Ford Taurus Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 643 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the Ford Taurus across 21 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (191). The words owners use most often: “blower motor” (29% of reports).
- 643visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $690typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%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.
- Blower motor: mentioned in 185 of 643 complaints (29%)
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 65 of 643 complaints (10%)
- Passenger side floor: mentioned in 40 of 643 complaints (6%)
- Heater core: mentioned in 38 of 643 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical visibility repair on the Ford Taurus at $690, and half of them between $620 and $840.
Based on 37 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2014), 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 visibility problems happen?
Based on 343 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 643 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 13 a fire, 3 an injury.
Ford Taurus visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Taurus | 1 | 0% | 50,000 |
| 2014 Taurus | 4 | 2% | 15,300 |
| 2013 Taurus | 1 | 0% | 1,740 |
| 2012 Taurus | 1 | 1% | 8,000 |
| 2011 Taurus | 3 | 2% | 70,000 |
| 2010 Taurus | 1 | 0% | 3,847 |
| 2009 Taurus | 2 | 3% | 11,501 |
| 2008 Taurus | 2 | 1% | 52,000 |
| 2007 Taurus | 4 | 3% | 55,000 |
| 2006 Taurus | 6 | 2% | 40,000 |
| 2005 Taurus | 11 | 1% | 35,650 |
| 2004 Taurus | 12 | 3% | 54,000 |
| 2003 Taurus | 191 | 16% | 56,700 |
| 2002 Taurus | 98 | 7% | 59,687 |
| 2001 Taurus | 39 | 4% | 80,560 |
| 2000 Taurus | 42 | 4% | 92,000 |
| 1999 Taurus | 58 | 7% | 46,842 |
| 1998 Taurus | 17 | 3% | 55,000 |
| 1997 Taurus | 57 | 7% | 44,200 |
| 1996 Taurus | 55 | 7% | 117,089 |
| 1995 Taurus | 38 | 3% | 83,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Model years: 2006
Problem: On certain trucks, passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, the windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease being applied to the output shaft gear.
Risk: After a period of continuous use on the high speed setting, lack of grease on the output shaft gear may cause the gear to distort or fracture during operation resulting in a loss of wiper function. Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the wiper motor for the presence of grease and grease the wiper motor gears if necessary. The recall began on november 22, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673 or lincoln/mercury at 1-800-521-4140.
Visibility:windshield
Model years: 2002, 2003
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting." the windshields may potentially exhibit increased wind noise, water leakage, and squeaks and rattles.
Risk: Potential loss of windshield retention may also reduce occupant protection in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace these windshields. Owner notification began on march 31, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford/mercury at 1-800-392-3673.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Model years: 2000, 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from returning to the "parked" position at the bottom of the windshield. These vehicles were built at the following assembly plants: atlanta plant from 2/11/00 through 7/31/00; chicago plant from 2/14/00 through 8/4/00; kansas city plant from 2/26/00 to 9/4/00; kentucky truck plant from 2/18/00 to 8/31/00; michigan truck plant from 2/23/00 through 8/3/00; norfolk plant from 2/21/00 through 7/27/00; wayne stamping and assembly plant from 2/25/00 through 8/15/00; and wixom plant from 2/15/00 through 8/8/00.
Risk: Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while entering the vehicle, she noticed that the front passenger's side window was cracked. The glass was replaced at the residence by Delhi Glass Repair mobile technician. Additionally, the contact stated while reversing, she noticed that the…
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that water entered through the sunroof, causing damage to the overhead light switches. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a warped sunroof window. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle's windshield was loosening on the upper passenger side. The contact noticed that the windshield was coming out of the molding. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
2008 ford taurus. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle power folding exterior window switch issues. Consumer has previous correspondence with 2 different vehicles with different issues. *ld the consumer stated according the vehicle's description the vehicle should have had a power folding exterior…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford taurus. While driving at any speed, the blower motor emitted smoke from under the dashboard on the passenger side of the vehicle. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the resister blower motor…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Tauruss have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 643 owner complaints about visibility 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 visibility?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix visibility problems on the Ford Taurus?
Owners report a typical cost of $690 (half paid between $620 and $840), from 37 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the Ford Taurus?
The most frequent phrase is “blower motor”, in 185 of 643 complaints, followed by “windshield wipers” (65).
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)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (683)
- Air Bags problems (615)
See all Ford Taurus problems.