Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
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 own a 1997 Ford Taurus wagon. Emphasis on wagon. It has the same frame as the windstar vans and I have the same problem. My engineer husband, who spent years in the auto industry, will not allow me to drive the car as, 'the car is going to break in half when you are driving down the road.' I had it towed to our local repair shop and they verified the same. I called the Ford recall department in detroit after seeing the windstar recall on the local news. Ford told me to have it fixed and save the slip in case a few years from now it was part of a recall I might be able to be reimbursed. This repair is thousands of dollars. I am on chemo with a co-pay of $3102.98 and fifteen doses to go. I can either not live and buy a car or live and not have a car. After explaining this to the Ford rep I was told to contact you. …
Ford has not included the 97 Taurus wagon-we have in the front end et. Motor cradle, frame failure, in the recall, they have years both sides. I have lost all trade in value on this veh. And it could have been very dangerous, had it not happened in my driveway-- the frame on both sides failed and the car can not be driven, if this had happened on the open road it would have been a disaster/ steering would have been impossible-- they are getting away with this, just by limiting the years covered-- it is happening to all Taurus' with the same front frame prob. It has cost me a very good car with only 80K miles on it, and made it impossible to get a trade on a new veh. I still have the car in my yard for inspection, if anyone is interested,which I doubt. I can't afford to get an attorney to fight this, and I think there are many other users in the same boat- poss. …
Dt*: the contact stated while driving the vehicle there was a clinking sound that could be heard coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to Firestone were they found the problem to be the subframe had rusted and broken. The vehicle was then taken to the dealership upon inspection the dealership determined the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle is now parked and no repairs have been made. The manufacturer has been alerted. Updated 3/9/2006 -
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the a frame sheared off and landed on top of the steering box, causing steering loss. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was told that the a frame was completely rusted. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 135,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that during an inspection, the dealer diagnosed that the frame on the base was rusted, deeming the vehicle as unsafe to drive and non-repairable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 81,540. Updated 02/09/12 updated 03/16/12
The dashboard is separating in layers from the frame of the instrument panel. There is TSB 00203 concerning this problem. Also, the consumer is having problems with the ABS light coming on and staying on.
While the consumer was inspecting his vehicle, he found the subframe has rusted out. The consumer contacted the dealer and the manufacturer. Both confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under a recall.
Vehicle started making a "popping" noise (similar to knuckles being cracked) everytime a low speed turn to either side was made. Sound seemed to be coming from directly under the passenger compartment. Noise occurred predominantly when the car had been sitting out in the hot sun or when it had been running and was hot. Would not happen in coolness of the morning. Two attempts to pinpoint the problem by a Ford dealer resulted in them having no idea what was causing it. The third time a mechanic drove it and pinpointed the "subframe insulators". They ordered new ones, installed them and charged me for it. Now less than 2 weeks later, the noise is starting again. Same location. …
While applying the brakes from between 65 to 45 MPH there is a serious shaking felt through the steering wheel and column. There is also a problem with the automatic door locks not working when the car is put into motion. That really concerns me having three small children. The interior dome light also doesn't shut off as it should.
Clear coat finish was bubbling and pealing off. 1997 Ford Taurus experiencing problems with the body paint bubbling up and peeling off. Consumer is concerned about the appearance of the vehicle as well as the rust that will develop on vehicle in the spots where the paint is gone.
Body complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1997 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the body & structure of the 1997 Ford Taurus, 3% of the model year's 770 complaints. The component named most often is frame and members (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford Taurus body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure 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 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 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.