FORD TAURUS · model year

1994 FORD TAURUS

1284 NHTSA complaints, 69 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994FORDTAURUS carries 1284 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 69 crashes, 25 fires, 52 injuries, and 3 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 TAURUS is power train:automatic transmission with 202 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (192) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (60). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 6 investigation files overlapping the 1994 TAURUS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1284
Complaints
69
Crashes
25
Fires
52
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

1284 filings

Crashes Reported

69 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION202
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE192
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE60
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL43
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS43
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION35
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM33
POWER TRAIN31
UNKNOWN OR OTHER29
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL28
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION20
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH20
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP17
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR16
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE15

Recent Complaints

20180301EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS GO OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN STOPS HAPPENING

Mileage: 70,000

20170925EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V009000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

Mileage: 127,000

20150330AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES ON/OFF FREQUENTLY. DEFECTIVE SENSOR IS SUSPECTED. PART IS UNAVAILABLE. A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. NOT SURE IF THERE WAS A RECALL PRIOR TO PURCHASE OR CHANGE OUT OF PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 110,540

20131107POWER TRAIN

THE CAR WHEN LEAVING A STOP ACTS LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL THEN CATCHES AND LEAPS FORWARD. FORD USED A CHEAP FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. *TR

Mileage: 95,858

20130522POWER TRAIN

AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE AND APPROACHES A STOP, IT "DE-CLUTCHES" AND EITHER FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, WHEN PUSHING GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE OR IT THEN SHIFTS HARD DURING TAKE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE IS 85,000. MANUFACTURE HAS SUPPOSEDLY SENT OUT TSB FOR REVISED FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON #9837. FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THROUGH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN'S 91-5-7, 92-1-4,92-26A-6, 93-9-11 AND 94-24-7 WHICH EVEN TELLS THE DEALERS TO USE A STEEL PISTON AND NOT TO USE THE ALUMINUM PISTON AND IF THEY HAVE ANY IN STOCK TO RETURN THEM TO THE PARTS DEPOT FOR CREDIT. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20130109ENGINE

I JUST GOT OFF THE TELEPHONE WITH FORD CORP., ~ I HAVE INHERITED A 1994 TAURUS FROM MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF IT AND IT ONLY HAS 88,000 ORIGINAL MILES ~ THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW & THE EXHAUST STARTED POURING OUT THICK SMOKE, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE LOCATION IMMEDIATELY, BUT I LOOK UNDER THE CAR AND THERE WERE ALL DIFFERENT COLOR FLUIDS COMING OUT. BACK IN 1999 THERE WAS A LETTER SENT TO MR. WILLIAM CLAY FORD RELATING TO THIS ISSUE ~ A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN SO WELL KEPT AND NOT EVEN HAVE PASSED 100K MILES... THIS MALFUNCTION OF FORD, SHOULD BE FIXED AND HONORED AT ALL COSTS AND NOW I AM LOOKING AT A BILL OF $2300.00 TO GET THIS FIXED ~ WHEN IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. I AM ASKING FOR HELP OF PROGRAM 98M01 ~ THIS EXTENSION IS MANDATORY FOR I AM A SINGLE MOTHER / DRIVER OF A FORD VEHICLE ~ IT'S THE AMERICAN WAY...... RIGHT???? MR. WILLIAM CLAY FORD ~ GET ME BACK INTO A SAFE VEHICL

Mileage: 88,000

20120918ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V106000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY FILED A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACT'S BEHALF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

Mileage: 155,000

20120918POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V106000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY FILED A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACT'S BEHALF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

Mileage: 155,000

20111111FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR FIVE DAYS WITHOUT USE. ABOUT 9:00AM I MOVED THE CAR AND PARKED IT IN THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM OF ANY KIND. ABOUT 45 MIN. LATER I WAS ALERTED TO THE SOUND OF A CAR HORN AND FOUND THE FORDS HORN WAS HONKING. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO ATTEMPT TO PULL THE LEVER TO OPEN THE HOOD THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR AND A SMALL FLAME ON THE LEFT LOWER CORNER OF THE CASH. I WENT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PHONED 911, WAS GONE MAYBE 30 SECONDS AND WHEN I RETURNED THE DASH WAS FULLY AFLAME. I THEN DRAGGED MY HOSE OUT AND BY THE TIME @45 SECONDS LATER I GOT THE WATER ON, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS FULLY ENGULFED. AFTER ABOUT 7 MIN. OF ME PUTTING WATER ON THE FIRE AND IT ABOUT 90% OUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND FINISHED PUTTING IT OUT. THE ONLY PROBLEMS THE CAR HAD BEFORE WAS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAD QUIT WORKING FROM THE DOOR IN JULY BUT STILL WORKED FROM THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE

Mileage: 120,000

20110804STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL POP NOISE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE CRADLE BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND ORDERED THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V323000 (STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS) AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 9/20/11 *CN UPDATED 10/11/11

