Ford SHO (TAURUS) problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 23.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 15.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 15.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2005: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10810657 · 2015-12-16 (December 16, 2015)
THE CAR HAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND IS DRIVING VERY RECKLESSLY, JERKING THE WHEEL VERY HARD.
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820737 · 2016-01-17 (January 17, 2016)
CAR SUDDENLY STOPS, LOSING POWER ON BRAKES AND STEERING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON BUSY HWY. COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10820737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138054 · 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)
WHEN SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO CHANGE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO STAY COMPLETELY ENGAGED. WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE RPM GOES WAY UP AND VERY LITTLE MOVE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES WHILE SITTING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC LEAVING ME VULNERABLE TO BE STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION DOES EVENTUALLY COMPLETELY ENGAGE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED, BUT THAT FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I KNOW A FEW OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128563 · 2018-09-10 (September 10, 2018)
I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT , MY SPEED SENSOR REPLACED 2TIMES AND NOW MY SPEEDOMETER ISNT WORKING I HAVE IRRATIC SHIFTING SOMETIMES IT HOES INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES IT DOESNT . I WAS MAKING A TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK BECAUSE MY CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR.MY ODOMETER ISNT WORKING NOW SO IDK HOW MANY MILES ARE ACTUALLY ON MY CAR
Owner-reported narrative. 140,090 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8005789 · 2002-03-18 (March 18, 2002)
WHEN DRIVING ENGINE'S CAMSHAFT WOULD FAIL. EACH TIME THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN OR STALL OUT. OIL WOULD LEAK AND CAUSE OVERHEATING. ENGINE MANUFACTURED BY YAMAHA AND DISTRIBUTED BY FORD. VEHICLE AND PARTS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8005789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787469 · 2015-10-31 (October 31, 2015)
WATER IS LEAKING FROM HOUSE ALONG FIREWALL. I BARELY CAN GO ANYWHERE AND IM AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB. I'M HAVING ACCELERATION PROBLEMSS. MY CAR IS NOT CATCHING UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT OUT. KEEPS TICKING AND I GOT A FULL TUNE UP. IT SMOKES EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT RUNNING DUE TO WATER SPRAYING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. EVERYTINE I STOOL I HAVE TO LET THE HOOD UP SO IT CAN COOL AND I HAVE TO PUT WATER IN IT AFTER EVERY SINGLE DELIVERY I MAKE. SMOKES REALLY BAD WHEN I'M IN PARK AND STALL OUT SOMETIMES
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10787469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510724 · 2013-05-06 (May 6, 2013)
I PUT OVER $800 IN TO MY CAR ON THE ALIGNMENT, TIRES, OIL, AND BALL JOINTS. IT JUMPS GEARS, WHEN STOPPING IT SHAKES REALLY BAD, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES, NOW THEY TELL ME THERE IS A BUSTED BOLT ON THE FRAME...... THE AUTO SHOP DID NOT TELL ME ABOUT THE BOLT UNTIL I PAID $600+ $ ON THE BALL JOINS, ALIGNMENT, AND OIL CHANGE......... I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP PUTTING IN TO THIS CAR...... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, THE SHAKING IS VERY BAD, SO BAD ITS LIKE THE CAR DON'T WANNA STOP.....…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10510724 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
1996: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0