Model year record

1997 Ford Taurus

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,003 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V028000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
571,800
Reported to NHTSA
1998-02-10
Owners notified
1998-03-23

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V097000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component
Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
100,000
Reported to NHTSA
1997-06-09
Owners notified
1997-06-30

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V166000

Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)

Component
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
40,000
Reported to NHTSA
1996-09-05
Owners notified
1996-09-23

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train: automatic transmission17165,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine4687,734 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline44
Vehicle speed control4375,469 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system3974,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system2869,000 mi
Air bags: frontal2650,000 mi
Interior lighting2388,000 mi
Unknown or other2336,806 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip2114,000 mi
Power train1944,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling1680,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1688,000 mi
Electrical system1565,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner15109,000 mi
Steering1350,000 mi
Structure: frame and members1381,125 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls1332,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt12116,223 mi
Visibility: windshield12
Air bags1183,749 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components11
Tires1163,941 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1079,985 mi
Electrical system: wiring1085,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1077,387 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs10150,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core1023,882 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump936,193 mi
Power train: manual transmission954,275 mi
Suspension988,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator7
Exterior lighting: headlights7
Seat belts: front: anchorage7
Steering: rack and pinion7
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal797,900 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash6
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly623,882 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys6128,500 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.6
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor6
Structure: body: door6
Electrical system: ignition: switch580,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers590,000 mi
Engine5153,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly5143,972 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap5123,100 mi
Seat belts560,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor5
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc5
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar5
Vehicle speed control: linkages5
Electrical system: ignition4
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch4171,500 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter4
Power train: axle assembly4
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly4
Service brakes, air: antilock4
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings443,900 mi
Air bags: side/window3
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system387,734 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control3124,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor342,800 mi
Equipment387,734 mi
Exterior lighting347,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline3220,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch3
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines397,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft3
Power train: driveline: differential unit3
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder3
Suspension: front3
Suspension: front: wheel bearing3
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system3
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor3
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module2104,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood2130,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch271,735 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system2
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery2
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift2
Power train: driveline: constant velocity joint2
Power train: driveline: driveshaft2
Seat belts: front2115,500 mi
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices2101,000 mi
Seats2
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light290 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders2
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist290,000 mi
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)2
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump2
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly2
Structure290 mi
Structure: body2
Tires: sidewall2200 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control260,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear2
Wheels2
Child seat1
Electrical system: horn1
Electrical system: ignition: module1
Electrical system: starter assembly1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)164,834 mi
Equipment: electrical163,941 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights113,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal188,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit1
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch1
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump1
Fuel system, other: fuel injection system1
Fuel system, other: storage1
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system1
Fuel/propulsion system1162,846 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: lock1
Parking brake: conventional1
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)1
Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicator1100,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner1
Service brakes1105,000 mi
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper116,775 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages1
Steering: column1
Steering: linkages1
Structure: body: trunk lid1
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1
Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm1
Suspension: front: springs: torsion bar1
Suspension: rear1
Vehicle speed control: cables1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor1
Wheels: hub1

The 1996 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1998 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.