1993 Ford Taurus Problems and Recalls (1,541 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 1993 Ford Taurus is Engine (34% of 1,541 owner reports). There are 8 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,541 complaints · 8 recalls
What problems show up on the 1993 Ford Taurus?
526 of 1,541 filings named Engine (34% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Transmission / driveline (140 reports).
There are 8 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Brakes, Suspension, Engine, Lights, and Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 1992 has 671 reports on file; this year has 1,541. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Engine 526 complaints · 34.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 53
- Fires 48
- Injuries 45
- Deaths 3
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine (ENGINE) | 526 | 34.1% | 1 crashes · 19 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 140 | 9.1% | 2 crashes · 0 fires |
| Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) | 127 | 8.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 125 | 8.1% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 120 | 7.8% | 0 crashes · 19 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 120 | 7.8% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 75 | 4.9% | 3 crashes · 2 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 55 | 3.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 47 | 3.1% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 1,026 | 66.6% | 45 crashes · 42 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 97V019000 was reported 767 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 98V009000 was reported 982 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 98V094000 was reported 832 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 98I002000 was reported 881 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 98V323000 was reported 1,437 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-Q1 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 1995-Q2 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 1995-Q3 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 1995-Q4 | Owner reports | 23 | |
| 1996-Q1 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 1996-Q2 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 1996-Q3 | Owner reports | 49 | |
| 1996-Q4 | Owner reports | 34 | |
| 1997-Q1 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 1997-Q2 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 1997-Q3 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 1997-Q4 | Owner reports | 32 | |
| 1998-Q1 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 1998-Q2 | Owner reports | 52 | |
| 1998-Q3 | Owner reports | 86 | |
| 1998-Q4 | Owner reports | 83 | |
| 1999-Q1 | Owner reports | 117 | |
| 1999-Q2 | Owner reports | 75 | |
| 1999-Q3 | Owner reports | 92 | |
| 1999-Q4 | Owner reports | 62 | |
| 2000-Q1 | Owner reports | 85 | |
| 2000-Q2 | Owner reports | 98 | |
| 2000-Q3 | Owner reports | 75 | |
| 2000-Q4 | Owner reports | 76 | |
| 2001-Q1 | Owner reports | 66 | |
| 2001-Q2 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2001-Q3 | Owner reports | 22 | |
| 2001-Q4 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2002-Q1 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2002-Q2 | Owner reports | 20 | |
| 2002-Q3 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2002-Q4 | Owner reports | 10 | |
| 2003-Q1 | Owner reports | 13 | |
| 2003-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2003-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2003-Q4 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2004-Q1 | Owner reports | 17 | |
| 2004-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2004-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2004-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2005-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2005-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2005-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2006-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2006-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2006-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2007-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2007-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2008-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2008-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2008-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2008-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2010-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2010-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 93V023000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 94E036000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 97V019000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 97V025000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98V009000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98V094000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98I002000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 98V323000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE93058 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE93100 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA94008 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP95004 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE96018 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE96033 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA96019 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA96024 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE97035 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA97026 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE99015 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA99023 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ99017 |
Safety Recalls (8)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Brakes, Suspension, Engine, Lights, and Body / frame.
-
Recall campaign 93V023000
Brakes
- Report date
- Component:
- Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
- Consequence:
- THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY AND POSSIBLEVEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Remedy:
- REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE ABS CONTROLLER WITH A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE ABS CONTROLLER.
-
Recall campaign 94E036000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.
-
Recall campaign 97V019000
Engine
- Report date
- Component:
- Engine (ENGINE)
- Consequence:
- THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.
-
Recall campaign 97V025000
Safety recall 97V025000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.
-
Recall campaign 98I002000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- THE FRONT TIRE COULD DEFLATE DUE TO A BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING CONTACTING THE TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- CUSTOMERS WITH VEHICLES THAT HAVE BROKEN SPRINGS ARE TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLE FOR SPRING REPLACEMENT. BOTH SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED EVEN IF ONLY ONE SPRING IS FRACTURED.
-
Recall campaign 98V009000
Lights
- Report date
- Component:
- Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
- Consequence:
- LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.
