There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 1997 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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 140,000. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING AT 65MPH THE CAM SHAFT FAIL. THE CAM SHAFT SLIPPED INTO THE MOTOR WHERE EVERYTHING JUST SHUTS DOWN. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD HE HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
I HAVE A 97 FORD TAURUS GL. THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE BURNED RAPIDLY. MY FAMILY JUST MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR. I MANAGED TO GET IT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE SUFFERED SOME HEAT DAMAGE. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. A MILE LATER, THE ENGINE STALLED, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED LIQUID DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THEN, THE VEHICLE WOULD START, BUT NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE SPROCKET THAT HOLDS THE TIMING CHAIN CAME LOOSE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON CODE#430 AND #340. TOLD BY PACIFICO FORD I HAVE AN EMISSION FAILURE AND I NEED 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND A CAM SENSOR AND CAM SYNCHRONIZER ON 1/11/2006 AT 89044 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE #2 CAM PARTS UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/04/2002 AT 55616 MILES. *NM
OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING AND REPLACED ON 6-15-02 AT 51070 MILES UNDER E.S.P OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING AGAIN ON 1-11-06 AT 87734 MILES TOTAL COST PAID $428.75. *NM
1. DRIVING AT CITY TRAFFIC SPEEDS (25-30 MPH) IN PHILADELPHIA. CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED. UPON RESTART WOULD IMMEDIATELY STALL WHEN IDLE. 2. WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING, TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP 3. INFORMED BY FORD DEALER THAT THE CAMSHAFTS WERE BENT AND I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR $13,000.00. *NM
THERE WAS A CHAIN LIKE TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I AS A TECHNICIAN OBSERVED IT TO BE A CAMSHAFT GETTING READY TO FAIL, WHEN IT FAILED MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS DRIVING LUCKILY ON A SIDE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD LOST ALL POWER AND MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, NOW THE 1997 SHO JUST SITS B/C I CAN NOT AFFORD THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS! ESPECIALLY WITH A BABY ON THE WAY. *JB
MY FIANCEE'S HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN ON HER 1997 FORD TAURUS (SPELLING). IS THIS NORMAL BECAUSE THE MECHANIC THAT WE WENT TO SAID "OH I BET I KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I BET THE HEADGASKET IS BLOWN." HOW LONG IS THIS HEAD GASKET SUPPOSED TO LAST. SHE ONLY HAS 140,000 MILES ON HER CAR AND DOES REGULAR MAINTANENCE ON IT.*AK
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON HAS BEEN ON FOR FEW MONTHS. CAR SEEMS TO RUN OK BUT CAN NOT GET CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK THE CAR TO AUTO ZONE THEY DID A DIAGNOSIS AND SAID THERE WHERE TWO CODES THAT CAME UP AS A FAILURE. I READ ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL IN DEC. 2001 ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM UPGRADE. *JB
ON DECEMBER 21, 2004 MY 1997 FORD TAURUS SHO BEGAN MAKING A TICKING NOISE. TWO DAYS (AND ABOUT 20 MILES) LATER, THE LEFT EXHAUST CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND NOT RESTART. AS A RESULT OF THE SPROCKET SLIPPING, THE NO. 5 CYLINDER'S PISTON WAS CRACKED DUE TO COMING IN CONTACT WITH AN OPEN VALVE (THIS IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE). 15,000 MILES AGO, THE LEFT INTAKE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A $2900.00 REPAIR BILL FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. UNABLE TO AFFORD THE COST OF SUCH A REPAIR AT THIS TIME (NOT TO MENTION UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH THE SAME FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WANTED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS HARDLY EVER HAPPENS AND THAT I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO CAUSE IT THE FIRST TIME), I OPTED TO ATTEMPT THE PROCEDURE MYSELF. AFTER FINDING AND REMOVING THE FAULTY CAMSHAFT, I THOUGHT MY PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED UNTIL I CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE NO. 5 CYLINDER PLUG WAS COVERED IN OIL, WHICH MEANS THERE IS A BAD PISTON/RING, AND MOST LIKELY VALVES. I AM CONSIDERING MY OPTIONS TO REPAIR OR PART THE CAR OUT NOW. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY FORD DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WILL ARISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ON A FREEWAY. THE LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A STALLED ENGINE COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THROUGH TRAFFIC TO A "SAFE" SPOT ON THE SHOULDER. THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE AT WWW.V8SHO.COM (IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE SO MANY REGISTERED FAILURES WITHOUT THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A PROBLEM BY FORD). *JB
CAMSHAFT STRIPED OUT CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. *JB
WHEN CONSUMER WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE STOPPED. THEN, SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE. FROM THAT POINT ON EACH TIME VEHICLE CUT OFF, RESTARTED, AND MOVED A BIT. AFTERWARDS, VEHICLE CUT OFF AND CONSUMER RESTARTED IT UNTIL HE GOT HOME. THEN, HAD IT TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THE SPROCKET CAME LOOSE. MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT BECAUSE THE LABOR AND PARTS WOULD COST ABOUT $6000.00 - $8000.00. CONSUMER TOLD MECHANIC NOT TO BOTHER BECAUSE HE COULD NOT AFFORD IT. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO HIS HOME. *AK THE CAM SHAFT WAS BROKEN, 2 CYLINDERS WENT BAD, THE TRANSMISSION WAS AFFECTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL POSSIBLY DUE TO THE COIL PACKS AND THE STRUTS WENT BAD. *SC
SPEEDOMETER WOULD STOP OPERATING AND VEHICLE WOULD STALL AFTER DRIVING TWO MILES. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS. EACH MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT MIGHT BE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR THE OXYGEN SENSOR . *AK
1997 FORD TAURUS. CAR BEGAN ROUGH IDLING AT COLD START. AFTER WARMING UP WOULD RUN FINE. TOOK TO MECHANIC TWICE. THEY DID NOT KNOW PROBLEM SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. CAR ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. CAR EVENTUALLY STARTED LOSING ANTI-FREEZE (NOT LEAKING, JUST TURNING UP LOW EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS), EXHAUST FUMES HEAVY, WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST, GAS MILEAGE TERRIBLE. I TOOK TO MY UNCLE, A MECHANIC IN ANOTHER CITY AND HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY. AS I SUSPECTED, HEAD GASKET. WILL COST $800-1000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS MY SECOND FORD. OTHER WAS A 1995 FORD ESCORT. AFTER TWO TRANSMISSIONS AND A CRACKED ENGINE IT DIED TWO YEARS AGO FOR GOOD. I'M A SIGLE MOM AND THIS IS ONLY TRANSPORTATION. CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR YET. BUT IT WILL NOT BE A FORD WHEN I CAN. FORD HAS CHANGED AND IS NOT THE SAME AS IT USED TO BE. FORD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE ENGINE WAS IDLING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL DRIVING. *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE BURNING VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF LOST OIL OR OTHER FLUIDS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO HUMAN ERROR. THE CONTACT RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF FORD RECALL NUMBER 05S28 AND SHE FEELS THAT THIS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF HER ENGINE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN JUST AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT ON A BUSY 55MPH HIGHWAY. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD INEXPERIENCED DRIVER. PUSHED VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP. VEHICLE HAD JUST OVER 100,000 MILES. WAS TOLD VEHICLE WAS ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OF 8 CYLINDERS. AFTER EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS DETERMINED TO THAT THE ENGINE CAM GEAR BROKE LOOSE THAT OPENS UP THE VALVE TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND THE EXHAUST VALVES. SPENT ALMOST 3000.00 DOLLARS TO HAVE ALL REPAIRS MADE TO THE MOTOR. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT WHEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. PLEASE HAVE FORD ISSUE A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE CAMS WITHIN THE 3.4L V8 SHOWS BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT. *LA
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP ,WHO COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF. *AK *LA
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026