1997 Ford TAURUS (SHO): complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
109,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10005512 · 2003-02-08 (February 8, 2003)
BOUGHT A 97 TAURUS SHO AND 2 MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT THE GEAR ON THE CANSHAFT BROKE AND NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. (IT IS A DEFECT THAT FORD NEEDS TO FIX).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079507 · 2004-06-18 (June 18, 2004)
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE ENGINE WAS IDLING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL DRIVING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110353 · 2005-02-11 (February 11, 2005)
MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE . IT WAS PARKED AT 8 P.M ON SAT 2/05/04 AND AT AROUND 4 A.M 0N 2-06-05 I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT AND WORKED ITS WAY TOWARDS THE BACK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118024 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
THERE IS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 FORD TAURES. I REPLACED THE FUSE FOR MY POWER WINDOWS & NOW MY DASH LIGHTS & TAIL LIGHTS DON'T WORK. I WAS LOOKING AT THE LIGHTS & THE SOCKET IN WHICH THE BULBS GO ARE BURNED. MOTOR CAUGHT SLIGHT FIRE BUT CAN'T FIND THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124282 · 2005-06-06 (June 6, 2005)
I OWN A 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I KEPT HEARING A TICKNG SOUND IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MIS- FIRING CYLINDER. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE DEALER FIX IT SO I FOUND A MECHANIC WILLING TO WORK ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. I HAD THE TWO MIS-FIRING CYLINDERS REPLACED. THE TICKING IN THE ENGINE STILL WENT ON. BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN. FINDING A MECHANIC THAT HAS ACTUALLY WORKED ON THESE TYPES OF CARS IS HARD TO FIND, INLCUDING A F…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136328 · 2005-09-13 (September 13, 2005)
MY 1997 FORD TAURUS IN HOT WEATHER WILL INCREASE SPEED WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS CAUSING ME TO RIDE THE BRAKE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168752 · 2006-09-20 (September 20, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS ALSO SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. UNDER THE HOOD, COOLANT WAS OBSERVED LEAKING AND THE TIMING CHAIN BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WOULD START WHEN ATTEMPTS WHERE MADE, BUT THERE WAS A TICKING NOISE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO RESOLUTIONS. UPDATED 10/6/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 124,851 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168752 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471407 · 2012-08-19 (August 19, 2012)
ACCELERATED AS NORMAL TO 30MPH, RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING UP TO AT LEAST 50MPH. FAILED TO STEER 90 DEGREES LEFT, RESULTING IN THE CAR JUMPING THE CURB. LOST CONTROL IN DAMP GRASS, AND RAN INTO A TREE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471407 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.