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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,890 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Ford Taurus transmission problems

transmission problem

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1997 Ford Taurus Owner Comments (Page 1 of 9)

problem #171

Nov 192009

Taurus

  • 149,360 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The gear won't go into park. When its placed in park the vehicle continues to move. I had to call road side assistance because I didn't know what to do. No injuries were cause or the police weren't called. This is dangerous and its a recall for my vehicle.

- Braddock, PA, USA

problem #170

Jun 272009

Taurus

  • 193,120 miles
Yesterday evening me and my family stopped at a gas station and my girlfriend went into the big apple in canton, Maine. She was in there for awhile and I had been sitting in the car with the engine running. I went in the store to see what was taking so long and while I was in there I heard the children screaming. All three of them were in the back seat and the car backed up by itself and I ran out of the store after it. It ran into a telephone pole and I immediately demanded to know who touched the car. Nobody had, the car was still in park. It must of backed up about 10 to 15 mph before hitting the pole. If the pole had not of been there the car would of crossed rt. 108 and could of been hit by traffic. My children were so scared they wouldn't get back in the car.

- Canton, ME, USA

problem #169

Aug 112008

Taurus

  • miles
Automatic transmission going out torque converter seal is leaking smokes because of transmission fluid leaking.

- Marshall, IL, USA

problem #168

Apr 282008

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased my Taurus in Dec. 2004 needing new heads for the engine. Before I could drive it in the cold weather I had to let it idle for about 20 mins or it would slip and I would only be able to go 15mph. Mechanic took to transmission shop but they found nothing wrong. I didn't drive the car for six months at a time (2xs) and the transmission is slipping even more now. Motor mounts also need repaired since my engine is jerking back and forth when I press on the pedal. The front passenger tire feels like it wants to fall off when driving 70mph on the freeway. My daughter and I are moving from phx.,AZ to ft. Hood, Texas to be with my brothers wife while he is in afghanistan. Do you think I can at least make it to Texas without it stranding us. Because with all things aside that car has been through a lot with me. I love my Ford! plus I can't afford to buy another one so hopefully this one is going to hang in there.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #167

Sep 112006

Taurus 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
: the contact stated while traveling 35 mph, the transmission failed. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road then towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not inspected by a mechanic. There was a NHTSA recall, # 97V097000, regarding the automatic transmission. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.

- Santa Clarita, CA, USA

problem #166

Mar 032006

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,400 miles
97 Ford Taurus when in park the car will still roll forward until you apply the brake, there is a recall on this #96S50 local Ford dealer was helpful but said my [xxx] could not be found under this recall but the car is doing the same thing as recall states. They said they didn't really no what to do so that's when I called your number and they said I could file a complaint on line.no one has been injured by this yet, but I would really like to get this took care of, any help you could offer would be great. Thank you. Updated 07/17/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Madison, AL, USA

problem #165

Jun 242005

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 1997 Ford Taurus LX. I was on my way to las vegas when the transmission began to slip and sometimes not work at all. I had to turn around and head home(in order to not get stranded in vegas) and on the way the transmission started to not work at all. I was forced to drive about 45 mph the whole 3 hours back to my home on the highway. This was very dangerous. I have made numerous calls and everyone I have talked to have said that year Taurus has been known to have transmission problems...why does Ford not recall the transmission?

- Elko, NV, USA

problem #164

Jul 302005

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,000 miles
I own a 97 Ford Taurus wagon, I purchased it used from a non Ford dealer in 2000 with 43,900 miles on it. In May 2001 I had to have a new transmission put in at 54,000. Miles. Now in August 2005 at 112,000 miles another transmission has to be put in. I definitely think there is some type of problem or defect with the transmissions if the car is not even 10 yrs old & is going on it's 3rd transmission. Ford did replacement of the previous transmission, told me it was a new one.

