2004 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
375 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
94,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 315 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 159 of 375 complaints (42.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 120 | 32.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 69 | 18.4% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 159 |
| Power Train | 43 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 26 |
| Engine | 25 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 159; Power Train: 43; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 26; Engine: 25; Electrical System: 23; Service Brakes: 18; Unknown Or Other: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 55 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 59 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 103 |
| 150,000 and above | 42 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 55; 75,000 to 99,999: 59; 100,000 to 149,999: 103; 150,000 and above: 42
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (103). 60 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 89 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2014 | 44 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 15; 2005: 22; 2006: 11; 2007: 15; 2008: 9; 2009: 14; 2010: 24; 2011: 25; 2012: 89; 2013: 40; 2014: 44; 2015: 16; 2016: 21; 2017: 8; 2018: 10; 2019: 6; 2020: 4; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 120 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 69 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 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 10066234 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
MY 2003 FORD TAURUS SE; HAS HAD A ROUGH IDLE AND ROUGH RUNNING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AND WHEN STOPPED. THE ENGINE WILL ACT LIKE IT IS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL, SOME TIMES IT WILL JUST SHUTDOWN WITH NO WARNING. USUALLY HAPPENS UNDER 40 MPH.*AK VEHICLE IS MAINTAINED BY A FORD DEALER, AND HAS ALL FILTERS CHANGED BEFORE THE SCHEDULED TIME. ALSO HAS HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED TWICE IN 60,000 MILES ALONG WITH COOLANT CHANGE AS DIRECTED BY FORD. DEALER SAYS THAT ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION IS NORMAL FOR THIS V6 ENGINE. BUT I SEE THAT OTHER FORD AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,902 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075152 · 2004-06-10 (June 10, 2004)
CONTINUALLY "CHIRPING" NOISE WHILE CAR IS MOVING. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS IN THE WHEELS. WAS TOLD THAT THIS CAN NOT BE CORRECTED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED TO FORD AND THEY GENERATED A LETTER TO DEALERS TELLING THEM NOT TO REPLACE THINGS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. MEANWHILE, I HAVE TO DRIVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT SOUNDS LOUD AND ANNOYING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078669 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
DRIVER OF 2004 FORD TAURUS BRAKED HARD SUDDENLY. ALTHOUGH AS FRONT SEAT PASSENGER I WAS BELTED AND SITTING PROPERLY, I WAS THROWN FORWARD, BELT WENT AROUND NECK,CHOKING ME, RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE,HEADPRESSURE,RIGHT ARM & LEG IMPAIRED, FAILED NEURO TEST FOR BALANCE. ER & MD SUGGEST TIA OCCURRED, PROBLEMS REMAIN, COULD IMPROVE. BELT TESTED BY FORD, SAID WAS OK, WOULD ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED. BELT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE AROUND MY NECK. HAVE RIDDEN AS PASSENGER IN THAT VEHICLE MANY TIMES. BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE DOING MORE T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079912 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS ONE LOCK WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR.*MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080828 · 2004-07-12 (July 12, 2004)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 TAURUS WAGON WITH ABS AND OPTIONAL TRACTION CONTROL IN MARCH,2004. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES WHEREIN AT LOW SPEED (5-10 MPH) AND ON EITHER WET ROAD , GRAVEL OR OTHER ROUGH SURFACE, AND ON ATTEMPT TO BRAKE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE AND/OR THE ENGINE SIMULTANEOUSLY ACCELERATES. I HAVE HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO OVERCOME THE FORWARD SURGE. ON ONE OCCASION I FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. I HAD PRESENTED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN APRIL, 2004. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (SMITH CAIRNS FORD,YONKERS,NY) CLAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080928 · 2004-07-13 (July 13, 2004)
I BOUGHT A 2004 FORD TAURUS SE BRAND NEW. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS I STARTED TO GET VIBRATION FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BETWEEN 42-45 MILES PH. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND A MFG WARNING CAME ON FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE DIRECTIVE WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DEALER SO I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS OVER. WITHIN TWO DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM GOT MORE SEVERE AND IN ADDITION TO THE VIBRATING GAS PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. I MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALER AND AFTER WAITING TWO HOURS FOR MY CAR THE DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 42 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086794 · 2004-08-13 (August 13, 2004)
2004 TAURUS SE - CONTINUAL CHIRPING NOISE FROM MY WHEEL COVERS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BREAKS OR BEARINGS. TSB SAID TO PACK WHEEL COVERS WITH FELT. HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES DUE TO NOISE. POOR WHEEL COVER DESIGN BY FORD. I AM EXPECTING TO HAVE CURRENT WHEELS REPLACED WITH ALUMINUM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087120 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
INDEPENDENT SHOP HAD ALREADY FIXED NHTSA RECALL 04V106000. CONSUMER SENT THE ORIGINAL INVOICE TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER'S EXPENSES BECAUSE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087120 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V330000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
Reported: 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED.
Consequence: THE SEAT MAY NOT PERFORM AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER SUPPORT ASSEMBLY ON THE POWER SEATS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