Mileage: 130,000

20110226STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE FRONT LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT DROPPED. THERE WAS LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWED THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP. *TR

20101129STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE FRAME THAT CAUSED THE REAR SUSPENSION TO LOWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STRUTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

20101123STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND SHUT OFF. UPON EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20100909CrashFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE FUEL PUMP, AND TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1994 FORD TAURUS GL 3.0 V6. BUCKS AND KICKS ALOT. EVEN AFTER FIXED. EVEN IF YOU AREN'T STEPPING ON THE GAS IT GETS A DELAYED REACTION SOMETIMES AND STILL KICKS OR BUCKS A LITTLE BUT WHILE COASTING. A RESULT COULD BE DAMAGING PROPERTY, AND POSSIBLE CRASHES THAT CANNOT BE AVOID IF A SUDDEN STOP WAS NEEDED AND THE CAR DOES BUCK AND KICK. *TR

20100909CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

THE FUEL PUMP, AND TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1994 FORD TAURUS GL 3.0 V6. BUCKS AND KICKS ALOT. EVEN AFTER FIXED. EVEN IF YOU AREN'T STEPPING ON THE GAS IT GETS A DELAYED REACTION SOMETIMES AND STILL KICKS OR BUCKS A LITTLE BUT WHILE COASTING. A RESULT COULD BE DAMAGING PROPERTY, AND POSSIBLE CRASHES THAT CANNOT BE AVOID IF A SUDDEN STOP WAS NEEDED AND THE CAR DOES BUCK AND KICK. *TR

20100412STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED WATER LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TRANMISSION DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20100412POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED WATER LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TRANMISSION DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20100228SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

IT'S NOT GEARED TO ANY MANUFACTURE BECAUSE ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN WORK THE SAME WAY. THIS PERTAINING TO CRUISE CONTROL. THEIR IS ONLY TWO WAYS TO SHUT IT OFF. THE ONE WAY YOU SHUT IT OFF IS TO HIT THE BRAKES LIKE IF YOU HAVE STOP FAST TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS IF THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE IS BLOWN IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF THE CRUISE AND YOU ARE FIGHTING THE BRAKE WITH THE ENGINE REVVING AT A HIGHER RATE LIKE HIGHWAY SPEED. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BRING IT OFF CRUISE IS MANUALLY SHUT IT OFF THROUGH THE ON AND OFF SWITCH. NOW AT AVOIDING A ACCIDENT THE FIRST THING YOU DO HIT THE BRAKE I DON'T I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SHUT IT OFF MANUALLY AT THE TIME OF A ACCIDENT WHEN THEIR UNDER PRESSURE OF A ACCIDENT AND HAVE TIME TO THE BURN OUT FUSE CAN HAPPEN FROM A SHORT THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE VEHICLE ELECTRIC OR A SHORT IN A THE TOWING OBJECT. THIS HAPPENED YEARS AGO WITH ME BUT WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE THAT HAS HAPPEN RECENT MADE ME THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN TO ME. AND

20100228VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

IT'S NOT GEARED TO ANY MANUFACTURE BECAUSE ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN WORK THE SAME WAY. THIS PERTAINING TO CRUISE CONTROL. THEIR IS ONLY TWO WAYS TO SHUT IT OFF. THE ONE WAY YOU SHUT IT OFF IS TO HIT THE BRAKES LIKE IF YOU HAVE STOP FAST TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS IF THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE IS BLOWN IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF THE CRUISE AND YOU ARE FIGHTING THE BRAKE WITH THE ENGINE REVVING AT A HIGHER RATE LIKE HIGHWAY SPEED. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BRING IT OFF CRUISE IS MANUALLY SHUT IT OFF THROUGH THE ON AND OFF SWITCH. NOW AT AVOIDING A ACCIDENT THE FIRST THING YOU DO HIT THE BRAKE I DON'T I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD SHUT IT OFF MANUALLY AT THE TIME OF A ACCIDENT WHEN THEIR UNDER PRESSURE OF A ACCIDENT AND HAVE TIME TO THE BURN OUT FUSE CAN HAPPEN FROM A SHORT THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE VEHICLE ELECTRIC OR A SHORT IN A THE TOWING OBJECT. THIS HAPPENED YEARS AGO WITH ME BUT WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE THAT HAS HAPPEN RECENT MADE ME THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN TO ME. AND

20090601SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

BROKEN DRIVERS COIL SPRING. *TR

Mileage: 60

Compare 1994FORDTAURUS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 FORD TAURUS have?
The 1994 FORD TAURUS has 1284 NHTSA complaints, 69 crashes, 25 fires, 52 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 FORD TAURUS?
The most-complained component for the 1994 FORD TAURUS is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 202 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1994 FORD TAURUS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.