Safety ratings
1991 Ford Taurus 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
1991 Ford Taurus 4-DR. Wagon
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
Crash test #1NHTSA test 1600
Full test report (PDF) ↗Crash test #2NHTSA test 2554
Full test report (PDF) ↗Recalls (5)
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCampaign 97V025000 · 26/02/1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Risk: DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBERCampaign 94E036000 · 25/11/1994
THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY.
Risk: OVER TIME, A PORTION OF THE BRACKET CAN TEAR AWAY FROM THE STRUT, FALLING INTO AND PUNCTURING THE TIRE OR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSCampaign 98V323000 · 16/12/1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
Risk: IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
- WHEELSCampaign 92V065000 · 11/05/1992
CHILDREN CAN ACCIDENTALLY LOCK THEMSELVES IN THE FOOTWELL AREA OF THE REAR-FACING THIRD SEAT, OR IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT IN STATION WAGONS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL THIRD SEAT. ONCE THE COMPARTMENT IS CLOSED IT CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.
Risk: THERE IS A DANGER OF AIR DEPRIVATION, HYPERTHERMIA,AND/OR PANIC RESPONSE TO A CHILD WHO HAS LOCKED HIMSELF OR HERSELF INTO THECOMPARTMENT, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ASPHYXIATION.
Fix: REPLACE THE SELF-LATCHING ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY USED IN THE REAR STORAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT CAN ONLY BE CLOSED WITH A KEY.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTORCampaign 91V134000 · 06/08/1991
FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE ARE USED EXTENSIVELY.
Risk: SEVERELY CORRODED ROTORS MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE NEARTHE INNER EDGES OF THE BRAKE DISCS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS,HIGHER THAN NORMAL PEDAL EFFORTS, LOUD GRINDING NOISES, AND MODERATE PULLS WHENTHE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS MAY INCREASE MINIMUMSTOPPING DISTANCES, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH FULL CAST FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- POWER TRAIN190
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING61
- SERVICE BRAKES45
- STEERING43
- HYDRAULIC43
- AIR BAGS41
- STRUCTURE40
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM29
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/31/1997· POWER TRAIN
WHENEVER VEHICLE IS AT A STOP TRANSMISSION WOULD DISENGAGE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. THEN WOULD REV UP WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THEN WOULD JERK & VEHICLE WOULD MOVE. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED THEY DID NOT KNOW OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM & WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. *AK
- 12/28/1998· POWER TRAIN
CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON DEC. 23, 1998 AND ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE TRANSMISSION IN 1994 FOR THE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF OUR CAR, WHO TOLD US 6 YEARS OR 60000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. BUT THE LOCAL DEALER THAT SOLD US THE CAR REFUSE THE FACT. WE NEED TO FIND OUT THE FACT. PLEASE HELP US SOLVE OUR CONCERNS. THANK YOU.
- 12/28/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 60 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 1994 AND 1995 VEHICLES WERE UNDER RECALL. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO RECALL WAS DONE ON THOSE VEHICLES. *AK
- 12/28/1995· STRUCTURE
THE CLEAR COAT IS DISCOLORING VERY BADLY. TAKEN THE CAR TO DEALER WHERE NOTHING WAS DONE WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH HOT LINE. TT
- 12/28/1995· SUSPENSION
STEERING ROD FAILED, CAUSING MISALIGNMENT/IRREGUALAR WEAR ON TIRES. *SD
- 12/27/1995· POWER TRAIN
612-295-5164: AUTO-TRAN: WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR ENTERING INTERSECTION, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE, MAKES CLUNKING NOISE; NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. TT
- 12/27/1995· POWER TRAIN
HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TT
- 12/21/1999· AIR BAGSCrash
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 25 OR MORE MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
- 12/20/1996· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DISENGAGED FROM DRIVE AND THEN SUDDENLY REENGAGED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
- 12/20/1995· POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON HWY SUDDENLY STOPPED ABRUPTLY. AUTO-TRANSMISSION CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
- 12/19/1995· POWER TRAIN
HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
- 12/18/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
- 12/17/1999· POWER TRAIN
PROBLEM IS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, WHICH FROM TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS, AND TRANSMISSION MECHANICS HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 1991 FORD TAURUS , LINCOLN TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO INTERNAL DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT WHEN CONTACTED SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM AND WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TO BE A PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE WORST TRANS. FOR THAT VEHICLE SERIES, EVERY MECHANIC I TALKED TO SAID THIS IS A FORD DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD. ANY HELP ON HOW TO PURSUE THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK
- 12/17/1996· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR
- 12/17/1996· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED FROM DRIVE GEAR 4 TIMES, CAUSING A LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION.
