Motor Almanac

Ford / Taurus / 1999

1999 Ford Taurus

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

Summary

  • In its first three years the 1999 Taurus drew 259 complaints — 1.1× 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, Suspension, holds 21% of the 894 that name a component.
  • 8 recalls filed for this model year.
  • 2 federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints
903
Recalls
8
Investigations
2
NCAP overall
Not rated
Combined MPG
18–20
Annual fuel cost
$3,100–$4,300
Median mileage at complaint
70,000 mi (n = 357)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths
64 / 17 / 74 / 4

What owners report

Suspension

184 complaints · 21% of complaints that name a component · median 71,309 mi (n = 98)

Owner report I JUST BOUGHT A 1999 FORD TAURUS AND FOUND THE COIL SPRING FRONT DRIVER SIDE OUT OF PLACE CHECKING ON RECALLS SAYING THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THIS CAR IM GUESSING THIS ISSUE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED THEN WHY IS IT OUT OF PLACE AGAIN IN SAYING I DO NOT KNOW IF ANY OF THE OTHER RECALLS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY …
Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THAT THE STRUT FAILED AND PUNCTURED T…

Accelerator & Cruise Control

114 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 78,228 mi (n = 28)

Owner report I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT , MY SPEED SENSOR REPLACED 2TIMES AND NOW MY SPEEDOMETER ISNT WORKING I HAVE IRRATIC SHIFTING SOMETIMES IT HOES INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES IT DOESNT . I WAS MAKING A TURN ONTO A BUSY STREET AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK BECAUSE MY CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR.MY ODOMETER ISNT WORKING NOW SO…
Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PILLAR ON THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THE DRIVER SUSTAIN…

Brakes

109 complaints · 12% of complaints that name a component · median 78,000 mi (n = 33)

Owner report ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES RUPTURED CAUSING GRADUAL BUT COMPLETE LOSS OF NORMAL BRAKING. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF IN TO A PARKING AREA JUST AS BRAKES QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. CAUSE OF RUPTURE APPEARS TO BE RUST. RUPTURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT LOCATION. NO PRIOR WARNING. *TR
Owner report HIT THE BRAKES HARD WHEN THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED SOFTNESS IN THE PEDAL VASTLY DEVELOPING INTO 98 % LOSS OF BRAKING CAPACITY. AFTERWARDS, NOTICED LEAK IN ONE OF BRAKE LINES RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE UNDERBODY ABOUT MIDWAY. APPROXIMATELY 4-6 MONTHS …

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 yearAll complaintsFirst three yearsNote
1996850266
1997800225
1998559214
1999903259

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.

04V332000 · SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

Filed 2004-07-15 · 899,060 vehicles

Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE WINTER. A FRACTURED SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS. IN ADDITION, FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN ALL OTHER STATES, FOR FRACTURE ONLY, UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 31, 2005. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2000-2001 MY VEHICLES AND OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER ON JANUARY 10, 2005, ADVISING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 1999 MY VEHICLES BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2005 AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED THEN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

99V250000 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Filed 1999-09-20 · 25,306 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.

Risk: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.

98V288000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

Filed 1998-11-09 · 1,800 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH THE "CALIFORNIA" EMISSIONS PACKAGE. AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED. THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVER TIME, CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK.

Risk: TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE.

98V204000 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Filed 1998-09-01 · 6,000 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DASH INSULATOR RETAINER CLIP WAS NOT FULLY ASSEMBLED TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE DASH FITTING. THE CLIP CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND FALL INTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM PIVOT AREA.

Risk: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ENGINE MAY NOT FULLY RETURN TO IDLE. ALSO, THE INSULATOR MAY NOT STAY IN THE INTENDED LOCATION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP, AND RE-INSTALL IF NEEDED.

98V198000 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Filed 1998-08-25 · 7,000 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

Risk: IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

Federal investigations

ActionComponentOpenedClosedRecall
PE04044SUSPENSION:FRONT2004-05-242004-08-1604V332000
PE02080SUSPENSION2002-10-222003-04-29

PE04044: FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE

PE02080: FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE

Engines and fuel economy

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyCombinedFuel cost / yr
Taurus3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive172620$3100
Taurus3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive162419$3300
Taurus3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive172520$3100
Taurus SHO3.4L 8cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive152318$4300
Taurus Wagon3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive162419$3300
Taurus Wagon3.0L 6cylAutomatic 4-spdFront-Wheel Drive162519$3300

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

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

VariantOverallFrontalSideRollover
1999 Ford Taurus 4-DR.Not RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 208 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about power train.

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.

DateComponentSummary
2016-04-21SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSFor 1999-2001 Taurus or Sable vehicles Safety Recall 04S17 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where the front coil springs could potentially fracture. A fractured front coil spring…
2016-04-21SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSSafety recall 04S17 - Front coil springs - requests for recall service action
2014-09-09SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSMERCURY/FORD: SAFETY RECALL REGARDING FRONT COIL SPRINGS CAN FRACTURE ON VEHICLES OPERATING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS. MODEL 1999-01 TAURUS, SABLE. *PE
2014-08-11SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSMERCURY/FORD: FRONT COIL SPRINGS CAN FRACTURE, AFTER OPERATING, FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, IN HIGH CORROSION AREAS, MOVE MOVE PAST SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT RUPTURE FRONT TIRE, RESULTING RAPID AIR LOSS. MODEL 1999-2001 TAURUS, SABLE. …
2008-05-16ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTORFORD: CERTAIN 1999-2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN NEW YORK AND CERTAIN 2001 VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF MAINE, CERTIFIED FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA-FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY REFUND. *PE
2008-05-16ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTORFORD: CERTAIN 1999-2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN NEW YORK AND CERTAIN 2001 VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF MAINE, CERTIFIED FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA-FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY REFUND. *PE
2005-11-14ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGWDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
2005-05-01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGSURGE, IDLE ROLL, ROUGH IDLE ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE COOLING FANS ARE OPERATING. *TT
2004-12-13VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOWREAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT
2004-12-13POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *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.