U.S. public vehicle records

Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

14,322 owner complaints analyzed

69 distinct recall campaigns

80,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1977 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 7,523 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,608 of 14,322 complaints (11.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	2,179	15.2%
Transmission and shifting	1,641	11.5%
Steering behavior	1,268	8.9%
Engine operation	774	5.4%
Electrical and battery issues	515	3.6%
Fuel system concerns	341	2.4%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control

1,608

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

1,070

Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs

951

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

829

Power Train

717

Steering

665

Suspension:Front

604

Electrical System

567

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Vehicle Speed Control	1608
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	1070
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs	951
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	829
Power Train	717
Steering	665
Suspension:Front	604
Electrical System	567

Vehicle Speed Control: 1,608; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1,070; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 951; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 829; Power Train: 717; Steering: 665; Suspension:Front: 604; Electrical System: 567

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

628

25,000 to 49,999

1,054

50,000 to 74,999

1,710

75,000 to 99,999

1,709

100,000 to 149,999

1,866

150,000 and above

556

Under 25,000: 628; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,054; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,710; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,709; 100,000 to 149,999: 1,866; 150,000 and above: 556

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,866). 6,799 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

667

1996

583

2000

1,519

2001

1,083

2002

974

2003

735

2004

817

2005

624

2006

512

2007

571

2008

693

2009

530

2010

686

2011

495

2012

802

2013

435

2014

381

2015

315

2016

289

2017

221

2018

238

2019

269

2020

198

2021

119

2022

114

2023

2024

2025

145

2026

121

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	667
1996	583
2000	1519
2001	1083
2002	974
2003	735
2004	817
2005	624
2006	512
2007	571
2008	693
2009	530
2010	686
2011	495
2012	802
2013	435
2014	381
2015	315
2016	289
2017	221
2018	238
2019	269
2020	198
2021	119
2022	114
2023	99
2024	87
2025	145
2026	121

1995: 667; 1996: 583; 2000: 1,519; 2001: 1,083; 2002: 974; 2003: 735; 2004: 817; 2005: 624; 2006: 512; 2007: 571; 2008: 693; 2009: 530; 2010: 686; 2011: 495; 2012: 802; 2013: 435; 2014: 381; 2015: 315; 2016: 289; 2017: 221; 2018: 238; 2019: 269; 2020: 198; 2021: 119; 2022: 114; 2023: 99; 2024: 87; 2025: 145; 2026: 121

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2,179 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1,641 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1,268 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 10026557 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH FRONT LEFT MECHANISM WHICH HOLDS BRAKE SYSTEM FELL INSIDE THE WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026557 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 486944 · 1995-06-07 (June 7, 1995)

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-134). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486944 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502317 · 1996-01-27 (January 27, 1996)

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING CABLE FAILED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502317 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 566962 · 2002-07-30 (July 30, 2002)

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. NAR 07/02/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY INTENTIONALLY SOLD DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO CUSTOMERS. THE DEFECT IS THE TRANSMISSION, ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN #94-24-7 THEY KNEW THAT DEFECTS EXISTED IN THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES 1986-95 FORD TAURUS, 1993-95 TAURUS SHO, 1986-95 MERCURY SABLE, 1988-94 CONTINENTAL AND 1995 WINDSTAR LIGHT TRUCK. THE CONSUMER HAS WRITTEN TO FORD EXPLAINING WHAT WAS FOUND AND TO DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE STATEMENTS CONTAINED. *CB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566962 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 802703 · 1996-09-20 (September 20, 1996)

STOPPED AT LIGHT, THE REAR SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY BUSHINGS CORRODED, CAUSING TRANSAXLE AND ENGINE TO DROP DOWN ON ENGINE. RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.*AK THERE WAS A RECALL, 93V106002, HOWEVER ONLY COVERED 1989-1993 YEAR TAURUSES. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802703 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 975675 · 1995-11-29 (November 29, 1995)

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN CONSUMER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD, HIT THE DASH AND HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975675 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 872879 · 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN 20 MINUTES OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIRS SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 872879 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 873182 · 2000-10-17 (October 17, 2000)

VEHICLE WILL STALL SUDDENLY. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO OVER 35 MPH AND AT THE SAME TIME THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO HIGH, AND BRAKES DO NOT HAVE FULL POWER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 873182 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8023039 · 2002-11-20 (November 20, 2002)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR FAILED CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY BACKFIRED ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8023039 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070753 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH AND PLUG ASSEMBLY DUE TO OVERHEATING. SWITCH MELTED AND SO DID PLUG ASSEMBLY. THIS SAME REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT APPOXIMATELY 87,000 MILES, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THIS REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUS TO THAT TIME AS WELL. THIS IS A CHRONIC FAILURE. ANY TSB'S OR RECALLS ON THIS MATTER? RELATED PROBLEM: EXCESSIVE CURRENT DRAW ON ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE TO STARTER SOLENOID (BATTERY) CAUSING WIRE TO RUN HOT (WITH ALTERNATOR TURNING). THIS HAS RESULTED I…

Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070753 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 970891 · 1995-08-22 (August 22, 1995)

EEC SWITCH THAT CONTROLS FUEL PUMP/FAN CUTS OFF WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ABOUT 80 DEGREES OR HOTTER; OPEN HOOD, LET SWITCH COOL OFF, WILL OPERATE FOR A FEW BLOCKS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970891 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489164 · 1995-01-28 (January 28, 1995)

GAS TANK RUPTURED, CAUSING FIRE/INJURIES/DEATH. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489164 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.