NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1994 Ford Taurus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
WHILE SHIFTING,THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE GEAR WOULD SHIFT ERRATIC WHILE ENGAGING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
WHILE SHIFTING AND WHILE DRIVING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
RECASLL 98V009000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT BREAKER. HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AT NIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT T VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. *AK
OWNER SAYS THAT THE STRUT BLEW OUT DUE TO THE KNUCKLE BEING BENT AND THE BOLT WILL NOT GO BACK IN IT. THE KNUCKLE IS CAST IRON AND THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM TO ASSIST THE OWNER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
FORD TAURUS GL 1994. V6-182 3.0L. FRONT SPRING BREAKAGE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ERRATIC STEERING MALFUNCTION AND FAILURE. TIRE PUNCTURED AS A RESULT. PRIOR TO BREAKAGE, THERE WERE 3 WEEKS WHEN NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WHEN STEERING, TURNING, OR HITTING A BUMP. STRUT ALSO BROKEN AWAY FROM THE CAR AND STRUT WAS DESTROYED, POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTING TO TIRE PUNCTURE. SHOCK ABSORPTION MALFUNCTION. PERHAPS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEMS ARE STRUCTURAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING UNDER CARRIAGE AND DUST BACKING PLATES ALMOST TOTALLY DESTROYED FROM SALT WATER CORROSION. AN ACCIDENT OCCURED WHILE DRIVING, AND ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WERE THEN DIAGNOSED AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR GARAGE. REPAIRS FOR THE STRUT, COIL, RE-ALIGNMENT AFTER ACCIDENT, TIRE, AND SHOCK ABSORPTION SYSTEM FOR THE FRONT OF THE CAR ALONE WERE $708, NOT INCLUDING ANY REPAIRS FOR THE DESTROYED, CORRODED UNDERCARRIAGE AND DUST BACKING PLATES.*AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AND SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RE-START FOR AT LEAST 15-20 MINUTES. ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IDLED TOO LONG IT SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION MODULE, WHICH MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ HOT, THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THE DRIVER PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED A FRONT LEAK SLID ALONG SHIFT AND SLIP. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED T6HA T FRAME BROKE CLOSE TO MOTOR MOUNT. *AK
MY TAURUS WAS RUNNING GREAT, NO PROBLEMS AT ALL UNTIL TODAY 7-9-2004. I WENT IN STARTED MY CAR, IT MADE A NOISE, THEN STOPPED THE NOISE. MY TRANSMISSION ENGAGED IN PARK ONLY. ALL OTHER GEARS THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I PUT IT IN REVERSE, NOTHING, NEUTRAL, FIRST, NOTHING, SECOND, NOTHING DRIVE, NOTHING AND STILL NOTHING. MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. MY FLUID LEVEL WAS FINE. NO EVENTS LED UP TO THIS MISHAP AND I AM WONDERING WWHAT TO DO.*AK
THE SWITCH FOR THE HEADLIGHTS MELTED AND NEARLY CAUSED A FIRE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A FIRE WAS IMMINENT IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. *NM *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK
1994 FORD TAURUS 3.8 L ...HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 69,000 MILES, WARRANTY RECALL AND ENGINE REPLACED APPROX JUNE 2000. NOW AT 130,000 MILES, 60,000 MILES AND 3-1/2 YEARS ON THE NEW ENGINE, I AGAIN HAVE A CRACKED HG, THIS TIME WITH COMBUSTION GASES IN THE COOLANT. FORD TELLS ME THE NEW ENGINE HAD A 12 MONTH, 12,000 MILE WARRANTY JUST LIKE ALL FORD PARTS. BUT THIS IS NOT A STARTER OR ALTERNATOR, THIS IS THE ENTIRE ENGINE, THE BULK OF THE VALUE OF THE CAR. I CAN'T BE SURE IF THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAD THE NEW IMPROVED GASKET AND LONGER BOLTS, OR IF IT WAS OFF THE SHELF 3.8 WITH ADMITTEDLY FAULTY GASKET. GASES FORCE COOLANT OUT THE OVERFLOW. THE CAR OVERHEATS VERY RAPIDLY, THE NEEDLE CAN MOVE FROM "NORMAL" TO RED LINE IN 10 SECONDS AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. I SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT THE TEMP GAUGE THAN THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME, AND OFTEN I HAVE TO PULL OVER WITH VERY LITTLE NOTICE, ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET MORE THAN 60,000 MILES AND 3-1/2 YEARS ON A FORD MOTOR COMPANY ENGINE. I CAN'T EVEN SELL OR TRADE THIS CAR IN, IT'S VALUE HAS DROPPED TO NOTHING. *NM
DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT 30,000 MILE'S, AND ONCE AGAIN IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, VEHICLE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. *AK *MR
TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP FORWARD AND REVERSE ENGAGEMENT DELAY
1994 FORD TAURUS REVERSE JUST STOPPED WORKING,(SOUNDED LIKE NEUTRAL ). THE CAR STRUGGLED TO GO OVER 25MPH TO GET HOME. WE MADE IT HOME JUST IN TIME FOR THE CAR TO STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER! NONE OF THE GEARS WORK AND I WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SURFACE. ONLY 36,000 MILES AND ALREADY A NEW TRANSMISSION!
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT RECALL 98V32300 ISSUED ON DECEMBER 15, 1998 CONCERNING STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS DEFECT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED IN THE STATE WHERE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED.*AK THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ENGINE APPEARED LOWER THAN NORMAL AND THE BODY MOUNTS ON SUBFRAME SEPARATED DUE TO CORROSION.*TS *JB
FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED TWICE THE FUEL LINES . THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FUEL LINE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL. *AK *PH *JB
TRANSMISSION SEALS FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF FLUID. ALL INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PARTS REPLACED ALONG WITH FAILED TRANSMISSION MOUNTS
MILAGE: 136000KM PROBLEM: BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SUCH AS SLIPPING/GRINDING FROM A STOP OR ACCELLERATING AFTER ROUNDING A CORNER. ESTIMATED COST: $4000.00
THE ENGINE MOUNTS CRACKED AND THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 50000 MILES. ALSO, THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE STATION WAGON VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON IT AND SHE FELT THAT THE SEDAN VERSION SHOULD TOO. *AK *SC THE AIR CONDITION HOSES WERE REPLACED. *JB
FUEL PUMP FUSES KEEP BLOWING. HAVE BEEN TOWED 5 TIMES, CAR JUST DIES OUT. I AM AT MY MAX IN TOWS THROUGH AAA. WE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND THE FUEL RELAY SWITCH REPLACED. CAR RAN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND BLEW FUSE AFTER FUSE. ABOUT 12 FUSES HAVE BLOWN. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD FUEL PUMPS. CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND WON'T START.
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE CRACKED AND VEHICLE HAS NOT EXCEEDED 50000 MILES.*AK
SUSPENSION: COIL SPRING FAILURE - COMPLETE BREAK IN DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION AND THE SPRING DID NOT PUNCTURE THE TIRE.*AK
I PURCHASED MY 1994 FORD TAURUS USED IN FALL 2002. IN FEBRUARY 2003 THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER BROKE. I THEN HAD BOTH REAR CALIPERS REPLACED ALONG WITH PADS AND ROTORS. ONLY 3 MONTHS LATER THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE BEGAN GRINDING AGAIN. THE RIGHT REAR CALIPER WAS AGAIN REPLACED ALONG WITH ROTORS AND PADS. MY MECHANIC REPORTED THAT A PROPORTIONING VALVE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF RUST AND WAS NOT PERMITTING BRAKE FLUID TO THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE. THIS VALVE HAS LINES TO ALL 4 BRAKES AND HE IS UNCERTAIN IF ALL LINES MUST BE REPLACED WHEN THE VALVE IS REPLACED.
WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED THE HEAD LIGHTS REMAINED ON. *JB PH
THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET ARE DEFECTIVE AND HAS EFFECTED THE VEHICLES STEERING. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR STRUCTURE/FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT FRAME HAS A DESIGN DEFECT.
FRONT SPRING FAILED, I.E. IT BROKE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN TIRE PUNCTURE AND AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE A 1994 MERCURY SABLE AND AM AFRAID THE SAME THING MIGHT HAPPEN. *LA
REAR BRAKES STICKING, FAILING TO RELEASE ON 1994 FORD TAURUS WITH REAR DISK BRAKES. I HAVE BURNED UP 2 SETS OF REAR BRAKES AND HAVE STILL NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM TO FIX IT PROPERLY. NEW REAR CALIPERS BOTH TIME THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *NLM
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACT ERRATIC, AND THEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB
THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER ABRUPTLY. *JB
HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON MY 3.8 ENGINE IN MY 1994 FORD TAURUS 125000 MILES. *JB
FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION AFTER REPLACING HEADLIGHT SWITCH. WORKED FOR 15 MINUTES AND THEN SHUT OFF. FUSES CHECKED OK OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKS DID NOT REMEDY SITUATION. NOTED 2 BURNED PLUG HOLES IN WIRING HARNESS AT SWITCH. VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR IS ON A RECALL FROM FORD FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TOLD BY FORD SERVICE TECH THAT MY VEHICLE (VIN# [XXX]) WAS NOT IN RECALL. ALSO REAR LIGHT OVER HATCH HAS LEAKED SINCE NEW AND CAUSED LIGHT TO SHORT OUT. NOTICED MANY OTHER 94 WAGONS WITH SAME PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS ON A 1994 FORD TAURUS WITH THE 3.8L V-6 MOTOR WITH ONLY 28,396 MILES (ORIGINAL) ON THE ODOMETER
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE 1994 FORD TAURAS HAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED APPROXIMATELY 3 - 5 YEARS AGO. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN. FROMM READING SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURING ON SEVERAL 1994 FORD TAURAS'S. IS THERE ANY PLAN TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM.*JB
THE ENGINE FAILED.*DT *JB
ON DECEMBER 26TH 2002 OUR 1994 FORD SHO CAUGHT FIRE IN OUR GARAGE WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. WE RECENTLY GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL STATING THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WARNING OF A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THANKS FOR THE WARNING FORD. A LITTLE TOO LATE. WE WERE OUT OF OUR HOUSE FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. *JB
HAVE FIX SO MANY THINGS ON THIS CAN AND IS STILL NOT TRUSTWORTHY TO MAKE ANY TRIPS EXCEPT TO THE GROCERY STORE. TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY
NO FORWARD OR REVERSE ENGAGEMENT OR DELAYED FORWARD AND-OR REVERSE ENGAGEMENT. SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR WHEN YOU STOP.
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE SUBFRAME WAS PERFORMED, THE SUBFRAME BROKE. RECALL # 98 V 323 000.*JB
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH IS INTERMITTENT. WIPERS WILL WORK SOMETIMES. OTHER TIMES, WIPERS WILL WORK WHEN TURNED ON, THEN STOP WITHOUT WARNING. DT
TRANSMISSION ERRATIC FORWARD SHIFTING AND LATE. DT
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE DROPPED DOWN ON TO THE STEERING MECHANISM MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *YH
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE MERGING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE CUT OFF, WITHOUT WARNING. ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN. TS
SPEED WAS 35 WHEN ENTERING EXIT RAMP, BUT VEHICLE ACCELERATED INVOLUNTARILY UNTIL IMPACT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL LOCK UP. VEHICLE CAN ONLY GO INTO NEUTRAL. *AK DEALER NOTIFIED.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AT 40 MPH. CONSUMER REPLACED SHARKS/ STRUTS, AND TIRES; BUT VEHICLE STILL SHAKES. DEALER STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL ENGINE MOUNTS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026