The 1997 Ford Taurus has 228 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 23% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.
228
Transmission complaints
23%
Share of year
7
Crash-involved
2
Related recalls
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Consequence
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
Defect
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence
UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
“WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR. IT FIRST WENT OUT FOUR MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR. WE GOT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2001 FROM UGLY DUCKLING CAR SALES NOW KNOWN AS DRIVETIME. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY A LEMON. I THINK IT HAS BEEN IN SOME MAJOR ACCIDENTS....”
NHTSA has 228 complaints about the 1997 Ford Taurus transmission — 23% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the transmission: 96V166000, 97V097000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.