Ford TAURUS SHO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
119 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
94,440 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 119 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 22.7% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 10.1% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 27 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 6 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 27; Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Structure:Frame And Members: 6; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 5; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 5; Electrical System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 44 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 7; 2002: 14; 2003: 24; 2004: 11; 2005: 24; 2006: 8; 2007: 10; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 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 758965 · 2002-03-05 (March 5, 2002)
I PURCHASED A CONTROL ARM FROM UNITED AUTO. THE PART WAS MADE BY TRW. THE BALLJOINT FAILED WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WENT BACK AND BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE, THEN WHILE DOING A ROUTINE INSPECTION(I AM A MECHANIC) NOTICED THAT THE TOP OF THE BALLJOINT WAS 1.2MM(I MEASURED) FROM THE ABS RING. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE IS ABOUT 5MM FROM THE ABS RING. I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAD THEM GET ME 2 NEW CONTROL ARMS L+R. GUESS WHAT THEY WERE DIFFERENT THEN THE ONES THAT UNITED AUTO SOLD ME. I WENT BACK TO UNITED AUTO, HAD AN EMPLOYE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8003035 · 2002-01-29 (January 29, 2002)
BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED AND IT WILL NOT SPRING BACK, CAUSING BRAKES TO OVERHEAT AND ROTORS TO WARP. DELAER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8003035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043833 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
SUBFRAME MOUNT FAILURE. ENGINE DROPPED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND DESTRUCTION OF COMPUTER CONTROLL MODULE WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF ENGINE FUNCTION. SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V323000. RECALL PRECEDURE PERFORMED BUT DID NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF FAILURE PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDRED OF THOUSAND OTHER TAURUSES WHICH ARE LIKELY TO SUFFER THE SAME FATE BECAUSE THE CORROSION PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, JUST DELAYED, BY THE RECALL PROCEDURE. TALKED WITH FORD MOTOR AND THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL PROCEDURE AND NONE SHO…
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135400 · 2005-09-06 (September 6, 2005)
WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE SUBFRAME BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE DROPPED. I LOST ENGINE POWER, STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL LISTED ON THE FORD WEBSITE #98S36 I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE. THE FACTORY REFUSED TO ASSIST IN REPAIRS COSTING ME $1148.59 THE DEALER INSTALLED REINFORCING PATCHES IN THE FLOOR AND CUT OUT THE REMAINING BOLTS. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE YET THEIR WEBSITE SHOWS ONE FOR THE BOLTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 187,585 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560420 · 2001-03-19 (March 19, 2001)
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH STALLING, SEVERAL REPAIRS COMPLETED AT THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO RECTIFY THE STALLING, HOWEVER ALL HAVE FAILED, THE DEALERSHIP HAS IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE IGNITION MODULE, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET DUE THE PARTS BEING ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040512 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558116 · 2000-12-13 (December 13, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VIBRATING AND JERKING, THERE WAS A HOLE BUSTED THROUGH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509998 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO ISSUES. REACHED THE BOTTOM OF A DOWNGRADE AND PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. ENGINE REVVED BUT CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO NOISE OR INDICATIONS FOR A PENDING FAILURE. .PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TRIED ALL GEARS AND REVERES. CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. SPOKE WITH LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY COULD OFFER AND ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COST. RENTED A U-HAUL VAN AND CAR DOLLY TO TOW IT HOME, ABOUT 400 MILES. TOOK THE CAR A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT PUMP FAILED. HAD THEM REBUILD IT AND HAS WORKED FINE SINCE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201617 · 2007-08-31 (August 31, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS SHO. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, NUMBER 05S28. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE DOES NOT WORK ON HIS VEHICLE. THE SERVO ASSEMBLY, PART#F8ZZ9C735AA AND THE WIRING HARNESS BURNED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IS OPERATIONAL. THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED BY FORD. FORD STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER 2007. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,629. UPDATED 12/12/07
Owner-reported narrative. 109,629 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10379619 · 2011-01-30 (January 30, 2011)
1993 FORD TAURUS SHO..ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 137,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10379619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 559037 · 2001-01-12 (January 12, 2001)
FUEL PUMP FAILED. CJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 559037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113837 · 2005-03-09 (March 9, 2005)
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN REAR END COLLISIONS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND SOME WIRES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS RESTRAINED FROM DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113837 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 |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 2; 1994: 2; 1995: 2; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0