1999 Ford Taurus Sho

Routine

Owners filed 21 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine5
010
Engine and Engine Cooling4
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
204
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Fan/Motor1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module1
000
Seat Belts › Rear/Other1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads16E026000
Filed Apr 1, 201649,635 vehiclesRobert Bosch Llc

Defect. Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.

Risk. A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Rear
Filed Sep 25, 2009200,000 milesIA

1999 FORD TAURUS REAR STRUT SPRINGS BROKEN. BOTH REAR STRUT SPRINGS HAVE BROKE ON THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THIS CAN CAUSE TIRE FAILURE IF SPRING PUNCTURES TIRE. I DID NOT KNOW OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL HAD THE CAR EVALUATED BY SERVICE STATION. $500 TO FIX IT, HAVEN'T FIX IT YET, AND THEREFORE CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING DRIVEN AS IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Fan/Motor
Filed Dec 2, 2007OH

BLOWER MOTOR FAILED DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN. COUNTLESS OTHER FORDS WITH THIS PROBLEM REPORTED ONLINE ALSO. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Sep 24, 2007126,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND BLACK SMOKE ROSE FROM THE ENGINE. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED. BEFORE HE REACHED THE FREEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Jun 11, 2007114,500 milesFL

THE "ABS" LIGHT ON MY CAR (1999 FORD TAURUS SHO )CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, SUN STATE FORD, AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT ABS MODULE (PART#F8DZ2C219DA). I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT THE PART WAS OBSOLETE AND UNAVAILABLE. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS...EACH TIME THEY EMAILED ME A DIFFERENT "OBSOLETE PARTS VENDOR TO CONTACT...EACH TIME TO NO AVAIL. ON 6/5, IN THEIR FINAL RESPONSE TO ME, FORD INDICATED THAT THEY FELT THEY HAD RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY AND WOULD DO NOTHING ELSE TO HELP. IN THE MEANTIME, THE ABS ON MY CAR STILL DOES NOT WORK AND I AM NO CLOSER TO A RESOLUTION. THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT I FEEL FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Apr 24, 200678,228 milesMA

DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN WHICH I LIVE GOING 30 MPH, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. MY 11 YEAR OLD WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. SUDDENLY THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AFTER I TAPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE MORE I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE THE FASTER THE CAR WOULD SPEED GOING FROM 30 MPH TO 70 MPH. I FLEW THROUGH A STOP SIGN ONTO A HEAVILY TRAVELED TRUCK ROUTE SLAMMING INTO A KIA SUV. THE OTHER PASSENGER BROKE RIBS, A DOG WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE WAS THE CRASH ITSELF SPINNING MY CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. A TOTAL NIGHTMARE! BOTH CARS WERE DECLARED TOTALED. POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE AND I WAS NOT CITED. MY CAR WAS TOWED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. COURT CASE PENDING FOR SURCHARGE. *JB

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Apr 18, 2006MA

DRIVING MY CAR DOWN THE STREET IN WHICH I LIVE WITH CHILD IN BACK SEAT. I TAPPED THE BRAKE TO PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FROM 30 MPH TO 60 MPH IN SECONDS. MY INTENTION WAS TO PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY BUT CAR TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET AND ACCELERATED INTO A HEAVY TRUCK ROUTE GOING THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND COULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF AND THE OTHER VEHICLE. MY TAURUS SPUN OUT OF CONTROL FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE COLLISION STOPPED THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING. THE OTHER VEHICLE PASSENGER HAD BROKEN RIBS, BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED. POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE AND TOWED CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS NOT CITED, OBVIOUS MALFUNCTION OF CAR. A HEARING IS PENDING DUE TO INSURANCE SURCHARGE. THESE CARS ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND A FORD TAURUS TO ANYONE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Nov 18, 200599,990 milesMA

THE REAR EXHAUST SPROCKET ON THE CAMSHAFT OF MY 1999 FORD TAURUS SHO CAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE VALVES TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE PISTONS. THIS IS NOT A RARE OCCURENCE EITHER. MANY CASES OF THIS ARE BEING DOCUMENTED ON A WEBSITE CALLED WWW.V8SHO.COM. *NM

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Jun 15, 2005101,000 milesWI

THE POWER STEERING ON MY CAR IS COMPLETELY SHOT. WE'VE REPLACE THE PUMP AND EXAMINED THE HOSE/LINES WITH NO SUCCESS. I'M AM ONLY ABLE TO STEER MY CAR WITH MUCH EFFORT. TURNING OR SWERVING QUICKLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT NUMEROUS FORD TAURAUS'S HAVE SUFFERD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MANUFACTUER DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 28, 200566,985 milesNC

