Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while traveling 65 MPH, flames emitted from the hood, covering the windshield. The coolant warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic who confirmed hat the radiator and electronic wiring harness needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired and the VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 19,000.
While driving at 40 MPH smoke started coming from the hood. A passing motorist noticed fire under consumer's vehicle and warned them. Seconds after consumer pulled over and existed the vehicle, it exploded. Consumer felt fire was related to the engine cooling fan as stated in recall 01 I 011 000, but consumer never received notification. The manufacturer claimed the recall letter was mailed out.
The vehicle caught on fire while parked in the driveway. The fire originated from the engine compartment, mostly on the left side. There were engine components lying on the driveway. (some of the wires were melted) there was a recall on the cooling fan #97V019000. Water was found in the trunk.
A/C: compressor clutch came apart exhaust: due to heat and corrosion cat converter flange became so thin it was impossible to seal exhaust. Act converter replaced under 8/80 emmissions warranty. Paint: cracks in paint developed above rear wheel (sheet metal flexing?) allowing moisture in causing corrosion and paint to lift. Front springs: both front springs broke nearly puncturing the right front tire. No help from Ford. Seems they have a history of bad spring problems. 93 Taurus recall #98v-094, windstar recall 01v-199, contour recall 01v-255. They have extended the warranty on front springs for the 2000 Ford focus for 10 years or 150,000 miles because of this problem. I didn't even know the springs were broken. Dealer brought it to my attention while in for A/C repair. Had the spring punctured the tire at highway speed the result could have been catastropic. …
Was driving vehicle when I experienced ax extreme overheating condition. Over course of less than 2 minutes time my vehicles temperature guague progressed from the very bottom of the normal range all the way up past the red zone above normal. At time of occurence it was a cold day outside and I was less then 5 miles from my house having driven vehicle less than 10 minutes so I was fairly certain external factors could not have explained this degree of rapid engine overheating. This overheating was accompanied by excessive amounts of thick white billowing smoke exiting from my exhaust pipe (severe to the point it was impossible to see out my rearview mirror. Upon getting the car back to my house and allowing it to cool off I inspected the radiator and found it totally void of coolant and preceeded to refill it with over 6 liters of replacement fluid. …
1995 Ford Taurus 3.8l station wagon with only 28,000 miles on it blew the head gasket. Today, February 15, 2008 we called bob davidson Ford in towson, Ford customer service, and Ford executive offices, who all say they will not give any assistance to fix the problem because of the age of the car. It does not matter how old the car is, it only has 28,000 miles on it and this is a known problem with the car. Ford should pay to fix the car or give some decent sort of allowance to help cover the cost of the repair. It has been regularly over the years, generally several times a week, but not far, because the owner is elderly. If it was driven by a younger person, the problem would have shown up years ago, well within the 7 year warranty Ford gave for this problem under Ford service campaign 00m09. We want Ford motor to pay for this repair. …
Tl contact owns a 1995 Ford Taurus. While driving 15-20 MPH, the contact heard a loud clunking noise underneath the hood and a loss of steering. The engine fell and landed on the steering rods, which made it extremely impossible to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent dealer and they confirmed that the damage was not worth the repair, and would not recommend investing money into the vehicle. A week prior to the failure, the independent mechanic at a local midas installed a new muffler. There were several recalls listed for that year, make, and model vehicle and Ford was notified. The contact was informed that there was only one recall for the year, make, and model vehicle, but in reality, there were six. Ford also stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under recall on October 6, 1999. …
1. The engine problem was a blown head gasket 2. The transmission problem was a planetary gear meltdown. I replaced the planetary gearset and the fiber parts, plates and seals. I also installed an axod dam kit made by shift technology products to increase the lubrication to the planetaries. Unfortunately, the transmission still has the same delayed shifts from second to third and third to fourth and a delayed and harsh third to second downshift that it always had (it was my wifes car when I met her and it had 30000 miles on it at that time). 3. Runs on the hot side even after the head gasket change. I've replaced the thermostat seeveral times and the water pump once and the radiator once. I finally removed the thermostat and let it run without one and the gage will still run in the middle. Also, the cooling fan works.
Car stalled on freeway then when finally got it started and exited freeway at the very next exit, car stalled again. This time when the car started it also caught on fire underneath the hood. Pulled into very first parking lot (approx 100ft) car stalled again but by now was completely engulfed in flames under the hood. I exited vehicle immediately and called fire dept. Car was a complete loss. Several weeks to a month after loss of car, I received a recall notice for the car. Apparently there was a defective engine cooling fan that could cause a fire underneath the hood. My car is gone. What do I do? Ford is responsible. How do I get reimbursed for my car. I am not looking for a handout. I just want what my car was worth, not to mention my time and trouble.
1995 Taurus fire started under the hood. The consumer was driving the vehicle when black smoke started emitting from under the hood. The consumer managed to pull over before the vehicle became totally engulfed in flames. The consumer searched the internet and found out that her vehicle had been recalled for a faulty cooling fan which could result in a fire. The consumer contacted the manufacturer and was informed that her vehicle was included in the recall. The consumer was never notified of the recall. The manufacturer inspected the vehicle to see if the fire was caused by the cooling fan. The dealer was unable to determine the cause because the engine compartment was so badly damaged therefore they provided the consumer with no assistance.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
Vehicle description: taurus/sable vehicles equipped with 3.0l and 3.8l engines and mustang vehicles with 3.8l and 5.0l engines. It is possible for the engine cooling fan bearing to seize.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine cooling fan assembly and install a circuit breaker. If the cooling fan is inoperative, the fan and motor assembly will be replaced. Owner notification began December 28, 2001.
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
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…
Remedy: Dealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.
NHTSA investigations
Engine cooling fan fires
In December 1995, Ford recalled 119,313 vehicles in Canada to remedy the subject condition in certain 1992-95 taurus, sable, tempo, topaz and continental vehicles.Ford is aware of similar incidents occurring in northern regions of the united states, but maintains that the frequencies do not warrant a finding of an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.
Engine cooling fan fires
There is no summary currently available
Engine complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1995 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 355 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1995 Ford Taurus, 29% of the model year's 1,205 complaints. The component named most often is engine (141 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Taurus engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-390 (fan, Dec 21, 2001); NHTSA recall 97V-019 (fan, Feb 25, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Taurus engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 28 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.