1997 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
545 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
84,325 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 136 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 120 of 545 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 117 | 21.5% |
| Braking behavior | 70 | 12.8% |
| Steering behavior | 52 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 30 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 120 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 38 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 20 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 20 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 120; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 38; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Air Bags:Frontal: 20; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 20; Unknown Or Other: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 11
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 409 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 | 141 |
| 2001 | 121 |
| 2002 | 94 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 49 |
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 141; 2001: 121; 2002: 94; 2003: 54; 2004: 49; 2005: 24; 2006: 14; 2007: 4; 2008: 10; 2009: 8; 2010: 8; 2011: 6; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 117 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 70 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 52 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 10000912 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, THEN TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION UNDER SERVICE PLAN.
Owner-reported narrative. 79,912 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006728 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
THE FORWARD CLUTCH METAL BAND GAVE OUT CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO MOVE OR SHIFT INTO GEAR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008919 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ALSO THE SEAT BELT UN-BUCKLED WITHOUT BEING DISENGAGED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013700 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
ALL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HI-LOW BEAMS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WORK! ALL PANEL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK. TURNING SIGNALS & EMERGENCY FLASHERS DO NOT WORK AT ALL! IT IS AS THOUGH THE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN WERE DISCONNECTED FROM BOTH THE TURNING STICK (SWITCH) AND THE EMERGENCY SWITCH? CHECKED EVERY FUSE IN FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD AND THEY ALL LOOK OK. ASSUME NO BULB PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS AND IS NO FAST BLINK... IT SEEMS LIKE THE PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED DURING AN ALL DAY RAIN STORM...VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS CAME ABOUT BECAU…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007834 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
WHEN GEAR SHIFT IS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE,POWER STEERING GOES OFF, RADIO SOUND GOES OFF AND THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM I HAVE CONTACTED FORD THEY WOULD CHECK INTO THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010894 · 2003-03-22 (March 22, 2003)
THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS DIAGNOSED AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE WITH CODE 402 THAT SHOWED EXCESSIVE FLOW IN THE EGR SYSTEM. I REMOVED THE EGR VALVE AND TUBE FROM THE ENGINE AND INSPECTED THE COMPONENTS. THE EGR VALVE WAS EXTREMELY CLEAN AND DID NOT SHOW ANY LEAKAGE THROUGH THE VALVE WHEN IT WAS CLOSED. THE TUBE LEADING FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO THE EGR VALVE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY CLEAN. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED TO RESET THE INDICATOR LIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER, THE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,834 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018293 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ROUTED IN A WAY WERE IT CAUSED FRICTION AND WORE OUT THE INSTALLATION WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021062 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
1997 FORD TAURUS WAGON. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD IN TRAFFIC 5 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP REPEATEDLY BLEW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN ROUGHLY, STALL, AND SURGE, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, AND GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HAD ITS INSULATION WORN OFF…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,193 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044651 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF SWITCHES OFF BY ITSELF FOR UNKNOWN REASON WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF SWITCH SHOULD ONLY OPERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040187 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP WIRES ARCHED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 76,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040187 at NHTSA ↗