWER STEERING IS MAKING A HORRIBLE HUM AND I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING ON SEVERAL OCCAISIONS. ADDED FLUID, THE NEXT DAY IT LOOKED LIKE COCOA BUBBLING OUT. I CONTACTED THE GOULD FORD DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE TO BRING IT IN TOMORROW. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND HE TELLS ME THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY MOST LIKELY WON'T COVER THE REPAIR (THEY DIDN'T COVER THE SPEED SENSOR EITHER). I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT A LOCAL COMPANY AFTER A SEVERE ACCIDENT, IT WAS TRAUMATIZING TO GET BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL, BUT THIS CAR IS LIKE A ROLLING DEATH TRAP, WHY ISN'T FORD RECALLING THEM? MR

NHTSA ID
768441
Incident
Oct 7, 2002
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Jul 30, 2002

CAMBER ON VEHICLE IS FACTORY ADJUST. *AKI THE ONLY WAY TO RE ADJUST AND THE PLACE WHERE I TOOK IT SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN NEW ONE LIKE THAT COME IN

NHTSA ID
764955
Incident
Jul 5, 2002
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Jul 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE, POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ALSO, A FUEL LEAK.CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA ID
8014248
Incident
Jun 19, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Apr 8, 2002

THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS EMISSION TESTING DUE TO FUEL CAP SEAL FAILURE. THE PROBLEM REOCCURED A YEAR LATER AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW. *YH

NHTSA ID
564925
Incident
Mar 3, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Mar 27, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED BUT CONSUMER STATED HAD RAN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT KNOWING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE GAS GAUGE WAS REGISTERING AT A HALF OF TANK. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER PUTTING FUEL IN VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD BURNED UP. *NLM DEALER STATES THAT WITH 2? GALLONS OF GAS THE FUEL GAUGE WAS READING ? TANK, REPLACED FUEL GAUGE ASSEMBLY. *YD

NHTSA ID
8006518
Incident
Mar 16, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Mar 27, 2002

FUEL GUAGE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WHICH IN TURN CAUSED ME TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL GAS WAS EMPTY WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. DEALER WILL NOT WORK WITH ME ON THE COST TO REPAIR THIS. I FEEL IT IS UNFAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY $700 TO GET ALL THESE REPAIRS DONE WHEN IT WAS FORD'S FAULT IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF THE FUEL GUAGE ON THE DASH WOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING PROPERLY THEN I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND THE FUEL PUMP WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN DAMAGED. NLM

NHTSA ID
759874
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Mar 26, 2002

CAR STALLED DURING ACCELLERATION AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALER. DAY AFTER WAS INFORMED THAT THE GAS GUAGE FAILED AND IS STUCK AT HALF A GALLON BUT CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY GAS. ALSO WAS TOLD THAT FUEL PUMP FAILED. NO WARNING INDICATIONS WHATSOEVER PRIOR TO CAR STALLING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
759841
Incident
Mar 25, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Mar 26, 2002

WAS DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES BEFORE VEHICLE JUST QUIT. TRIED STARTING IT BACK UP AND THE SYMPTOMS WERE SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WOULD BE IF IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS BUT IT HAD A HALF TANK FULL. WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THE CAR UNEXPEXTEDLY STALLS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. NLM

NHTSA ID
759828
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Nov 6, 2001

POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
754152
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 31, 2001

MY TAURUS LEAKS FUEL AFTER FILLING THE TANK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROLLOVER VALVE, VAPOR CANISTER AND EVAPORATOR SOLENOID AND A HOSE CLIP ON MARCH 1, 01. IN OCTOBER 2001 I AGAIN NOTICED FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE TANK AREA AFTER REFUELLING. THE DEALER IS ORDERING A NEW TANK. FORD TECH HOTLINE SAYS THERE MAY BE ANOTHER DEFECTIVE ROLLOVER VALVE INSIDE THE TANK. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE REPORTED.

NHTSA ID
753940
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Sep 11, 2001

WILL NOT ACCEPT FUEL. *AK

NHTSA ID
752077
EngineFuel systemTransmission
Filed Aug 22, 2001

I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS CAR THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A LEMON AND I WANTED MY MONEY BACK. THE DEALER REFUSED. FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR (ONE YEAR AGO) IT IS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A TOTAL OF OVER 8 WEEKS. IT HAS HAD REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, GASKETS, PUMPS, HOSES, FILTERS AND IT STILL DOES NOT RUN. IT DOESN'T START PROPERLY, IF IT STARTS AT ALL. IT STALLS IN REVERSE AND INITITAL SHIFT INTO DRIVE DOES NOT RUN SMOOTH. THE WIPER FLUID DOES NOT COME OUT. THE CAR RATTLES AND SOUNDS AWFUL . THE CAR IS UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T FIX IT. THE CAR IS A LEMON THERE IS SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH IT AND IT CAN'T BE FIXED. FORD KNOWS THIS AND THEY WON'T TAKE IT BACK.

NHTSA ID
750906
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Jul 6, 2001

I AM UNABLE TO FILL THE CAR WITH GAS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER LAFRES FORD FIRST APPOINTMENT ON 6/21/01. THE DEALER ASKED ME TO TAKE THE CAR AT THE END OF THE DAY. THEY ORDER A PART WHICH IS NOT ON STOCK. I WAS TOLD TO SLOWLY FILL WITH GAS. WILL CONTACT ME WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE PART. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO FILL IT, IT TOOK ME OVER HALF AN HOUR FOR HALF TANK 'EXTREMELY SLOW'. AFTER CONTACTING THEM THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I GOT AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE PART FOR 7/2/01. I LEFT THEM THE CAR FOR THIS PART AND ALSO FOR 15,000 MILES SERVICE. I PICKED THE CAR AT 2:30 P.M. AND THE INVOICE SHOWED REPLACEMENT PART 'XF1Z-9034-AA' PIPE ASSY-FUEL. WHEN I WENT TO FILL THE CAR WITH GAS I EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. I TOOK THA CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AFTER 5 MINUTES. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO CONSULT ENGINEERING AN FORD FOR AUTHORIZATION TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK. TODAY ON JULY 6, 01 I GOT A MESSAGE ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE THAT THE CAR IS READY FOR PICKUP. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT FORD DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE TANK REPLACEMENT. THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. THEY GAVE ME A PRINT OF CASE # [XXX] WHICH EXPLAIN A PROBLEM WITH 1999 TAURUS/SABLE SLOW FUEL FILL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AS I CAN'T LIVE WITH THIS EXTREMELY SLOW FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. P.S.: THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND I ALSO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
748000
Incident
Jun 10, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Apr 30, 2001

AFTER FILLING VEHICLE WITH GAS ABOUT THREE GALLONS OF FUEL LEAKS FROM UNDER VEHICLE DUE TO DEFECT WITHIN FUEL PUMP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
887099
Fuel system
Filed Mar 5, 2001

CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO FILL TANK TO READ FULL, IT WLWAYS CUT OFF. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP, AND FILLER CAP. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN FILLING GAS TANK. FUEL WILL SPILL ON CONSUMER AND GROUND. ALSO THERE IS A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHEN DRIVING, DEALER CLAIMS HE CANNOT HEAR THAT. *AK

NHTSA ID
882118
Incident
Jun 1, 1999

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .