Ford Taurus 2000–2007
4th generation (D186)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20268,142 complaints, 6,212 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,100 and 110,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 73 complaints (1.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 34,101
- 25%
- 55,100
- Median
- 80,000
- 75%
- 110,000
- 90%
- 140,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 117 | 1.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 38 | 0.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 58 | 0.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 75 | 1.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 94 | 1.5% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 93 | 1.5% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 155 | 2.5% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 139 | 2.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 245 | 3.9% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 218 | 3.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 265 | 4.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 264 | 4.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 292 | 4.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 326 | 5.2% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 321 | 5.2% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 338 | 5.4% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 285 | 4.6% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 278 | 4.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 266 | 4.3% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 250 | 4.0% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 321 | 5.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 215 | 3.5% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 159 | 2.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 162 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 190 | 3.1% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 132 | 2.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 164 | 2.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 103 | 1.7% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 126 | 2.0% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 75 | 1.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 72 | 1.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 45 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 66 | 1.1% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 51 | 0.8% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 32 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 36 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 30 | 0.5% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 19 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 7 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 17 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 73 | 1.2% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 8,142 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2007 Ford Taurus, and 6,212 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,100 and 110,000 miles. The median is 80,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the suspension (30.6% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), throttle and speed control (16.0% of complaints, typically around 98,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (9.5% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles).
What fails, and when
- Suspension80,000median 80,000 miles, middle half 59,000 to 103,000
- Throttle and speed control98,000median 98,000 miles, middle half 71,000 to 125,000
- Transmission and driveline86,000median 86,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 114,000
- Visibility equipment57,000median 57,061 miles, middle half 41,000 to 83,000
- Engine and its cooling system69,000median 68,800 miles, middle half 42,000 to 89,000
- Electrical system75,000median 75,000 miles, middle half 44,000 to 110,000
- Airbag system64,000median 64,000 miles, middle half 39,000 to 95,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 2,495 | 30.6% | 80,000 | 59,000–103,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 1,300 | 16.0% | 98,000 | 71,000–125,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 772 | 9.5% | 86,000 | 60,000–114,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 432 | 5.3% | 57,000 | 41,000–83,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 395 | 4.9% | 69,000 | 42,000–89,000 |
| Electrical system | 358 | 4.4% | 75,000 | 44,000–110,000 |
| Airbag system | 332 | 4.1% | 64,000 | 39,000–95,000 |
| Body structure | 301 | 3.7% | 69,000 | 47,000–106,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 279 | 3.4% | 44,000 | 21,000–77,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 220 | 2.7% | 86,000 | 50,000–120,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 80,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The suspension accounts for 30.6% of complaints (2,495 reports, 2,172 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,337 and 103,000 miles.
A single system taking 30.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 16.0% of complaints (1,300 reports, 1,081 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 98,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 71,000 and 125,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.5% of complaints (772 reports, 635 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,800 and 114,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 5.3% of complaints (432 reports, 318 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,061 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,400 and 82,555 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 4.9% of complaints (395 reports, 245 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,800 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 89,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 4.4% of complaints (358 reports, 264 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,076 and 110,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2002 model year drew the most — 1,759 complaints — while 2007 drew the fewest at 196. The median year sits at 1,134.
Recalls and what they cover
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Reported severity
Of the 8,142 complaints filed against this generation, 581 reported a crash; 125 reported a fire; 455 reported an injury; 15 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 55,100 and 110,000 miles, with a median of 80,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the suspension and throttle and speed control are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The suspension in particular shows a median failure mileage of 80,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission (ax4n / 4f50n) 2000–2007
Continued torque-converter, input-shaft and forward-clutch failures producing loss of drive; the AX4N pattern carries directly over from the DN101.
Suspension 2000–2003
Front coil springs fracture from corrosion and the broken end can puncture the tire, causing loss of control. Subject of NHTSA recall action on salt-belt Taurus and Sable cars of the early 2000s.
Engine (3.0l Vulcan) 2000–2007
Head gasket and intake manifold gasket failures with coolant loss.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,497 | 736 |
| 2001 | 1,264 | 829 |
| 2002 | 1,759 | 1,518 |
| 2003 | 1,524 | 1,294 |
| 2004 | 482 | 403 |
| 2005 | 1,005 | 907 |
| 2006 | 415 | 354 |
| 2007 | 196 | 171 |
What owners reported
Re: recall of 2000 Ford Taurus se VIN [xxx]. Govt required recall for faulty car springs did not work. I went to Ford dealer in ri (paul bailey Ford (now flood Ford) for your recall 04v332000 - described below. The dealer put shields over front springs. Ford should have also replaced the springs at that time, but…
2000 · 500 miles · Suspension
The air bag light appeared on the dashboard until the vehicle was turned off. The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer for analysis and the mechanic noticed that air bag module needed replacement. *Ak the air bag light would come on when the vehicle was started and the vehicle lost all electrical power.…
2000 · 11,000 miles · Airbag system
Dt*: the contact stated while having the vehicle's tires rotated by an independent repair shop, it was noticed that both rear coil springs were fractured. The contact was unsure how long the coil springs were fractured. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined that they would consult with a Ford…
2000 · 12,000 miles · Suspension
While pulling away from my driveway the front left coil spring broke and severed the tire. Car had to be towed to dealer. Took one week to repair. If i were drivning at high speed when the spring broke i probably would have ended up crashing the car. Given the number of problems that have occurred and are occurring…
2000 · 12,000 miles · Suspension
Built from 6,212 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page