1994 Ford TAURUS SHO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 36.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 6 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 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10125732 · 2005-06-19 (June 19, 2005)
MY 1994 FORD TAURAS SHO SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE LAST TUESDAY NIGHT. I NOTED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS ONE LISTED AS HAVING THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT HAS STARTED FIRES IN OTHER VEHICLES, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE CAR WAS IN TORONTO AND FIVE FIRE TRUCKS ATTENDED THE FIRE. ACCORDING TO POLICE, NO BYSTANDERS WERE HURT ONLY BECAUSE MY SON GOT IT OFF A BUSY STREET ONTO A QUIET SIDE STREET. THE VEHICLE IS A WRITE OFF. IF I HAD AN EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND IT TO, I COULD SEND YOU A PICTURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127352 · 2005-07-03 (July 3, 2005)
1994 FORD TAURUS SHO. CAR WAS SITTING IDLE NOT RUNNING FOR HOURS AND SUDDENLY STARTED ON FIRE. APPROXIMENTLY 1 MONTH BEFORE THIS THE CRUISE CONTROL JUST STOPPED WORKING. ALL WIRING IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE MOTOR IS NON REPAIRABLE. THE FIRE WAS FROM UNDER THE HOOD, DRIVERS SIDE, NEAR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT STARTED BEHIND THE FIREWALL. I HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS AND HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE CALLED [phone removed], AND THEY SAY THERE HAS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133682 · 2005-08-21 (August 21, 2005)
CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION, BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, COULD NOT GET CAR OUT OF PARK, #1 -15 AMP FUSE KEPT BURNING OUT. CAR HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS FOR 1 YEAR. FUSE WOULD SOMETIME BURN OUT OTHER TIMES WOULD WORK FINE. DRAINED BATTERY. BOUGHT NEW BATTERY, REPLACED SPEED CONTROL SWITCH THAT GOES ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. CAUSE OF FAILURE. BRAKE FLUID LEEKED INTO SWITCH. FOUND PROBLEM WHEN CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY EXCESSIVE AMPS BEING PULLED FROM BATTERY, THE SWITCH WAS SMOKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145697 · 2005-12-20 (December 20, 2005)
FORDS RECALL OF THEIR 3.8 V6 MOTOR IS A TRAVESTY THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT! THEY KNEW THE MOTOR WAS BAD, PUT OUT A RECALL WITH A MILEAGE LIMIT (100,000), BUT THEN ALSO A TIME LIMIT (7 YEARS)! HOW ABOUT A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVEN THE 100K, AND GETS THE PROBLEM? THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT IF ONE GOES 100K, THEN THEY GOT SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! THEREFORE FORD DID THEIR JOB! BUT WHEN ONE PAYS GOOD MONEY FOR THEIR SCREW UP, AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, AND DID NOT DO 100K, THEN THE PURCHASER DID NOT GET SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! FORD SHOULD STICK TO THE 100K,…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176779 · 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)
DURING A PANIC STOP IN MY 1994 FORD TAURUS SHO I EXPERIENCED A HYDRAULIC FAILURE IN MY BRAKES. THIS WAS DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. I CAME WITHIN 6 INCHES OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. I REPLACED BRAKE LINES FROM THE AREA WHERE IT WAS SOUND BACK TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE FORWARD LINES PROBABLY SHOULD ALSO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203220 · 2007-09-17 (September 17, 2007)
I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 1994 FORD TAURUS INDICATING THAT A DEFECTIVE PART MAY CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. MY ENGINE DID CATCH FIRE IN JULY, 2005 AND THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I NEED TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR THE VALUE OF THE CAR ($2000) OR WHO I SHOULD CONTACT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10203220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203685 · 2007-09-21 (September 21, 2007)
ON DECEMBER 26TH 2002 OUR 1994 FORD SHO CAUGHT FIRE IN OUR GARAGE WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. WE RECENTLY GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL STATING THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WARNING OF A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THANKS FOR THE WARNING FORD. A LITTLE TOO LATE. WE WERE OUT OF OUR HOUSE FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205005 · 2007-10-03 (October 3, 2007)
1994 FORD TAURUS CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE DESTROYING THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT FORD SHOULD GIVE HER HOWEVER MUCH MONEY THE CAR IS WORTH. SHE STATES THERE WAS A INCIDENT REPORT INDICATING THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HAS INCIDENT REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATING THE FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10205005 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Reported: 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