Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
This past Sunday, on June 11, 2017 I was driving home from a graduation party and there was a loud "pow" once I accelerated from a stop. My steering was very stiff (as if I was driving an ancient large truck with no power steering, also my exhaust system at least partially came undun. I was able to get the crippled car to our regular repair shop, who told me that I had a subframe rust-collapse. I had talked to a shadetree mechanic friend, who said that it wasn't an actual subframe collapse, but the next layer up, the engine cradle whose sleeves are no thicker steel than the unibody sheetmetal. One of the sleeves rusted through. Supposedly the engine cradle sleeves are removable/or the cradle itself. My mechanic friend and the tow fellow that brought my car back to my home, both said that what happened is quite rare, they never heard of such an incident. …
While driving at 65 miles an hour on a four lane state highway, my 1995 Ford Taurus 3.0 liter gl model 4 door sedan suddenly dropped into a lower gear causing the vehicle to act as if it had hit a rock wall. Whereas I had both hands on the steering wheel and an immediate look in the rear view mirror revealing no other vehicle behind us it only frightened me. My wife though who was seat belted in the front passenger seat was violently thrown forward causing tremendous stress on her lower back. After a visit to the local hospital an mri showed a ruptured lower lumbar disc that has since caused her left leg to become permanently paralyzed. After researching this phenomena with local mechanics and using the internet I have found that the Ford motor company has been aware of this problem for over a decade and continued to use this same transmission in several other models. …
Trans axle erratic shifting problem developed on my 1995 Taurus wagon. Intermittent problem with vehicle not upshifting on cold engine but will shift hard on warm engine. Also intermittent down shift while driving on downgrade and will down shift hard when coming to a stop. Speedometer failed at moment this problem started. Dealer replace small gear on end of speedometer cable and thought problem was also tied to a worn gear on end of cable in transmission. This repair would require a complete teardown of the transmission. Have driven car for approximately one month since repair of speedometer. Shifting problem is intermittent with no particular pattern. Strongly suspect problem also involves the electronic control in the car computer. …
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.
(auto description) 1995 Ford Taurus 3.0 liter engine with 45,000 miles. I am the original owner. (1) no event leading to failure. (2) transmission not functioning properly. Diagnostic test indicates #2 clutch failure. Long delay getting into drive from reverse. Car lurches upon start-up. Car does not shift properly from 2nd gear into 3rd gear. Transmission generally unreliable. Transmission has not completely failed yet. (3) had diagnostics performed. Recommended repair is to replace transmission at an approximate cost of $3,000. New transmission comes with a 3 yr/36,000 mile warranty. Mechanic did not recommend having repair done as repair cost approximately equal to value of car with working transmission.
1995 Ford Taurus,fan motor froze, Ford said they will only replace circuit breaker but not the fan which is now froze up again due to mileage (142,000). I've replaced motor no less than three times since 1997 before finding out about recall. Also I've replaced a rear motor mount two to four times since 1997. A recall on this vehicle bought or built in certain other states have recalls on what sounds to be this same problem causes engine and transmission to fall causing accident. Ford will not fix. Could I get help from you in order to get Ford to repair their defective products. [redacted]
The transmission drops out of gear at stop lights/signs. You do not know this has happened until you try to move forward and the car will not move. The transmission will engaged several seconds after you apply the throttle, resulting in a hard shift into gear. Ford knows about this problem, and issued a TSB 98-3-7. This has resulted in one incident at a stop light where the car to the rear hit of our car, at less than 5mph, because we could not get the car to move forward. The car is currently at capital Ford, in raleigh nc, and they are rebuilding the transmission at this time. The service manager feels that the TSB is only part of the problem.
Transmission failure @ 83,000 miles, common with Ford taraus vehicles. Ford was unable to repair for 14 days, at any of the 5 dealerships local to charlotte. The repaired transmission failed. Then the Ford warrantied transmission, replaced 7/11/03, failed 400 miles later (36,000 mile warranty), because the fluid had leaked out! Quality of the OEM product is acutely in question, while workmanship and service are horrible. Incident date is the first transmission failure.
Transmission failed. Part had been rebuilt; however problem still exists. One part in the transmission was engineered improperly. The transmission piston which creates hydraulic pressure was made of aluminum. The replacement part is made of cast iron and won't break or fatigue like the aluminum one. This could create a accident when pulling out into traffic and the transmission fails to shift gears.
Transmission disengages/slips when vehicle comes to a stop, like when trying to merge into traffic. Transmission jumps into gear abruptly after excellerator pedal is pressed hard. This failure caused a traffic accident and injury with this owner when trying to merge onto a highway. This complaint is being repeated over and over on this web site. How many people must be injured before action is taken?
Transmission complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1995 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 394 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1995 Ford Taurus, 33% of the model year's 1,205 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (126 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Taurus transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1995 Ford Taurus, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Taurus transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.