VehicleVerdict

1999 Ford Taurus problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,100 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.7 times the median Taurus year — the 1999 model ranks #9 of 39 Taurus years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 4 deaths and 86 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across suspension (187), brakes (117), and steering (115), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

1,100

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

2

Investigations

78

Crash-involved

22

Fires reported

86

Injuries

4

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1999 compare to other Taurus years?

See all Taurus years to avoid →

What are the most common 1999 Ford Taurus problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Suspension18717%
Brakes11711%
Steering11510%
Speed Control11310%
Transmission989%
Engine898%
Visibility & Wipers646%
Electrical System636%
Seat Belts636%
Airbags404%
Fuel System404%
Tires & Wheels293%
Lighting242%
Other192%
Body & Structure192%
Seats61%
Latches & Locks61%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)61%
Child Seat20%

Does the 1999 Ford Taurus have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E012000LightingApril 7, 2009 · 16,270 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

04V332000SuspensionJuly 15, 2004 · 899,060 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SPRING SHIELDS. IN ADDITION, FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS IN ALL OTHER STATES, FOR FRACTURE ONLY, UP TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED MORE THAN 150,000 MILES, THIS COVERAGE WILL LAST UNTIL JULY 31, 2005. IF EITHER FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. AN INTERIM NOTICE WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2, 2004. PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2000-2001 MY VEHICLES AND OWNERS WERE SENT A LETTER ON JANUARY 10, 2005, ADVISING THEM TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR REPAIR PARTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 1999 MY VEHICLES BY THE END OF FEBRUARY 2005 AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE NOTIFIED THEN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

99V250000Seat BeltsSeptember 20, 1999 · 25,306 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.

98V288000TransmissionNovember 9, 1998 · 1,800 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE.

98V204000Speed ControlSeptember 1, 1998 · 6,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP, AND RE-INSTALL IF NEEDED.

98V198000Seat BeltsAugust 25, 1998 · 7,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

WHILE DRIVING ON PA TURNPIKE ON FEB 6, 2004, THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FRAME AND RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BEING DEEMED A "TOTAL LOSS".*AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · February 6, 2004 · crash

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP , PEDAL FELT NORMAL, REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. MECHAIC FOUND REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK THE BRAKES FAILED WITH ONLY 30000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. *YH

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 15, 2001 · crash

WHILE DRIVING ON PA TURNPIKE ON FEB 6, 2004, THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FRAME AND RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BEING DEEMED A "TOTAL LOSS".*AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · February 6, 2004 · crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGHOUT THE GARAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE COULD HAVE ORIGINATED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE, WHICH IS COMMON IN SOME FORD…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · May 10, 2009 · fire

THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THE HOOD THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE BURNT THROUGH THE PAINT ON THE HOOD, MELTED THE FRONT TIRE, DASHBOARD AND OTHER FRONT END COMPONENTS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HASN'T IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 18, 2003 · fire

1999 Ford Taurus — common questions

Is the 1999 Ford Taurus reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,100 complaints put the 1999 model at #9 of 39 Taurus years. It is one of the Taurus years to avoid.

What are the most common 1999 Taurus problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are suspension (187 complaints), brakes (117 complaints), steering (115 complaints).

Does the 1999 Ford Taurus have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1999 Ford Taurus. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1999 Ford Taurus under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford Taurus years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Taurus years to avoid are 1993, 2002, 1995, 2003, 2000, 1994, 2001, 1996, 1999, 1992, 2005, 1997, 1991, 1989, 2013, 1998, 1990. The cleanest record among Taurus years belongs to 1983.

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.