- Warrenville, IL, USA

problem #163

Jun 162005

Taurus

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles
Consumer has 40000 miles on vehicle and vehicle had to 3 transmissions. Consumer was driving to Florida on the interstate and the vehicle stopped. Vehicle was towed because it would not pull. This was at 27, 000 miles. At 40000 miles the vehicle was leaking transmission fluid in the garage. Vehicle is in garage to have the power steering rack replaced, when consumer was told that the leak was transmission fluid he needed a new transmission. Vehicle has been to dealer often for different repairs. Consumer was told that there was no warranty. Consumer has had all recalls repaired on vehicle. Dealer told consumer that there may be something else in car causing transmission to fail. Vehicle is driven less than 4000 miles a year. Vehicle was purchased used with about 20,000 miles. Consumer owned vehicle for 6 years. Same dealer has done all repairs on vehicle, except one transmission because vehicle broke down in lima, Ohio. This was done by Ford dealership.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #162

Apr 012005

Taurus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
1997 Ford Taurus experiencing problems with the power steering. The power steering had gone out due to the wrong automatic transmission fluid being placed in the vehicle.

- Lorena, TX, USA

problem #161

Nov 092004

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The consumer was unable to change gears. It was determined the transmission was no longer operable.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #160

Oct 022004

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,800 miles
When driving the transmission failed and the consumer lost power. The consumer pulled over and had the vehicle towed.

- Hazard, KY, USA

problem #159

Sep 242004

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles
Vehicle stalls momentarily and then suddenly jumps into gear while driving. The transmission was replaced 14 months ago at a cost to me of $2684 and now I'm told it needs to be replaced.

- Coats, NC, USA

problem #158

Sep 212004

Taurus

  • miles
Consumer stated that while driving vehicle stopped. First, had it towed to his home. Consumer will have vehicle towed to a dealer later. Transmission failed. After vehicle stopped consumer turned it off and turned it back on. When he turned it back on and tried to put the vehicle in gear, it would not go into gear.

- Mount Vernon, IL, USA

problem #157

Aug 172004

(reported on)

Taurus

  • 60,000 miles
Transmission problems with 1997 Taurus wagon. One of the bearings in the transmission failed and damaged the entire transmission.

- Unknown, DC, USA

problem #156

Jul 152004

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
L997 Ford Taurus wagon. 60K miles. Treated with kid gloves and had the fluid changed at 60K in the transmission. Within 200 miles the trans went out. If I hadn't noticed leakage it likely would have stopped with a dangerous circumstance happening as a result...I.e. heavy traffic, pulling out into traffic, etc.

- Prescott, IA, USA

problem #155

Apr 222004

Taurus 6-cyl

  • 13,000 miles
While driving it was hard to shift gears/steer the vehicle. The brake and tail lights failed to work. The electrical system was intermittent, the radio would go off when the steering wheel was turned and when the vehicle was in drive. The problem would start when the vehicle was in park, reverse, or neutral. The seat belt light flickered on and off without cause.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

problem #154

Dec 152003

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 124,300 miles
I have advised Ford Motor Co of a potentially dangerous condition identical to condition found in recall # 97V-097nsa-111paw, Ford # 97S75. The only difference is that transmission fluid leaking from the servo cover is caused by the cover becoming perforated by rust. This on a 1997 Ford Taurus which has been well taken care of but driven in Vermont & New Hampshire where salt is used during winter snows. Ford Motor Co declined any participation because my car doesn't fall into the production category of the recall. The symptoms and leaking of oil against the catalytic convertor when driving are the same as those described in the recall. To this end, the first rust through problem occured with the oil cooler line which rusted out previously and have been replaced. Just a few weeks ago the metal tube from the heater to the rear of the engine began leaking from rustout and had to be replaced. I assure you this car is no "rust bucket" I am a fully certified (in all subjects) niase mechanic and know wherefrom I speak. There are a lot of these Taurus models operating in new england and I'm certain mine is not the only one with these rust problems. The VIN # [xxx] transmission data plate: [xxx] oil pan reads: Axod metric engine: 3.0L date of manufacture: 8/97. Updated 08/03/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Bellows Falls, VT, USA

problem #153

Sep 042001

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,000 miles
While driving vehicle stopped accelerating, jerked backward, then forward. This was caused by internal automatic transmission failure, per the dealership. Transmission was replaced, but the failure recurred.

- Southampton, NY, USA

problem #152

Aug 282003

Taurus 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving and coming to a complete stop, the automatic transmission didn't shift properly. It would shift from drive to neutral and make loud noise. The consumer's wife was driving when the incident occurred leaving her in a precarious position. By jiggling the shift lever, she was able to shift into reverse then into drive. This had been a common problem for 1991-1998 models. Ford would not take responsibility.

- Clifton, NJ, USA

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