Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was involved in a one car accident with some stone guard rails on route 18 north in eatontown, new jersey. My seat belt release on impact and sent me flying to the passenger side of the car on top of my boyfriend. Also the air bags never deployed. And we hit the gurad rails at 65 MPH. I would like to hear something back from someone at the Ford headquarters. Because my boyfriend and I could hav lost ours lives due to the defects of this car. The car is totaled out. Andmy boyfriend only walked away with a bruised shoulder and whiplash, while I on the other hand had a concussion, whiplash and various muscle strains. I thank my god .
The vehicle hydro planed while making a right turn at 40 MPH on a wet road. As a result the consumer lost control of the vehicle, and impacted a guard rail head on. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. The consumer sustained serious thumb injuries when it came in contact with the steering wheel, and required surgery. The vehicle was totaled.
Dt: the contact stated while driving at 70 MPH the contact's vehicle hit a retainer wall. The airbags did not deploy until the vehicle was completely stopped. The vehicle was totaled ,and is currently at a salvage yard. There has been no inspection to see why the airbags malfunctioned. A police report was taken at the scene.
Consumer states that when they were hit on the front passenger side of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. Dealer notified. The consumer was involved in a head on collision. Before the crash a complete repair kit was placed in the vehicle but the air bag failed to deploy.
While driving on a local street vehicle then remained standing at an intersection at a red light with two vehicles ahead. Another vehicle, traveling south bound on connecticut ave making a left turn onto van ness, was traveling too fast, lost control and side swiped the vehicle in front of consumer's vehicle, pushing it onto the sidewalk. A chain reaction started in which consumer's vehicle was hit head-on. Upon impact, passenger's side airbag deployed after the passenger hit the windshield, and the seat belt didn't lock in place. Contacted dealer.
Nar 3-10-03 information request on behalf of Ford motor companies about a complaint sent to them from the consumer about passenger side airbags coverage. Ford requested a written explanation to resolve matters. The consumer stated air bag deployed when the vehicle hit a pole traveling at 2- 25 MPH. During the process of repairing the air bag, the repair shop stated the passenger air bag did not deploy because it was defective.
The accident was at a very low speed (~15 MPH) and more damage and injury was caused by the air bags than by the crash. Only the front bumper of the car was damaged by the crash, yet the air bag shatterd the windshild and blew out the passenger side window. The driver and passenger suffered hearing loss, facial burns and glass cuts from the airbag deployment.
Consumer was traveling about 30mph on a side street, and there was another vehicle parked on side of road, and consumer's vehicle hit other vehicle from behind. Upon impact, driver's side airbag did not deploy.whenever the alternator gets wet the light gomes on and the power steering fails making it difficult to control the vehicle. Nlm
Dt: the contact stated when the vehicle was first started the air big light illuminated. The air bag light blinked four times and then went off for approximately three or four seconds. While the vehicle was running this pattern was repeated over and over. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the problem.
While driving at 50-55 MPH, consumer's vehicle was hit on the passenger side front near the fender head light. Upon impact, the air bags deployed. The air bags contained chemicals that burned both passenger/and owner on the face, and the others on their upper chest area.
Airbag complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Ford Taurus, 5% of the model year's 770 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (26 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford Taurus airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Ford Taurus, though it has 3 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 1997 Ford Taurus airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 25 crashes, 0 fires and 23 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags 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.