2004 Ford Taurus

Family: Taurus · filed with NHTSA as TAURUS

Summary

Of the 372 complaints that name a component, 44% concern Accelerator & Cruise Control (164).
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.
Not enough history to compare this year with the rest of its generation.
2 recalls filed for this model year.
2 federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 375
Recalls: 2
Investigations: 2
NCAP overall: Not rated
Combined MPG: 19–20
Annual fuel cost: $3,100–$3,300
Median mileage at complaint: 94,000 mi (n = 315)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 36 / 13 / 25 / 2

What owners report

Accelerator & Cruise Control

164 complaints · 44% of complaints that name a component · median 100,000 mi (n = 150)

Owner report WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TRYING TO PULL INTO AN ALLEY THAT LEADS THE MAIN ROAD; MY VEHICLES RPM WENT FROM JUST ABOVE IDLE TO ALMOST 4000. IT CAUSED ME TO FLY THROUGH A STOP SIGN, AS MY BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. AFTER SOME TUGGING I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND GET IT TO A FULL STOP. I TURNED THE VEH…

Owner report TAKATA RECALL - WHILE DRIVING TAURUS ACCELERATES WITHOUT TOUCHING FUEL PEDAL. ALSO RETAINS SPEED FOR A WHILE AFTER RELEASING FUEL PEDAL. FUEL PEDAL DOES NOT SEEM TO BE STUCK AS WHEN I TAP FUEL PEDAL CAR DOES DOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL I APPLY BRAKE. WHEN FIRST STARTING IN MORNING ENGINE REVS TO 3,000 RPMS AND FALLS GRADUALL…

Powertrain

72 complaints · 19% of complaints that name a component · median 105,000 mi (n = 62)

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT, THE GEAR SHIFTER LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER (DEACON JONES FORD-LINCOLN LOCATED AT 3301 MCLAIN STREET, GOLDSBORO, NC 27534 PHONE NUMBER 800-921-7994) WHO…

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED …

Engine

44 complaints · 12% of complaints that name a component · median 90,000 mi (n = 38)

Owner report I HAVE ENGINE CODE P0430, I CHANGE ALL CONVERTERS, ALL 02 SENSORS STILL KEEP GETTING SAME CODE. MY GUESS IS UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I CAN US A LITTLE HELP GETTING THE PART. THANK YOU

Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING OFF FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE …

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

Across the generation (2000–2007)

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: 178.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
2000	1,195	340	most complaints
2001	1,037	214
2002	1,426	143
2003	1,223	130
2004	375	48	not compared
2005	774	47	not compared
2006	318	33	not compared
2007	149	25	not compared

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.

04V330000 · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

Filed 2004-07-08 · 24,277 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED.

Risk: 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.

Federal investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed	Recall
PE12005	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES	2012-03-07	2012-10-22
DP06005	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY	2006-12-04	2007-12-28

PE12005: Stuck throttle

DP06005: ENGINE STALLING FFV

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	18	25	20	$3100
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	24	20	$3100
Taurus	3.0L 6cyl FFV	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	25	20	$3100
Taurus Wagon	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	24	20	$3100
Taurus Wagon	3.0L 6cyl	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	16	23	19	$3300
Taurus Wagon	3.0L 6cyl FFV	Automatic 4-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	17	24	19	$3300

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
2004 Ford Taurus 4-DR.	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated
2004 Ford Taurus 4-DR. Wagon	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated
2004 Ford Taurus 4-DR. w/SAB	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 55 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
2020-07-13	STRUCTURE	This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint wi…
2019-02-07	STRUCTURE	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Fo…
2019-02-07	STRUCTURE	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. Panel replacement is recommended. Fo…
2016-09-21	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)	The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate …
2006-12-06	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)	EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR VEHICLES WITH HARD START WHEN OPERATING ON E85 FUEL, POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CALIBRATION. WARRANTY EXTENDED FOR 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. SAMPLE CONSUMER LETTER ATTACHED. *KB
2006-01-01	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	CAMSHAFT TICK NOISE - 3.0L 4V ENGINE ONLY. *TT
2006-01-01	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY	FLEX FUEL - LONG CRANK/HARD START. *TT
2005-11-14	LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH	POWER LOCK CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2005-11-14	VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS	POWER WINDOW CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. *TT
2005-11-14	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *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.