1997 Ford Taurus Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 214 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 1997 Ford Taurus, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 72,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (14% of reports).
- 214power train complaints
- 72,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $4,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 28%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 31 of 214 complaints (14%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 1997 Ford Taurus at $4,350, and half of them between $3,400 and $4,700.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2004), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 33 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 214 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford Taurus power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Taurus | 7 | 14% | 67,500 |
| 2017 Taurus | 1 | 2% | 48,000 |
| 2016 Taurus | 3 | 4% | 56,965 |
| 2015 Taurus | 18 | 6% | 9,800 |
| 2014 Taurus | 12 | 5% | 89,555 |
| 2013 Taurus | 44 | 8% | 72,000 |
| 2012 Taurus | 2 | 3% | 5,012 |
| 2011 Taurus | 18 | 10% | 45,500 |
| 2010 Taurus | 36 | 18% | 13,431 |
| 2009 Taurus | 5 | 8% | 21,050 |
| 2008 Taurus | 44 | 25% | 81,500 |
| 2007 Taurus | 16 | 11% | 61,700 |
| 2006 Taurus | 32 | 10% | 87,000 |
| 2005 Taurus | 123 | 16% | 84,000 |
| 2004 Taurus | 72 | 19% | 104,500 |
| 2003 Taurus | 316 | 26% | 86,753 |
| 2002 Taurus | 39 | 3% | 79,000 |
| 2001 Taurus | 58 | 6% | 86,000 |
| 2000 Taurus | 99 | 8% | 53,844 |
| 1999 Taurus | 91 | 10% | 80,000 |
| 1998 Taurus | 69 | 13% | 94,500 |
| 1997 Taurus | 214 | 28% | 72,000 |
| 1996 Taurus | 182 | 22% | 97,500 |
| 1995 Taurus | 394 | 33% | 91,400 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: The catalytic converter temperature may be hot enough to ignite the transmission fluid and cause a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace these servo covers.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: 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.
Risk: Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On 4/3/2015 my mother in law pulled into the driveway after a 10 mile trip to town. Upon pulling in the driveway the car started on fire immediately, at first she thought the car was overheating (white smoke) then realized the car was actually on fire (black smoke). She had to be helped by an idaho…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford taurus. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle failed to shift gears and stalled without warning. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was jumpstarted. The failure recurred on multiple…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford taurus. The contact stated the transmission slipped and the rpms increased while driving at various speeds. The contact performed a diagnostic test and the failure was located within the transmission head gasket and filter. The transmission head gasket and filter…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Ford Tauruss have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 214 owner complaints about power train for the 1997 Ford Taurus (28% of the 770 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Taurus power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 72,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 1997 Ford Taurus?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,350 (half paid between $3,400 and $4,700), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 1997 Ford Taurus?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 31 of 214 complaints.
Other 1997 Ford Taurus problems
See all 1997 Ford Taurus problems or power train problems across all Taurus years.