- 12/17/1994· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO MANUFACTURERER'S RECALL (94M-084). *AK
- 12/16/1999· SUSPENSION
FRONT CARRIAGE SUPPORT BUSHING FAILED, CAUSING THE STEERING ERRATIC AND THE VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL. YH
- 12/16/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EFC RESET THROTTLE FAILED. NLM
- 12/16/1994· AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT. "DUP: SEE 953116". *TW
- 12/15/1997· POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT REASON.. *AK
- 12/15/1997· POWER TRAIN
.TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED.
- 12/15/1995· STEERING
POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TT
- 12/13/2000· POWER TRAIN
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- 12/13/1997· POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE.
- 12/13/1995· VISIBILITY
INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF 3 TIMES, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *SD
- 12/12/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASE CAR USED TWO MOTOR MOUNTS ARE BROKEN . TT
- 12/12/1995· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO LOW GEAR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP, HESITATES TO TAKE OFF. *DSH
- 12/12/1994· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
- 12/11/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WAS DRIVING ALONG AND STOPPED AT THE LIGHT, VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND IT SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES. HAD TO PUSH TO GET IT STARTED AND THEN AT THE NEXT LIGHT IT STOPPED AGAIN. *AK
- 12/11/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS BRAKING PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
- 12/10/1998· STRUCTURE
RECALL WORK COMPLETED ON REAR SUBFRAME BODY MOUNTS HOWEVER FAILED.
- 12/09/1999· POWER TRAIN
I TOOK CAR TO LOCAL FORD DEALER JIM CLICK 520-747-2000 6420 EAST 22ND ST TUCSON AZ. 85710 FOR LEAKING TRANSMISSION. SERVICE TECH FOUND 6 MISSING CASE BOLTS FROM PREV REPAIR WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY FORD UNDER MANDATORY RECALL. FORD NOT WILLING TO COMPENSATE ME FOR REPAIRS OF $600 FOR THEIR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP. I HAVE PAPERWORK CONFIRMING IT WAS FORD'S MISTAKE FOR NOT INSTALLING THE 6 CASE BOLTS SIGNED BY SERVICE MANAGER JASON DAVIS. I NEED HELP RESOLVING MATTER . THX MERLE. *AK
- 12/09/1998· STEERING
RECALL 93V106002. VEHICLE MADE A CLUNCKING SOUND, TURNING, STEERING LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
- 12/09/1996· POWER TRAIN
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND IN MOTION, TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY DISENGAGE OUT OF GEAR THEN REENGAGE, CAUSING UNEXPECTED DEACCELERATION/ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
- 12/05/2000· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CV JOINTS AND BOOTS, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC
- 12/05/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM
- 12/05/1995· POWER TRAIN
PURCHASE CAR USED AT 50,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TT
- 12/05/1994· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, ALSO GRINDING/SQUEALING. *AK
- 12/05/1994· PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE ADJUSTED/REPAIRED. *AW
- 12/04/1996· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION GEAR FAILURE.
- 12/04/1995· POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT THROTTLE DECELERATION AT HWY. SPEEDS, ALSO DURING INCIDENT GEAR SHIFT SEEM TO GO INTO NEUTRAL, TRANS. BEEN REPLACED. TT
- 12/02/1998· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
- 12/02/1996· POWER TRAIN
OWNER STATES WITH NO WARNING HIS TRANSMISSION FAILED, HE NOTES THAT THE VEHICLE DIED OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, HE FEARS A CRASH COMING UP IF THIS CONTUNIES. *AK *JB
- 12/02/1994· POWER TRAIN
TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP UPON ACCELERATION/ERRACTIC AND VIOLENT SHIFTING/STALLING. *AW
- 12/01/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SERIOUS DEFECTS WITH THE 3.8 LITER HEAD GASKETS AND THE AXODE TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER HAS FILED A CLAIM IN THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *MJS
- 11/29/2004· TIRES
BELTS ON TIRE BCAME SEPARATED, CAUSING TIRE TO COME APART. *AK
- 11/29/1995· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT WILL NOT FIX. TT
- 11/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THIS CAUSED THERMOSTAT TO BURN OUT. ALSO, HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. SMOKE WOULD BE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ENGINE & HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- 11/28/1994· POWER TRAIN
INADEQUATE FLOW OF LUBE OIL INTO TRANSMISSION, CAUSING GEARS AND GEAR ASSEMBLY TO BURN UP. *AW
- 11/27/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FLAWED IGNITION MODULE (TFI). *MJS