AutoDefect IQ

1997 Ford Taurus problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (152) · Vehicle Speed Control (43) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (38)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

84 /100
✓ Typical or better for this model

Compared against other Ford Taurus model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 10 complaints <25k 25–50k miles: 16 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 27 complaints 50–75k 75–100k miles: 36 complaints 36 75–100k 100–125k miles: 20 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 16 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 11 complaints 150k+

136 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

770
Complaints
0
Recalls
251
Service bulletins
64
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
4
Deaths

Safety recalls (0)

No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).

Service bulletins (251)

Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.

Engine And Engine Cooling 2005-11-14 · 041601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running. *tt

Engine And Engine Cooling 2005-05-01 · 18614 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

surge, idle roll, rough idle only when the engine cooling fans are operating. *tt

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2004-12-13 · 042107 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

general (pcm) power train control module programming procedures. *tt

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2004-08-23 · 031404 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

engine misfire or running - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - wds cop kit diagnostic tips. to include various 2005 models. * ar this article 04161 supersedes tsb 03-14-04.

Power Train 2004-08-01 · 17358 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

groan/buzz/vibration when the gear selector is in park with the vehicle parked on an incline. *tt this bulletin updates previous bulletin 17358, dated 11/01/2003 to include 2005 models. *tt

Electrical System 2003-09-15 · 03181 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt

Showing the 6 most recent of 251 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.

What owners report

No detailed complaint narratives on file.

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Ford Taurus years