Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the service engine soon light illuminated on the instrument panel. A mechanic replaced the oxygen sensor; however, the light still illuminated. The contact was informed that there was a misfire on the #6 cylinder. In addition, there was a lot of smoke when the vehicle was started. He took the vehicle to a mechanic and they stated that the possible cause of the failure was antifreeze entering the motor. The mechanic also suggested that there was a potential issue with the head gasket, which would cost between $1,500-$2,500 to repair. Also, the vehicle would not decelerate if the contact removed her foot from the accelerator pedal; therefore, he would have to apply the brakes instead. The mechanic informed him that the vehicle would coast due to the cruise control. …
Dt: on 06/13/05 car caught on fire in the garage. When driver was turning on the car smoke came from under the hood. Driver told her husband, and as husband came out to the vehicle, he saw flames coming from cracks in the hood. By the time the fire department arrived the garage was on fire along with two other garages, on left and right side. There was an arson investigator, who reported that it was due to the fuel system. The sheriffs department of lakewood issued report # 105-15803-1331-445. The fire department investigator located out of newhall owner has the phone number and names of the investigators.
1999 Ford Taurus is suffering from electrical problems. The vehicle would shut off with no warning, the locks on both doors were off and would have to be played with to get them to open at times, the headlights were inoperative, also the dash lights were inoperative behind the gas gauge/radio/heating/ac/clock/and speedometer, the RPM gauge was delayed at start, the passenger door made noises when opened and closed, the wipers were intermittent, the turn signals were intermittent, the brake light had come on, the vehicle would not start in the morning but would start at night, the vehicle was sluggish and had poor gas mileage. The vehicle was taken in due to defective relays which were replaced. The VIN# on the vehicle and the VIN# on the sticker were different.
While driving at 20 MPH consumer heard a noise near the engine compartment, and it became hard to steer. Consumer took the vehicle home and called a mechanic. The mechanic examined the vehicle and determined that power steering pump needed to be replaced. Fuel pump had been replaced four times since ownership of the vehicle.
Fuel pump failure. 2 times. First time after 3 hours I was able to get car home. 2 ed time I had to have it towed to dealer. Bill was over $ 600.00 with towing. Call to Ford 800# listed on this site and they said no recall and no recourse as of now..
I am unable to fill the car with gas. I took the car to the dealer lafres Ford first appointment on 6/21/01. The dealer asked me to take the car at the end of the day. They order a part which is not on stock. I was told to slowly fill with gas. Will contact me when they receive the part. When I took the car to fill it, it took me over half an hour for half tank 'extremely slow'. After contacting them the following week, I got an appointment to replace the part for 7/2/01. I left them the car for this part and also for 15,000 miles service. I picked the car at 2:30 p.m. And the invoice showed replacement part 'xf1z-9034-aa' pipe assy-fuel. When I went to fill the car with gas I experienced the same thing. I took tha car back to the dealer after 5 minutes. I was told that they have to consult engineering an Ford for authorization to replace the gas tank. …
Problems with car since day one. Began with wipers turning on by themselves, spoke to mechanic, said it was nothing to worry about. Then the car kept refusing to switch gears (second to third), the speedometer would quit and car died on side of road several times. Along with this problem, the brakes squealed very loud. Called dealer, would not help, sent me to Ford dealer (dave goulds). Replaced speed sensor, scraped "rust" off brakes and said they May continue to squeal, they do! The car picks up speed from no where, specially when coming from a stop. Very scarey, refuse to let my daughter drive because of it. Now the power steering is making a horrible hum and I have lost power steering on several occaisions. Added fluid, the next day it looked like cocoa bubbling out. I contacted the gould Ford dealership and I have to bring it in tomorrow. …
I have had my Taurus at the shop now 4 times. There is gas leaking out of my car everytime I fill up. I was told that I was "over filling" the tank, but that's crap. I am a working mother of 3 and I have to depend on my car. It is a real inconvience that I have to keep taking this car back and forth to the shop when it is only 9 months old. Ford should be willing to replace this car out of good buisness. I'm sure the president of the company would not like for his wife to have to drive a car with this problem or his children. This is only my second Ford car, and with this experience under my belt, you can best believe that I will "never" purchase another one. It is my hope that the president of the company sees and reads this complaint.
I complained about this car the day I bought it. I told them it was a lemon and I wanted my money back. The dealer refused. From the day I bought the car (one year ago) it is has been in the shop for a total of over 8 weeks. It has had replacement transmission, catalytic converters, gaskets, pumps, hoses, filters and it still does not run. It doesn't start properly, if it starts at all. It stalls in reverse and initital shift into drive does not run smooth. The wiper fluid does not come out. The car rattles and sounds awful . The car is under manufacturer warranty and they won't fix it. The car is a lemon there is something fundamentally wrong with it and it can't be fixed. Ford knows this and they won't take it back.
Fuel guage on instrument panel failed which in turn caused me to drive vehicle until gas was empty which in turn caused the fuel pump to fail. Dealer will not work with me on the cost to repair this. I feel it is unfair that I have to pay $700 to get all these repairs done when it was Ford's fault in the first place. If the fuel guage on the dash would have been working properly then I would have known I was running out of gas and the fuel pump would have never been damaged. Nlm
Fuel System complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 1999 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 1999 Ford Taurus, 4% of the model year's 874 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Taurus fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 1999 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 1999 Ford Taurus fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion system 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.