1997 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000100 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLING INSIDE. REPLACED BY DEALER
Owner-reported narrative. 42,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000100 at NHTSA ↗
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 10001488 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN THE DOWNWARD POSITION. CONSUMER PRESSED AGAIN, HOPING THE PEDAL WOULD DISENGAGE ITSELF BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JG *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 97,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004817 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
THE FRONT RIGHT SIDEWALL SPLIT CAUSING A BLOW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004913 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
DRIVER SEATBELT STATUS, DOOR SHUT STATUS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON EVEN WHEN WEARING SEATBELT, AND "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT, INTERIOR LIGHT STAY ON EVEN WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED.
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005494 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR IN MY MOTHERS FORD TAURUS WENT OUT, AND THE INTERRIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AT TIMES. THESE ARE BOTH PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HEARD ALMOST ALL TAURUS OWNERS HAVE HAD, AND I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005821 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
CAM SENSOR, CAM SYNCHRONIZER BROKEN = FORD TAURUS 1997 = KNOWN FAULTY PART. MILEAGE: 36,806. FORD IS WELL AWARE THAT THE TAURUS, 1997 YEAR ONLY, HAS A FAULTY CAM SENSOR, WHOSE MAGNET FALLS DOWN OFF THE CAP AND INTO THE CAM SYNCHRONIZER DESTROYING IT. WHEN MY MECHANIC CALLED FORD W/ THE COMPUTER CODE THAT CAME OFF MY CAR, HE WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THE 1997'S HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAM. FORD TOLD HIM THAT, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TODAY IN DETROIT, THEY COULD NOT ACCESS THIS INFORMATION! THEY SAID SINCE I HAD NOT USED …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,806 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006283 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
VEHICLE JERKS HEAVILY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006283 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V166000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 1996-09-05 (September 5, 1996)
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V097000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1997-06-09 (June 9, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Consequence: THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 1998-02-10 (February 10, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.
Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