NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Ford Taurus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN 5 YEARS. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THEY INFORMED CONSUMER MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CAM GEAR FAILURE, CAR STALLED AT 40 MPH IN TRAFFIC, LOST ALL POWER, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, UNWILLING TO ADMIT ANY PROBLEM WITH CAMSHAFT GEAR, AND WILL NOT HELP WITH REPAIR BILLS. 100 DOCUMENTED CASES OF CAM GEAR FAILURE CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.V8SHO.COM. *AK
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF REPORTED FAILURES ON THIS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPONENT FOR THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTED AND BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 10 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *AK CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY 1997 FORD TAURUSES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. (ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY) *SCC
ENGINE COOLANT TURNED BROWN AND SUPPOSEDLY CORROSIVE DUE TO SO-CALLED POORLY DESIGNED COOLING SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED MY TIMING COVER TO BEGIN LEAKING AND MY HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE TO FAIL WHILE ON OUR FAMILY VACTION IN SEATTLE. I HAVE NOTICED NUMBEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN YOUR FILES AND WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE THAT CAN BE TAKEN. I AM LOOKING AT A BILL OF APPROXIMATELY $4,0000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. PLEASE SUGGEST ANY ACTION THAT I CAN TAKE TO RECOVER ALL OR PART OF THIS COST FROM THE MANUFACTURER.
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT AFTER USE, NO LONGER PROVIDE TIGHT RESTRAINT, AND THEREFORE PUT PASSENGERS AT RISK. DT
THE CONSUMER INTERIOR LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND WILL NOT GO OFF THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SLIP FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE AND VEHICLE CUT OFF, WHICH WAS AS CAUSED BY CAM FAILURE. *AK *TT
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMPS POSITIVE WIRE WAS CUT ON A SHARP EDGE INSIDE OF FUEL TANK, WHICH LEFT THE WIRE EXPOSED TO THE FUEL TANK, AND CAUSED IT TO SHORT CIRCUIT.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, AND NOW PLACES A PROTECTIVE COVER ON THE WIRES. *SCC
HEADLIGHTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING HEADLIGHT PLUG MELTS FROM OVERHEATING AND ELECTRICAL CONTACT IS LOST CAUSING LIGHTS TO GO OUT
PISTON CRACKED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE A LATE ACCELERATION AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED.*AK
ALL'S WELL IN PARK AND NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE RADIO QUITS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL, WINDOWS WON'T WORK, LOSS OF ABOUT 75% OF POWER STEERING. PUT IT IN NUETRAL AND ALL IS WELL. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. I FOUND 10 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE IN A 96 OR 97 FORD TAURUS.
4TH GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE. O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY. THOUGH CAR WAS SERVICED ONE MONTH PREVIOUSLY AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS NOT BURNED, TRANSMISSION DISINTEGRATED PLANETARY GEARS. METAL CHUNKS AND BURNED FLUID FOUND WHEN EXAMINED AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER 3.8L/FORD TRANSMISSION DEFECT FAILURE AS IS WELL DOCUMENTED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS BUT THUS FAR HAS REFUSED. WHEN IS ANYONE GOING TO FINALLY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM IN TAURUSES THROUGHOUT THE 90'S?. *AK
CONSUMER STATES AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK, CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL POURING OUT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
I HAVE A 9197 TAURUS THAT HAS WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE A VERY SIMPLE AIR CONDITIONER PROBLEM.BUT THINGS HAVE GONE FROM BAD TO WORST. AS WE BEGAN TO FIND THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM(2 VERY SMALL CRACKS ON THE OUTER CASING OF THE COMPRESSOR), WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY TO CROSS MATCH THE YR/MAKE/MODEL TO FIND THE CORRECT COMPRESSOR. WHEN I PURCHASED THE COMPRESSOR AND COMPARED IT TO WHAT WAS ON MY CAR THERE WAS NOT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST RESEMBLANCE.WE THEN PROCEEDED TO GET THE COMPRESSOR # OFF THE PART ON MY CAR, WHEN WE CROSSED REFERENCED THAT # THE PART WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE PART ON MY CAR.WE CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT. AND FOUND OUT THAT THAT YRS MODEL HAD A "PILOT " PROGRAM FOR APPROX. 5000 CARS OR SO W/ A COMPRESSOR THAT HAS NO ORIGINAL PART FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPRESSOR. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIX MY A/C IN TEXAS IN AUGUST.I AM FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE SOME HONEST AND DEDICATED MECHANICS AROUND ME THAT ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR ME.I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED AN ACCUMULATOR AND ORFUS LINE WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALLED WHEN OR RATHER IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET A COMPRESSOR TO FIT.I AM FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY THAT FORD DID NOT INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THIS "PILOT" PROGRAM, AND OFFER TO REPLACE OR AT LEAST MAKE A PART THAT CAN REPLACE THE "MORPHED " PART THAT IS ON THESE CARS OUT THERE.THIS PROBLEM KEEPS COSTING ME MORE $$$$$$. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT FORD FEELS IT NEEDS TO BE DECEPTIVE TO SELL CARS. I WILL NEVER, NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND I WILL BE VERY VOCAL ON THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD W/ THEIR CARS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50-55 MPH, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT NEAR THE FENDER HEAD LIGHT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS CONTAINED CHEMICALS THAT BURNED BOTH PASSENGER/AND OWNER ON THE FACE, AND THE OTHERS ON THEIR UPPER CHEST AREA. *AK *SCC
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB
THE VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 40 MPH ON A WET ROAD. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IMPACTED A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS THUMB INJURIES WHEN IT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, AND REQUIRED SURGERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC
WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN REVERSE & DRIVE, RADIO GOES OFF, POWER ASSIST GOES OFF AT ANYTIME. VERY DANGEROUS. SOUNDS LIKE A REACCURING PROBLEM BASED ON REPORTS I HAVE SEEN. ELECTRICAL OF SOME SORT.
THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1997 TAURUS SHO. THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THE CAMSHAFT IS ATTACHED TO THE CAM BY SPLINES WHICH UNDER THE STRESS OF THE ENGINE SPIN UN THE CAM WHICH THROWS OFF THE TIMING AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED THE PEOPLE OF V8SHOW.COM TO SEND THEM SOME CAMS SO THEY CAN TEST THEM. I AM AN OWNER THAT OWES $6000 ON A VEHICLE WHICH IS COMPLETLY OUT OF ORDER SITTING IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5000 AND 15000 TO FIX IT. 5000 IS FOR A USED ENGINE WTH 50,000 MILES ON IT. 15,000 IS THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE FROM FORD. PLEASE HELP IN ANYWAY YOU CAN. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ROUTED IN A WAY WERE IT CAUSED FRICTION AND WORE OUT THE INSTALLATION WHICH CAUSED THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. *JB
THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ATLEAST 100 OF THE 20,000 TAURUS SHO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS DEFECT OR BAD DESIGN PROBLEM BECASUE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY LOSS OF LIFE. IT IS ONLY GOING TO BE UNTIL THERE IS SOME UNSUSPECTING MOTHER AND CHILD THAT DIES FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON AN EXPRESSWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THEN MAYBE FORD WILL TRY TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO FORCE FORD TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE LOSS OF LIFE HAS OCCURED. NOT ONLY WILL FORD NOT FIX THERE MISTAKE BUT THEY HAVE THE ONLY PARTS TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLE AND HAVE SET THE PRICE TO PUCHASE THESE PARTS AT AN OUTRAGOUS AMOUNT. $1000 FOR A NEW CAM. $500 FOR A GASKET SET $12000 FOR A NEW ENGINE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT HAD COME LOOSE WHICH THREW OFF THE TIMING/PISTONS, HITTING A VALVE, AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SCC
A PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS. HEADLIGHT LENS IS SO FOGGY THAT VISIBILITY IS POOR ENOUGH THAT IT MUST BE REPLACED. FORD SAYS THE DETERIORATION IS DUE TO AUTOMATIC CAR WASH SOAP. HOWEVER, CAR WAS HAND WASHED. THE APPROXIMATE COST FOR PARTS ALONE IS $500 AS THE LENS IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. CARS IN THE JUNK YARD ALSO HAVE SAME CONDITION. *TR
DEFROSTER, HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER DO NOT WORK DUE TO PART FAILURE, THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YD
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY WIGGLE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO KEEP HEADLIGHTS ON. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME.*AK
CRACKED FORWARD PISTON IN TRANS. I HAVE A`97,,,WASN`T THAT PROBLEM FIXED?
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI FREEZE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK DEALER FOUND FREEZE PLUG HAD RUSTED OUT, DEALER STATED THAT THIS CONDITION WAS A DEFECT, MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY CLAIM. *TT
VEHICLE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AND REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 10MPH REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. DEALER CONTACTED. FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES POWER STEERING WILLGO FROM OFF TO ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED SENSOR WAS GOING BAD IN STEERING COLUMN. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE FROM FRONT END. UPON INSPECTION, CONSUMER SAW THAT LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. RIGHT ONE WAS CORRODED, AND WAS REPLACED AS WELL.*AK *TT
TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AT COMPLETION OF STOPPING AT INTERSECTION. MUST WAIT TO REENGAGE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO PROCEED AT INTERSECTION. *AK
THE TAURUS WAS PARKED AT DZ MIDDLE SCHOOL ON A SLIGHTLY SLOPED PART OF THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER INDICATING PARK AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE LINKAGE CONNECTION ON THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED THE SELECTOR LEVER TO INDICATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL. THE DRIVER THEN WENT INTO THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND UPON RETURNING A FEW MINUTES LATER FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD ROLLED APPROX 150 YARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS A STREET, THROUGH A BUS TURN-AROUND, DOWN A 15 FOOT EMBANKMENT, AND INTO A DITCH. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR AND IT WAS AT NIGHT SO THERE WERE NO KIDS ALONG THE DRIVEWAY OR ON THE STREET.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS V8 SHO IN 2000. WE HAD MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES PERFORMED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER, 2002. (THE TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES). IN LATE DECEMBER, 2002, THE CAR STARTED TICKING VERY LOUDLY SO WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC ON JANUARY 3, 2003, WHO WASN'T SURE WHY THE CAR WAS TICKING BUT HE PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND FLUSHED THE ENGINE. ON SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 5, 2003, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. IT LOCKED UP AS IF IT WERE OUT OF GAS AND I HAD TO MANUALLY STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO A CAM SPROCKET FAILURE. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE MANY OF THESE FAILURES ON 1996-1999 FORD TAURUS SHO'S. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINES BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT IN A ROAD ACCIDENT.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WILL SHIMMY, ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL . *AK
FRONT END WAS LOW DUE TO BOTH COIL SPRINGS BEING CRACKED. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED AT THE SAME TIME.*AK
CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY. WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. APPLIED BRAKES, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT OF RETRACTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO HESITATE WHEN DRIVING UP ON AN INCLINE, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON A LEVELED SURFACE.*SLC
VEHICLE STALLED AT 70 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET BLEW, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *YH
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ENGINE LOST ALL POWER, AND THERE WAS A "TICKING" NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT CAMSHAFT FAILED, AND THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
WHILE IN MOTION THE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN BEGAN TO FLASH. *JG
THIS IS THE SECOND BLOWER MOTOR TO NEED REPLACING. *AK