1997 Ford Taurus

Family: Taurus · filed with NHTSA as TAURUS, TAURUS (SHO), TAURUS SHO

Summary

In its first three years the 1997 Taurus drew 225 complaints — 0.9× the median of its generation (1996–1999). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Powertrain, holds 28% of the 789 that name a component.
6 recalls filed for this model year.
No federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 800
Recalls: 6
Investigations: 0
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 18–21
Annual fuel cost: $2,950–$4,300
Median mileage at complaint: 84,900 mi (n = 157)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 65 / 14 / 50 / 4

What owners report

Powertrain

217 complaints · 28% of complaints that name a component · median 79,912 mi (n = 34)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS JUMPSTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE …

Owner report TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE RPMS INCREASED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER. THE TRANSMISSION HEAD GASKET AND FILTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILU…

Engine

174 complaints · 22% of complaints that name a component · median 86,000 mi (n = 43)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …

Owner report THE PLASTIC OVERFLOW BOTTLE FROM THE RADIATOR KEEPS FAILING. I HAVE REPLACED IT 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS,WAS TOLD AT PARTS STORE THEY SELL ABOUT 5 A MONTH BETWEEN THE FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE,IT IS GETTING COSTLY AND FORD HAS NO ANSWER. *TR

Brakes

75 complaints · 10% of complaints that name a component · median 77,387 mi (n = 19)

Owner report WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED A FEW MILES FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. I SLOWED DOWN TO LOOK AROUND THE CAR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND JUST AS I WAS DRIVING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. VERY LUCKILY, I DID NOT GET I…

Owner report I HEARD RATTLING IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE WHEELS OF THE CAR. I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS MY BRAKES NEEDING REPLACED. I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AT WHICH TIME THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE BRAKES, THEY WERE STILL GOOD AND FOUND THAT MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM HAD FAILED (HY…

1% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1996–1999)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 242.

Model year	All complaints	First three years
1996	850	266
1997	800	225
1998	559	214
1999	903	259

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

16E026000 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

Filed 2016-04-01 · 49,635 vehicles

Defect: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

09E012000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2009-04-07 · 16,270 vehicles

Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

06E026000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-03-23 · 61,944 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

98V028000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 1998-02-10 · 571,800 vehicles

Defect: 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."

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.

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

97V097000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Filed 1997-06-09 · 100,000 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: 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.

96V166000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Filed 1996-09-05 · 40,000 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: 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.

Federal investigations

None on file.

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	26	20	$3100
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	18	26	21	$2950
Taurus SHO	3.4L 8cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	15	24	18	$4300
Taurus Wagon	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	24	19	$3300
Taurus Wagon	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	24	20	$3100

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
1997 Ford Taurus 4-DR.	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 263 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about engine and engine cooling.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2005-11-14	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
2005-05-01	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	SURGE, IDLE ROLL, ROUGH IDLE ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FANS ARE OPERATING. *TT
2004-12-13	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)	GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
2004-08-23	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04.
2004-08-01	POWER TRAIN	GROAN/BUZZ/VIBRATION WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK WITH THE VEHICLE PARKED ON AN INCLINE. TT THIS BULLETIN UPDATES PREVIOUS BULLETIN 17358, DATED 11/01/2003 TO INCLUDE 2005 MODELS. TT
2003-09-15	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
2003-07-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	IN VEHICLE LOCTITE SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR CAMSHAFT TUBE AND GEAR. *TT
2003-07-21	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES	NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT
2003-07-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION WITH COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS MAY BE MORE ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED USING THE OPTIONAL WORLDWIDE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (WDS) COIL ON PLUG (COP) KIT. 2003 SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT
2003-06-23	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER	TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING WHEN COMMANDED AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0741 OR P1744 STORED IN MEMORY. MODELS FROM 1996 TO 2003. *TT

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Taurus, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford Taurus model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.