Ford Taurus Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 683 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Taurus across 17 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (99). The words owners use most often: “brakes applied” (7% of reports).
- 683service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 93mention a crash
- 41mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $1,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%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.
- Brakes applied: mentioned in 47 of 683 complaints (7%)
- Pedal went: mentioned in 40 of 683 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Ford Taurus at $1,100, and half of them between $550 and $1,350.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2011), 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 service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 220 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 683 complaints, 93 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 41 an injury.
Ford Taurus service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Taurus | 1 | 0% | 14,000 |
| 2011 Taurus | 1 | 1% | 4,000 |
| 2010 Taurus | 19 | 9% | 10,000 |
| 2009 Taurus | 1 | 2% | 46,000 |
| 2008 Taurus | 6 | 3% | 19,660 |
| 2006 Taurus | 11 | 3% | 54,511 |
| 2005 Taurus | 10 | 1% | 79,140 |
| 2004 Taurus | 8 | 2% | 63,000 |
| 2003 Taurus | 21 | 2% | 25,000 |
| 2002 Taurus | 32 | 2% | 61,386 |
| 2001 Taurus | 86 | 8% | 40,000 |
| 2000 Taurus | 97 | 8% | 42,500 |
| 1999 Taurus | 99 | 11% | 65,736 |
| 1998 Taurus | 74 | 14% | 65,500 |
| 1997 Taurus | 67 | 9% | 63,941 |
| 1996 Taurus | 66 | 8% | 115,000 |
| 1995 Taurus | 84 | 7% | 115,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable padels are being recalled in order to adjust the brake and accelerator pedals to a minimum of 50 mm of lateral separation. Simultaneous application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in an increase in engine rpm.
Risk: This could result in a customer experiencing an "unintended vehicle speed increase" or a perceived "unable to stop" condition.
Fix: Owners will be instructed as to the proper way to set the position of the pedals and to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals measured. If the spacing is found to be less than 50 mm, the dealer will adjust the pedals to increase the distance between them to greater than 50 mm. Owner notification began october 28, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Service brakes, hydraulic:brake fluid low warning: lamp
Model years: 1996
Problem: The brake system fluid level indicator lamp switch can malfunction. This does not comply with fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: if the switch malfuntions, the brake system warning lamp will either remain illuminated continuously or fail to light as intended when the fluid level falls to a certain level. In either case, the vehicle operator would not be warned of a low brake fluid level condition.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake system fluid level indicator lamp switches.
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
Model years: 1995
Problem: The retainer clip which holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm is missing or not completely installed. The push rod can separate from the brake pedal arm.
Risk: This can result in loss of braking ability and an accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install the retainer clip.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for an inspection, the dealer advised him to stop driving the vehicle due to corrosion of the subframe, caliper, steering arm, brakes, and a hole in the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not…
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the brake pedal would depress the floorboard without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test determined that the brake module was defective and needed to be replaced. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 ford taurus. While driving 10 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the pedal traveled to the floorboard. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the brake pedal had a fractured spring…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S FOOT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME DEPRESSED WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ALSO BEING…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. When the brake pedal was depressed, the brake lights failed to illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake light switch was malfunctioning, but was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 04v106000…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Tauruss have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 683 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the Ford Taurus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Taurus service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Taurus?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $550 and $1,350), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Taurus?
The most frequent phrase is “brakes applied”, in 47 of 683 complaints, followed by “pedal went” (40).
Other Ford Taurus problems
- Suspension problems (2,734)
- Power Train problems (1,895)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,800)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,312)
- Steering problems (995)
- Electrical System problems (888)
- Visibility problems (643)
- Air Bags problems (615)
See all Ford Taurus problems.