U.S. public vehicle records

1992 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

364 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

101,377 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 81 of 364 complaints (22.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	37	10.2%
Transmission and shifting	34	9.3%
Engine operation	33	9.1%
Steering behavior	22	6.0%
Electrical and battery issues	7	1.9%
Fuel system concerns	2	0.5%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Structure:Frame And Members

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Electrical System:Ignition

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags:Frontal

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	81
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	37
Structure:Frame And Members	32
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	31
Electrical System:Ignition	19
Vehicle Speed Control	17
Air Bags:Frontal	15
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	13

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 81; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 37; Structure:Frame And Members: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 31; Electrical System:Ignition: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Air Bags:Frontal: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 4

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 337 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.

1995

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2010

2012

2017

1995: 78; 1996: 51; 2000: 98; 2001: 58; 2002: 35; 2003: 21; 2004: 10; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 34 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 33 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 10029954 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. CONSUMER HAS ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. AS A RESULT, CAME CLOSE TO HAVING A COLLISION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029954 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039902 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY APPLYING THE BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER FROM BEHIND. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039902 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004738 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)

CONSUMER IS AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE CONSUMER STATED FORD MAKES FAULTY CARS AND HIS CAR IS ONE OF THEM. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE DID NOT GET GOOD GAS MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD CONSTANT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE SEAT WAS BROKEN, THE TIRE BLEW OUT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. *JB NAR 1/22/2003

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004738 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10020730 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)

FORD TAURUS AXOD-E TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH WHOLE FAMILY IN THE CAR. IT TOOK ALMOST 2 HOURS TO FINALLY HAVE THE CAR SAFELY MOVED OUT OF HARMS WAY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 91,986 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020730 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088384 · 2004-08-23 (August 23, 2004)

I WAS PROCEEDING AFTER WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. I HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, THEN PROCEEDED SLOWLY AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT; I CALLED AAA FOR SERVICE. AFTER THE CAR WAS HOISTED ONTO A FLATBED TRUCK I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME AT TWO POINTS JUST ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE WAY BACK FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND HAD DROPPED DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES. THE TWO MOUNTING BOLTS WERE POINTING UPWARD FROM THE CONNECT…

Owner-reported narrative. 146,444 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088384 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10118768 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)

FORD TAURUS, 1992, FRONT K-FRAME BROKE LOOSE FROM CHASSIS RESULTING IN A LOCK-UP OF THE STEERING, FORTUNATELY AT A LOW SPEED, THEREBY ENDANGERING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE WE LEARNED THAT THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL IN THE 1989-1994 FORD TAURUS CARS. THE FAILURE OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER WAS CAUSED BY NORMAL RUST DAMAGE TO THE FRONT A-FRAME. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO FIND THIS DESIGN DEFECT ON THIS SITE.*AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118768 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 741914 · 2001-03-04 (March 4, 2001)

THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FIRST FAILED IN OCTOBER, 1998. WAS REPLACED BY FRIENDLY FORD IN SPRINGFIELD, MO IN JANUARY, 1999. SINCE THEN, THE MODULE HAS FAILED ABOUT EVERY THREE MONTHS TO DATE. I HAVE HAD TO BUY A NEW MODULE EVERY 12 MONTHS DUE TO WARRANTY RUNNING OUT ON REPLACEMENT MONITORS. HAD THREE FORD DEALERS CHECK OUT AIR BAG SYSTEM, NONE COULD FIX IT, EXCEPT FOR REPLACING THE MODULE. THEY ALL CLAIMED THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT SHORT CIRCUIT "SOMEWHERE" THAT THEY COULD NEVER FIND. NOW DENNY FORD IN ROLLA, MO WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 741914 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 783959 · 2000-05-25 (May 25, 2000)

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE). *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 783959 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967091 · 1995-06-16 (June 16, 1995)

AFTER FILLING THE GASOLINE TANK DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE DUE TO FUEL PUMP ASSEBLY BECOMING BARE AND WAS SHORTING OUT AGAINST FUEL TANK WALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967091 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 976193 · 1995-12-06 (December 6, 1995)

WHILE DRIVING, LOST ENGINE POWER; DIFFICULT STEERING/BRAKING; LOW SPEED; WIRE THAT SUPPLIES POWER TO EEC/FUEL PUMP BROKE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976193 at NHTSA ↗