EXPERIENCED A CAMSHAFT RELATED ENGINE FAILURE AT 70 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE. VEHICLE HAD TO TAKE EMERGENCY ACTION TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND NO POWER ASSIST WAS AVAILABLE TO BRAKES OR STEERING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN OPERATING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING AND 1 HOUR OF HIGHWAY SPEEDS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SHOWED ME THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE EXACT SAME CONDITION REPORTED ON WWW.V8SHO.COM. THERE OVER 530 DOCUMENTED CASES OF CAMSHAFT TO SPROCKET SPLEEN FAILURES WHERE THE PISTONS THEN IMPACT STATIONARY VALVES AND DESTROY THE MOTOR. THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED I CONTACT FORD ENGINEERING TO ADVISE THEM OF THE FAILURE SINCE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A MAINTENANCE OR WEAR RELATED ISSUE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A JUNK YARD MOTOR AT A COST OF OVER $6000 SINCE THE PISTONS AND VALVES HAD DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO SERVICE BULLETINS, CONTACT FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO NEW FACTORY ENGINES AVAILABLE AND 3RD PARTY MOTORS WERE TWICE THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR.*AK PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS ENGINEERING FLAW. THIS FAILURE IS A CATASTROPHIC ONE THAT DESTROYS AN ENGINE AND IS CERTAINLY SOLVABLE IF ADDRESSED EARLY ENOUGH. MY FAMILY WAS MOST FORTUNATE THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 28, 200589,515 milesMA

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE PRODUCES A TICKING NOISE. DEALER STATES THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 15, 200549,907 milesNC

OIL PAN GASKET HAS SLIPPED OUT AT THE SAME SPOT,UNDER THE PULLEY. THERE IS NO BOLTS IN THE CURVE UNDER THE PULLEY, TO HOLD THE GASKET IN PLACE. *NM

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jan 14, 2005OH

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V332000 IN JULY 2004. FORD HAS ISSUED A FRONT COIL SPRINGS RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN ORDER TO REPAIR. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN. AS OF 01/04/2005 DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. *TC

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Dec 10, 200440,000 milesPA

CONSUMER'S REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. CONSUMER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY REAR SEAT PASSENGERS. *AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Dec 10, 2004NY

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V332000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04S17 CONCERNING COIL SPRINGS AROUND AUGUST 2004. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE UNTIL MANUFACTURER SEND OUT PARTS IN DECEMBER. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 4, 200460 milesMA

IT IS A KNOWN FACT, TO FORD AND THEIR DEALERS, THAT THE 1996 THROUGH 1999 FORD TAURUS V8 SHO HAVE DEFECTIVE CAM SHAFTS. WHY HASN'T ANTHING BEEN DONE TO PROTECT THE DRIVING PUBLIC FROM THIS MENACE. GO TO THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE. *AK HTTP://AUTO.COM/INDUSTRY/TAURUS24_20021024.HTM MY SON WAS DRIVING A 1999 FORD TAURUS V8 SHO WHEN THE CAMSHAFT FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD HE WAS NOT HURT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MORE LIKELY THOUSANDS OF FORD TAURUS V8 SHO CARS WITH DANGEROUS CAMSHAFT DEFECTS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 15, 200467,000 milesMI

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A TICKING NOISE, THEN A BACKFIRE AND THE CAR DIED. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD AND THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO PUT IN A USED ENGINE. THEY SAY THAT THE REAR HEAD, ALL THE VALVES ARE STUCK OPEN, BUT THEY DIDN'T GO ANY FUTHER TO TELL ME WHY.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 27, 2004NC

I AM THE OWNER OF A 99 TAURUS SHO. VIN#[XXX]. I LEARNED ONLY RECENTLY OF THE CAM GEARS SPINNING FREELY AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. I AM FORKING OUT OVER FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS OF MY MONEY TO HAVE THE GEARS WELDED TO THE CAMS. WHILE I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY INJURIES THE POTENTIAL IS THERE. IMAGINE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND HAVING YOUR ENGINE FAIL. NO POWER STEERING NO BRAKES. IT COULD BE FATAL. THERE ARE NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS AT WWW.V8SHO.COM. AND THE NUMBERS ARE RISING, BETWEEN 7- AND 12 PER MONTH. THESE ARE JUST THE ONES BEING REPORTED. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY MORE THERE ARE. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN THE ENGINE DAMAGE IS CATASTROPHIC AND REPAIR BILLS ARE IN EXCESS OF THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS AND HELP. I UNDERSTAND A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT HAS BEEN FILED BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM NOR ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jan 18, 200466,000 milesNY

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FROZEN CAM SHAFT DUE TO FAULTY PRESS FIT CAM CONTAINER REPORTED ON 30% OF YAMAHA BUILT FORD TAURUS SHO V8 ENGINES (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) BUILT BETWEEN 1996 & 1999. * CB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 15, 200378,267 milesCT

I WAS MAKING A TURN FROM A MAIN STREET ONTO A SIDE ROAD WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK MAKING THE SAME TURN. THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE THE TIMING GEAR ON ONE OF THE INTAKE CAMSHAFTS SHEARED OFF OF THE SHAFT. THIS DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996-1999 FORD SHO'S.*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Mar 25, 2003NY

THE FRONT SPRINGS BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSED. *JB

20 of 21 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
1999 — this page21110Routine
199810100Routine
199730120Routine
199624100Routine
19959310Routine
199411250Routine
199314220Routine
19923000Routine
19911000Routine
19904000Routine

Compare every Taurus Sho year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 1, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.