-
Recall campaign 98V094000
Suspension
- Report date
- Component:
- Suspension (SUSPENSION)
- Consequence:
- THE FRONT TIRE COULD DEFLATE DUE TO A BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING CONTACTING THE TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING CATCHER BRACKET WHICH WILL PREVENT A FRACTURED SPRING FROM CONTACTING A TIRE.
-
Recall campaign 98V323000
Body / frame
- Report date
- Component:
- Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
- Consequence:
- IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Showing 8 of 1,541 complaints · page 1 of 62
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S HANDS BECAME STUCK TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTICED A DARK YELLOW GLUE OR PASTE LIKE SUBSTANCE COMING OUT OF THE SEAMS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN UPDATED 4/27/2015 *JS
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. FIDDLED DESPERATELY WITH THE ON/OFF SWITCH & GOT THEM TO COME BACK ON. WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES ... DISCOVERED TURNING OFF AND BACK ON FIXED. SUSPECTED IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HEAT. OVER THE TWO MONTH, RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO. ALSO FOUND THAT USUALLY PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE SWITCH ITSELF AND JIGGLING WOULD BRING THEM BACK, AND DISCOVERED I COULD HOLD THE HIGH BEAMS ON. FINALLY SEARCHED HERE AND FOUND 98V009000, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER ... BUT GAVE THEM RECALL 98S01 (FOUND ELSEWHERE WHEN LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PART WHEN I HAD DECIDED THAT IT MOST LIKELY WAS IN THE SWITCH). *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE FRACTURED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING HIM TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRAME HAD CORRODED CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT A WARNING. HE WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE THEN TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS THE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE HE NOTIFIED A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 162036.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I PULL IN THE DRIVEWAY IN MY 1993 FORD TAURUS. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I PULLED THE CAR IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE TO SEE HOW I COULD SHUT IT OFF. THE ENGINE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. AS IT WAS BUILDING RPM'S SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER NEATH THE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO LIFT THE HOOD TO PULL SOME WIRE TO DISCONNECT THE ENGINE. AS I STARED TO LIFT THE HOOD THE CAR TOOK OFF IN REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED. IT WENT FIFTY FEET AND TURNED RIGHT HIT A ELECTRIC POLE AND SLAMMED INTO A HOUSE. *TR
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THROUGH THE TOLL PLAZA, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT EXITED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT THIRTY SECONDS LATER. SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CABLE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STUCK. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD NEVER USED THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT WAS ALREADY BEING REPAIRED BY HER MECHANIC. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS STUCK WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO SATY OPEN. UPDATED 11/19/08. *JB
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I BOUGHT MY 1993 FORD TAURUS 3 MONTHS AGO..IT HAS 59K ON IT...ONE WEEK AFTER BUYING IT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON..WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP THERE COMMENT WAS.."WELL THINGS GO WRONG DAILY WITH USED CARS..I DRIVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN THE LIGHT WILL COME ON. I HAVE CHANGED ALL THE SENSORS..HAD A TUNE UP..RADIATOR FLUSH..JUST TO MENTION A FEW THINGS...HAD NEW MOTOR MOUNTS PUT IN TOO..ALL OF WHICH HAS COST ME WELL OVER 700.00...I CALLED FORD WHEN I NOTICED THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL IN WHICH I WAS INFORMED THEY WOULDN'T DO A THING..I CAN ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTS SMELLING HOT..THOUGH WITH THE NEW THERMOSTAT IT NEVER REGISTERS ITS OVER HEATING..TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HAD A COMPUTER CHECK DONE..BUT WOULDN'T U KNOW LIGHT WOULDN'T COME ON SINCE IT WAS JUST SITTING. SEEMS IT ONLY COMES ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD..AGAIN TOLD THE DEALERSHIP...THEY KEEP SAYING MUST BE A CENSOR..WHICH SEEMS TO ME THEY KNEW THIS WHEN THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME..YET DIDN'T DISCLOSE THAT PART..WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I WAS SOLD A LEMON..AND FORD WILL NOT HONOR THERE RECALLS ON IT..SO SEEMS IM DOOMED..IM ON DISABILITY AND CANT AFFORD ALL THESE REPAIRS BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE.. *TR
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 1993 Ford Taurus?
Owners named Engine most often — 526 of 1,541 reports (34%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 1993 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA lists 8 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Brakes, Suspension, Engine, Lights, and Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 1993 Ford Taurus?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.