What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1999 Ford Taurus

Typical pattern

9.3% of complaints about the 1999 Ford Taurus came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1999 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is suspension (169 complaints), typically at 5.9 yr or about 75,000 miles.

Complaints
924
Median age at failure
4.6 yr
Median mileage
74,000 n=384
Crash / fire / tow
11.6% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Suspension
169 reports · 75,000 mi
5.9 yr
2.4%
Steering
105 reports · 57,800 mi
4.3 yr
3.8%
Service brakes, hydraulic
93 reports · 65,472 mi
2.8 yr
10.8%
Power train
81 reports · 83,500 mi
4.3 yr
8.6%
Speed control
78 reports · 84,000 mi
2.6 yr
21.8%
Engine cooling
71 reports · 65,335 mi
4.5 yr
5.6%
Seat belts
56 reports · 62,000 mi
6.2 yr
12.5%
Visibility
49 reports · 46,842 mi
3.4 yr
0%
Electrical system
49 reports · 80,000 mi
4.0 yr
18.4%
Air bags
36 reports · 91,500 mi
3.3 yr
88.9%
Fuel system
31 reports · 90,000 mi
2.8 yr
6.5%
Tires
23 reports · 78,100 mi
4.5 yr
4.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

04V332000 2004-07-15
Suspension:front:springs:coil springs

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH SALT USED ON THE ROADWAYS DURING THE WINTER. A FRACTURED SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

99V250000 1999-09-20
Seat belts:front:anchorage

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE MECHANISM COULD PREVENT THE BELT FROM BEING SWITCHED INTO THE ALR MODE. THE ELR MECHANISM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.

IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR MODE TO BE ENGAGED, THE OPERATOR MAY BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A CHILD SEAT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.

98V288000 1998-11-09
Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH THE "CALIFORNIA" EMISSIONS PACKAGE. AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED. THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVER TIME, CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK.

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

98V204000 1998-09-01
Speed control

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A DASH INSULATOR RETAINER CLIP WAS NOT FULLY ASSEMBLED TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE DASH FITTING. THE CLIP CAN DISENGAGE FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND FALL INTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM PIVOT AREA.

IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE ENGINE MAY NOT FULLY RETURN TO IDLE. ALSO, THE INSULATOR MAY NOT STAY IN THE INTENDED LOCATION AND COULD INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE.

98V198000 1998-08-25
Seat belts:front:anchorage

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

In owners’ own words

Visibility mileage not reported 2 mo in service
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS JAMMED TOGETHER AND STUCK. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Visibility mileage not reported 4 mo in service
IN THE EARLY MORNING AND EVENING, THE LIGHT TAN DASHBOARD REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Visibility mileage not reported 6 mo in service
WHEN LETTING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOWN A LITTLE, THE WINDOW WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, AND CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS A BUTTON TO GET WINDOWS BACK UP. *AK
Fuel system mileage not reported 9 mo in service
DRIVER REPORTED FUEL GUAGE STUCK ON FULL. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, REPAIR ORDER SHOWS INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GUAGE REPLACED, BUT WHEN TESTED FUEL GUAGE STILL INOP. REPAIR ORDER SHOWS FINALLY TESTING FOUND "MISSING FFV SENSOR MODULE". INSTALLED MODULE. REPAIR ORDER ALSO SHOWS "WIRING DIAGRAM WAS INCORRECT". *AK

Other Taurus model years

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