Most common 1999 Ford Taurus SHO problems
Share of the 21 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Taurus SHO complaints by model year
Best Taurus SHO years: 1995, 1998. Years to avoid: 1997, 1999. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Ford Taurus SHO:
Front suspension coil spring fracture
Odi possesses 130 vehicle owners questionnaires (voq) alleging front suspension coil spring failure in the subject (model year 1999-2000) vehicles.an additional 11 voqs concerning my 2001 vehicles have been found, bringing the total to 141.more than 75% of these reports allege that the broken spring damaged or punctured the adjacent tire.all of these reports originated in the salt belt states located in the…
What 1999 Ford Taurus SHO owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl 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.
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. …
Suspension
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.
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. Recall campaign. As of 01/04/2005 dealer does not have the correct parts to repair the vehicle according to the recall.
1999 Ford Taurus SHO engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Ford Taurus SHO a good car?
Based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Taurus SHO rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Taurus SHO at the same age. It is one of the Taurus SHO years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Ford Taurus SHO?
The engine & cooling — 11 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the suspension (4) and speed control & acceleration (2).
How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Taurus SHO have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Ford Taurus SHO. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Taurus SHO?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997 and 1999. See the full Ford Taurus SHO years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Taurus SHO problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.