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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,956 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 engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Ford Taurus Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #23

Jan 011999

Taurus

  • miles

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

Best way to describe is throttle "sticks" it is an electronics control problem but similar to older cars where auto chokes stuck, when coming to a stop engine will continue at 2500 to 3000 RPM and you have to stand on the brakes to stop. Problem is ongoing and has been demonstrated to two different dealers with many visits over last two years with no result. One dealer told me that Ford knows about problem but has no good fix. It is very dangerous at times as car will cruise at 30 mph with foot off throttle. It will usually idle down after a few seconds but very dangerous in garage and parking situations. Also if you accelerate (as when pulling out into an intersection) and than suddenly lift off the throttle, it continues to accelerate. I nearly ran over a pedestrian who stepped out in front of me. I am not one to be to picky about cars but after researching your site, it appears this has been reported numerous times.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #22

Jul 071999

Taurus

  • miles
Original transmission failed at 35,000 miles replaced by a factory rebuilt dealer tranny. Second tranny failed at 43000, dealer stated that no factory rebuilts were available. Rebult transmission inhouse. Both transmissions failed due to shifting from 1 to neutral. After the repair of the second transmission the car started to accelerate by itself. Starting from a stop, pressing on the accelerator pedal the car shifts from 1 to 2 nd to 3rd, if I take my foot off the accelerator pedel the car continues to gain speed and the tach needle does not drop down but continues to stay in the 2 to 3 thousand RPM range, it I put the tranny in neutral the tach need jumps up to 3,000 rpms.

- Monsey, NY, USA

problem #21

Nov 231997

Taurus

  • miles
Driving at 55 mph I applied the brakes lightly and the car started to accelerate, I stepped on the brake pedal but it would not slow the car at all and it was hard to steer, the steering wheel seemed to try to pull to either side, back and forth but I kept it going as straight as I could, then the abruptly pivoted 180 degrees about the left front wheel and the car slid sideways accross the right lane and hit the guardrail with the left front corner and left side of the car.

- Shelton, CT, USA

problem #20

Dec 221999

Taurus

  • miles

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

While driving throttle system got stuck, causing vehicle to suddenly accelerate, and would not slow down, which may have resulted in a crash.

- Laotto, IN, USA

problem #19

Nov 241999

Taurus

  • miles
While driving the vehicle, it seems cruise control activates unexpectedly and without warning, causing vehicle to idle and acclerate unexpectedly, and may result in a crash. Dealer replaced two sensors with electronic timing and idler. Problem is reoccurring.

- Moss Point, MS, USA

problem #18

Sep 021999

Taurus

  • miles
Surge at steady speeds even with cruise control on also when setting at a red light

- Athens, TX, USA

problem #17

Jul 101999

Taurus

  • miles

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

Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration while driver was manuvering a curve resulting in the vehicle jumping a ditch, roll over and stop against a power pole upside down. Nlm

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #16

Aug 041999

Taurus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Coming to a stop at a red light and the engine racing and pulling.consumer contacted dealer.

- Mt Laurel, NJ, USA

problem #15

Nov 211998

Taurus

  • miles
Whenever the brakes are applied, it would have high idle & acceleration. Would have to keep foot on brakes to maintain stop. Had taken to dealer several times for high acceleration & idling, but problem is never found.

- Crystal Lake, IL, USA

problem #14

Feb 011999

Taurus

  • miles
While stopping vehicle will lunge forward, and may cause a crash. Dealer cannot determine the cause.

- Rothschild, WI, USA

problem #13

Mar 211999

Taurus

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

While driving cruise control activated, and caused the throttle to remain in open position, resulting in a crash. Been to dealer, but they couldn't determine the cause of the problem..et.

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #12

Apr 201999

Taurus

  • miles
Backing up & noticed pole, shifted into drive & vehicle accelerated & hit store front. Accelerator pedal could not be controlled at the time.upon impact, air bags did not deploy.

- Conway, AR, USA

problem #11

Apr 011998

Taurus

  • miles
Problem is dangerous. When come to stop, engine occassionally races to over 2200 rpms. When crusing and let off gas, car idle does not naturally go down. Was fixed by dealer once, now recurring. Very concerned about unpredictable idle/acceleration conditions.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #10

Apr 211999

Taurus

  • miles
I put my car in reverse to back out of a parking space. I hit a concrete pole which was located in the parking lot. The accident occurred when I braked to shift from reverse to drive. The car took off leaving black marks 9 feet long. I did not have a chance to hit the accelerator. The car was acting on its own. I hit the front of the store. The only thing that stopped my car was the steel door frame and the brick building. My car was still moving after I got out because I had not put it into park and turned it off. I had jumped out quickly because glass was coming through my sunroof onto me. A witness said "oh my god, your car is still moving." I had to get back into the vehicle to put it into park and turn the ignition off. This proves that the car was getting fuel somewhere besides me. I feel as though the fuel shut off button located in the trunk should have prevented this accident. But it did not work; in fact, I am thinking something malfunctioned and instead of shutting fuel off the car was getting fuel wide open.

- Somerset, KY, USA

problem #9

Apr 201999

Taurus

  • miles
Spouse backed out from a parking space and when she put the vehicle in "drive" the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed, and before any action could be taken she collided with a store front. The "cruise control" had been used the day before and there is reason to believe it was malfunctioning and caused the sudden forward movement. The reason for this assumption is that I had driven the car on a previous recent occasion, and noticed the light indicating cruise was on although I had just started the car. I thought perhaps I may have bumped it but now I am sure it was malfunctioning. This was reenforced when I talked to three other people who had similar incidents with Ford products.

- Conway, AR, USA

problem #8

Dec 251998

Taurus

  • miles
Recalls 97V097000/96V166000; while driving the RPM's went up, zoomed up, and the car died, coasted to the side and parked. Dealer contacted, and stated the vehicle did not comply with the recalls. Provide further information.

- Avenel, NJ, USA

problem #7

Dec 071998

(reported on)

Taurus

  • miles
Vehicle experienced sudden high RPM and acceleration on two occasions, on second incident before stopping motor the right side drive axle broke at cv-joint.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 101998

Taurus

  • miles
Consumer has been experiencing problems with vehicle acceleration. While driving, vehicle would accelerate for unknown reason. Vehicle has been in/out of dealer shop on several occasions. Dealer informed consumer that nothing could be found. Sudden acceleration has caused vehicle to be in one accident. Vehicle has been repaired, but condition still remains.

- Victor, WV, USA

problem #5

Sep 011997

Taurus

  • miles
Vehicle experienced uncontrollable acceleration upon coming to a stop.

- Sugarland, TX, USA

problem #4

Jul 141997

Taurus

  • miles
When driving vehicle & putting vehicle on cruise control, it would not light up; do not know which button to push; would have to turn on overhead dome light just to see.

- Corinth, MS, USA

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