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1997 Ford Taurus
The 1997 Ford Taurus appears in 3 NHTSA recall campaigns (exterior lighting and power train) and in 769 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is power train: 228 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 87.7 per 1,000 across all 1997 model-year vehicles and against 131.5 per 1,000 for the Ford Taurus line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 438.0 complaints per model year across the 39 Ford Taurus model years on this register; 64 complaints reported a crash and 12 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2000 (141); the most recent in the file is dated 11 Apr 2018.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 24 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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."
Consequence: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 97S75).
- 96V166000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)Reported 5 Sep 1996 · 40,000 units
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1997 Ford Taurus (black) against all 1997 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1997 | Taurus line | All 1997 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 228 | 131.5 | 87.7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 168 | 144.3 | 129.3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 71 | 54.8 | 101.4 |
| Electrical System | 67 | 70.8 | 81.5 |
| Steering | 61 | 49 | 70 |
| Visibility | 60 | 45.8 | 56.1 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 228 | 228 | 131.5 | 87.7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 168 | 168 | 144.3 | 129.3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 71 | 71 | 54.8 | 101.4 |
| Electrical System | 67 | 67 | 70.8 | 81.5 |
| Steering | 61 | 61 | 49 | 70 |
| Visibility | 60 | 60 | 45.8 | 56.1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 57 | 57 | 92 | 43.7 |
| Air Bags | 42 | 42 | 37.6 | 60.4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 29 | 29 | 23.1 | 49.6 |
| Suspension | 29 | 29 | 146 | 64 |
| Seat Belts | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25.2 |
| Structure | 25 | 25 | 46.5 | 40 |
| Equipment | 25 | 25 | 14.2 | 19.4 |
| Tires | 25 | 25 | 17.4 | 54.1 |
| Unknown or Other | 23 | 23 | 17.9 | 21.3 |
| Interior Lighting | 23 | 23 | 2.7 | 4.1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 16 | 27.2 | 25.4 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 5 | 5 | 1.8 | 4.6 |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 4 | 1.8 | 9.9 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 4 | 4 | 5.4 | 9.6 |
| Engine | 4 | 4 | 14.1 | 4.6 |
| Wheels | 3 | 3 | 4.8 | 10.4 |
| Seats | 3 | 3 | 5.9 | 13.2 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.9 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.3 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 7.2 | 2.3 |
769 unique complaints, 1,000 component mentions; 50 injuries and 4 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Ford Taurus model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 NHTSA | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1981 NHTSA | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1983 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1984 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1985 NHTSA | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1986 | 8 | 101 | 8,923,200 |
| 1987 | 8 | 255 | 8,919,345 |
| 1988 | 5 | 333 | 5,564,000 |
| 1989 | 5 | 562 | 4,519,000 |
| 1990 | 6 | 381 | 4,245,112 |
| 1991 | 4 | 649 | 3,888,700 |
| 1992 | 5 | 681 | 3,640,200 |
| 1993 | 6 | 1,557 | 3,772,112 |
| 1994 | 4 | 923 | 3,490,900 |
| 1995 | 5 | 1,205 | 3,681,660 |
| 1996 | 6 | 825 | 561,600 |
| 1997 | 3 | 769 | 711,800 |
| 1998 | 2 | 544 | 578,800 |
| 1999 | 5 | 871 | 939,166 |
| 2000 | 8 | 1,189 | 3,716,463 |
| 2001 | 9 | 1,030 | 3,980,991 |
| 2002 | 3 | 1,421 | 1,376,297 |
| 2003 | 3 | 1,205 | 1,406,609 |
| 2004 | 1 | 365 | 24,277 |
| 2005 | 0 | 752 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 304 | 199,961 |
| 2007 | 0 | 140 | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 158 | 695 |
| 2009 | 0 | 56 | — |
| 2010 | 3 | 163 | 379,009 |
| 2011 | 4 | 133 | 772,632 |
| 2012 | 5 | 54 | 775,669 |
| 2013 | 9 | 258 | 1,548,116 |
| 2014 | 5 | 98 | 570,971 |
| 2015 | 6 | 63 | 1,760,319 |
| 2016 | 4 | 11 | 1,762,969 |
| 2017 | 4 | 10 | 315,504 |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | 1,763,906 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 1,550,599 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Ford Taurus model years · Ford: 201 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford Taurus have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 98V028000, was reported to NHTSA on 10 Feb 1998 and concerns exterior lighting:headlights. Across all model years the Ford Taurus line has 69 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1997 Ford Taurus?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1997 Ford Taurus complain about most?
Power Train: 228 of 1000 component mentions (228 per 1,000). Next is engine and engine cooling with 168. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 24 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 24 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.