VehicleVerdict

1992 Ford Taurus engine problems

The 1992 Ford Taurus has 261 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 26% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

261

Engine complaints

26%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Related recalls

97V019000EngineFebruary 25, 1997 · 75,200 units

Defect

THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.0L ENGINES AND 1992-1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES. DURING HIGH WINDS, HEAVY, BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, AND LOW TEMPERATURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CAN BECOME BLOCKED OR FROZEN WITH SNOW. THE FAN MOTOR MAY NOT ROTATE AND COULD OVERHEAT.

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.

What owners report

WHILE DRIVING STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND VEHICLE LOST STOPPING POWER. ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER STOPPING (JUST BEFORE LOSING POWER THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF). *AK.ET.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 30, 2000 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1992 Ford Taurus have?

NHTSA has 261 complaints about the 1992 Ford Taurus engine — 26% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1992 Ford Taurus engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 97V019000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.