Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Ford Taurus, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling289
- Power train269
- Electrical system81
- Structure64
- Vehicle speed control61
- Service brakes, hydraulic52
- Exterior lighting50
- Fuel system, gasoline48
- Suspension44
- Air bags38
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 42 injuries and 3 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 1994 Taurus vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1994 Ford Taurus failed the safety check 0.75% of the time — 44% less often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 87,466 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1994 Ford Taurus.
| 1998250 22 Dec 1998 | Steering On certain vehicles located in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador, the lower sub frame mou… |
| 1998019 29 Jan 1998 | Lights And Instruments THE HEADLIGHTS MAY FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING DUE TO OVERHEATING. EXTENDED CYCLING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER … |
| 1997071 2 Apr 1997 | Electrical VEHICLES WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES THAT WERE INVOLVED IN SAFETY RECALL 95S22 (95-202) WERE MODIFIED WITH A MAXI-FUSE THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE THE INTENDED LEVEL OF PR… |
| 1997060 20 Mar 1997 | Engine DIRECT WATER SPRAY OR LONG TERM WET DRIVING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE WATER TO ACCUMULATE IN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. UNDER COLD CONDITIONS THIS WATER COULD… |
| 1995202 15 Nov 1995 | Electrical NOTE: 1992-94 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 3.0 LITRE ENGINES; 1994-95 TAURUS/SABLE (EXCEPT SHO) WITH 3.0 LITRE ENGINES; 1992-93 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES; 1992-94… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGNIA, AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR LOWER SUBFRAME MOUNT PLATE NUT CAN EXPERIENCE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IF SUBJECTED TO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALTS. THIS CAN RESULT IN FRACTURE AND LOSS OF THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT ATTACHMENT. DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WATER CAN ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT. IF ENOUGH WATER ACCUMULATES, IT COULD FREEZE WITHIN A LOW AREA OF THE CABLE ROUTING WHEN EXPOSED TO A LONG TERM COLD SOAK AT TEMPERATURES AT LEAST SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1994 Ford Taurus: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636080 | TRANSFER SERVICE TIPS FOR THE FRONT WIPER MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET AND DEPRESSED PARK OUTPUT ARM. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 625888 | INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM. *YH |
| 625878 | INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM. *YH |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622665 | ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT |
| 619293 | INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL PARTS REQUIRED WHEN REPLACING TRANSFER CASE ON VEHICLES EQUIPPPED WITH AX4S TRANSAXLE. *TT |
| 618535 | INFORMATION REGARDING PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS. *JB |
| 618077 | SUBJECT REGARDING REMANUFACTURED AX4S SHO TRANSAXLES BUILT WITH A UNIQUE TRIPLE CLUTCH PACK ASSEMBLY AND DRIVEN SPROCKET SUPPORT. *TT |
| 617878 | SUBJECT REGARDING FLEX FUEL VECHICLE OIL AND FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS. *JB |
| 616508 | SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *TT |
| 615471 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SPEEDOMETER POINTER WAIVER CONCERN. *TT |
| 615396 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SPEEDOMETER POINTER WIVER CONCERN. *TT |
| 615282 | SOME FLEX FUEL VEHICLES WITH PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FUEL SENDERS MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR THAT STAYS AT APPROXIMATELY << TANK. *TT |
| 615201 | SOME FLEX FUEL VEHICLES WITH PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FUEL SENDERS MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR THAT STAYS AT APPROXIMATELY << TANK. *TT |
| 613867 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMERS WITH PRIOR AFTER WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT (AWA) HEAD GASKET REPAIR. *TT |
| 613563 | IMPORTANT RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. *TT |
| 613334 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE OVERDRIVE NOT ENGAGING WHICH IS RELATED TO NO TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT IN COLD WEATHER. *TT |
| 613327 | EXPERIENCING A SQUEAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES ON SOME VEHICLES WHEN BRAKING. *TT |
| 613324 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE THE AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC LIGHT FLASHING. *TT |
| 613234 | INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. *MJS |
| 613084 | VEHICLES WITH THE AX4S TRANSAXLE HAVE AN INLINE TRANSMISSION COOLER BYPASS VALVE LOCATED IN THE COOLER LINE NEAR THE RADIATOR COOLER. *MJS |
| 613061 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SPEEDOMETER POINTER WAVER. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING
ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation