Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1999 vs 2000 FORD TAURUS

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 323 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 36.6% more reports in the equal exposure window

1999 849 complaints 2000 1,160 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1999 share 2000 share Share change
SUSPENSION 20.3% 35.9% ▲ 15.6 pts larger share
STEERING 10.1% 2.0% ▼ 8.2 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11.4% 6.0% ▼ 5.5 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.9% 6.3% ▲ 4.4 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 6.2% 2.9% ▼ 3.3 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 10.0% 7.3% ▼ 2.7 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 4.1% 6.7% ▲ 2.6 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 5.2% 3.1% ▼ 2.1 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 8.7% 6.6% ▼ 2.1 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 1.3% 2.2% ▲ 0.9 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 3.5% 4.3% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
TIRES 1.8% 2.4% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
ENGINE 7.5% 7.0% ▼ 0.6 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.4% 0.7% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4.0% 3.8% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE 0.1% not reported ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 73.6% 80.1% ▲ 6.5 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1999 7

Campaign components: POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS, and SUSPENSION

2000 8

Campaign components: EQUIPMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION, and VISIBILITY

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
16 → 25
◆ Injuries
66 → 81