U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,194 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 616 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 157 of 1,194 complaints (13.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	222	18.6%
Transmission and shifting	89	7.5%
Engine operation	56	4.7%
Steering behavior	51	4.3%
Electrical and battery issues	37	3.1%
Fuel system concerns	27	2.3%

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.

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs

157

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs

145

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Speed Control

Suspension:Rear

Suspension

Air Bags

Air Bags:Frontal

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs	157
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	145
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	59
Vehicle Speed Control	54
Suspension:Rear	51
Suspension	45
Air Bags	41
Air Bags:Frontal	38

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs: 157; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 145; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 59; Vehicle Speed Control: 54; Suspension:Rear: 51; Suspension: 45; Air Bags: 41; Air Bags:Frontal: 38

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

125

50,000 to 74,999

172

75,000 to 99,999

135

100,000 to 149,999

122

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 125; 50,000 to 74,999: 172; 75,000 to 99,999: 135; 100,000 to 149,999: 122; 150,000 and above: 31

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (172). 578 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.

2000

2001

132

2002

119

2003

132

2004

200

2005

124

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2019

2020

2022

2024

2000: 88; 2001: 132; 2002: 119; 2003: 132; 2004: 200; 2005: 124; 2006: 79; 2007: 94; 2008: 73; 2009: 29; 2010: 33; 2011: 19; 2012: 22; 2013: 12; 2014: 10; 2015: 6; 2016: 10; 2017: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Suspension:Rear:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 222 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 89 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 56 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 10000702 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)

I HAVE OWNED MY 2002 FORD TAURUS FOR 32 MONTHS. DURING THIS TIME, I HAVE HADE THE THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH REPLACED TWICE, NEW REAR STRUTS, REPLACED AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE CAR IS NOW BACK AT FORD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSAXEL INSTALLED. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN $5,000 IN REPAIRS TO THIS CAR WHICH HAS JUST OVER 60,000 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000702 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001506 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)

WHILE IN MOTION CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE. THE HARDER CONSUMER PRESSED THE FASTER THE ENGINE RACED. A RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT TO CONSUMER. (02V266) ALSO, RECALL NUMBER 01V078 WAS SENT TO CONSUMER ABOUT A STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD A PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH THIS FAILURE BEFORE THE RECALL WAS SENT. *JG *JB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 11,071 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001506 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003270 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)

TRANSAXLE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL FORD SERVICE. THEY SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS "LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T TURN" (EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN JUST FINE!). THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. I GOT THEIR ESTIMATE ALONG WITH ESTIMATES FROM 2 OTHER AUTO REPAIR SHOPS IN TOWN. I CHOOSE A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE. THEIR ESTIMATE WAS $1000 LESS THAN FORD SERVICE. THE NEW MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN USING ALUMINUM PARTS THAT CAN'T TAKE THE HEAT. FORD RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,128 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003270 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004206 · 2002-12-03 (December 3, 2002)

NAR 01/16/2003. THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON 4 OCCASIONS WHICH ULTIMATELY LEFT HIM STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029345 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029345 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029593 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED AS IF IT DID NOT HAVE GAS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. *AK THERE WAS A FUEL RECALL AND A FUEL MODULE WAS INSTALLED. THERE WERE MANY ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE AND IF IT DID START, IT RAN ROUGH. THE VEHICLE DIED ON MANY OCCASIONS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE ACTED AS IF IT NEEDED GAS. THE GAS GAUGE FAILED N TWO OCCASIONS. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029593 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011939 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)

THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AT SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH. ALSO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT SEEM TO ENGAGE IN THE CORRECT GEAR.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011939 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016416 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)

I HAVE A FORD TARUS 2000, WITH 41,000 MILES, MY WIFE WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR AND BEFORE SHE STARTED THE CAR -THE CAR WAS STATIONARY- THERE WAS AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND IN THE FRONT DUE TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLOWING OUT. I RAISED THE CAR WITH A JACK AND FOUND THE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN APART AND WAS EMBEDDED IN THE TIRE. HAD SOMEONE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AT 70 MPH IT IS QUITE LIKELY THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER. IF A SPRING FAILURE DOES HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS AT DRIVING VELOCITY AND CAUSES THE CAR TO WRECK IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THE BROKEN SPRING WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016416 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001568 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. ALSO WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER OUT OF PARK POSITION DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE SWITCH. BRAKE SWITCH, STOP LAMP AND WIRING ASSEMBLY ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *TT *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001568 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021969 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)

NHTSA#01-V-078-000 VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. IF THE GREASE FROM THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY ENTERS THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, IT CAN CONTAMINATE THE CONTACTS LEADING TO CARBON BUILD UP, AND POTENTIALLY, A SHORT CIRCUIT.CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021969 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008237 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)

FUEL PUMP AND FUEL RELATED INCIDENCES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. OIL GASKET PROBLEMS, VARIOUS OTHER IDIOSYNCRASIES.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008237 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026407 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WENT OUT ON 2000 FORD TAURUS. *MR THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT WHICH WAS A RECALL ITEM. THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH HAD GONE OUT AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE BUT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE (G2). THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT, WHICH WAS THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REFUND. THERE WAS NOISE WHICH HAD COME FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR, AND THE FUEL GAUGE ACTED ERRATI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026407 at NHTSA ↗