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 2000 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Part of the engine, top portion closest to the firewall on the passenger side of the vehicle, caught on fire while I was driving on a city street near my residence in lancaster, ca. I noticed the smoke emitting from under the hood when I came to a stop at the stop light.
On May 13, 2010 at approximately 8:50 a.m. My 2000 Ford Taurus caught on fire while it was parked in the parking lot of most precious blood catholic church in corpus christi. I was attending morning mass at the time of the fire. If not for the swift action of the secretary who called the fire department, the fire would have spread from the hood to the gas tank and it would have exploded. My car was declared a total loss and I was grateful that I was not in the car at the time of the fire. I have elderly parents who are with me all the time and some times they stay in the car while I run in to get them something from the store. My car was well maintained and only had 90,000 miles on it. My allstate insurance did pay me for the value of the car, however, I now had to buy a new car and I have acquired a monthly payment of $300 for five years, when I had no car payment on my Ford. …
It presented a series of missed fired and over heating on the road , after driving around 150 miles , the engine leaking oil and it loss power make it on safe to drive . The air conditioning system is iced up like a fridge and less cooling in an over whole look the car need safety control and all of this can clearly seen on the city road way .
The car burst into flames 30 minutes after it was parked. No one was in the car. The car was not running. The fire was under the hood. When the fire was seen the fire department was called. They arrived shortly and put out the fire. Everything under the hood, and up into the dash was burned and melted. The car was a total loss.
Returning from lake george we experienced a loud rattling ,shaking noise. Within seconds the engine light came on. We pulled over to a safe spot and were towed to superior auto on 19th st. In brooklyn. Awaiting part search!?!
While traveling anywhere between 10 MPH to 60 MPH engine stalls out as if too much air or not enough gas. This has happened in the middle of downtown city traffic and on major interstates over the last 2 months. It takes from 10 minutes to one hour to start car up, then runs with no problems for a week or so then all starts again. Engine light comes on at the time problem occurs, must take to mechanic to have diagnosed. Each time he's been unable to pin point the problem. Have spent over $1000 in the last 2 months with this problem and continue to experience the problem with new parts replaced. Mechanic unable to find the root problem, diagnostic machine codes have been coming up incomplete codes. I am still experiencing this problem after replacing the gasket, EGR valve, oxygen sensor, temp control valve. …
The 2000 Ford Taurus just stops running while driving on the road. Some times the vehicle doesn't start at all and leaves us stranded where we are sitting, for example: at the grocery store, the church and sometimes at home. This incident occurs very often and we have taken it back to the place where it was purchased and to other garages because of the unconcerned people from where this vehicle was purchased. The place we bought it from said they wouldn't help us because there was nothing wrong with it. Apparently there is or we wouldn't have towing bills and have to have it checked out all the time. This is a big problem for us. The owner of the place where we bought the vehicle did make the comment that there was nothing they could do about it and we where just complaining about something that wasn't there. …
Friday afternoon I took my 90 year old mother and drove to chick filet to buy a takeout lunch. I drove home to my mother's house and was in the process of backing up the car into her driveway. I stopped the car and looked behind me to check for anyone walking and then heard my mom scream fire!, fire!. As I quickly turned my head back I saw flames jumping out from under the hood of my 2000 Ford Taurus station wagon. I quickly turn off the car, grabbing the keys as I went, yelled at my mom to get out and then jumped out of the car and raced back to open the trunk so that I could get my mother's walker. As I arrived at my mother's car door I helped her out and pulled off her oxygen canula and told her to walk as fast as she could towards the house. I then grabbed the oxygen tank, purses, and lunch and ran toward the house screaming for someone to call the fire department. …
After getting the car out of the body shop because of an accident, I was driving home and the temp gauge immediately went from normal to past hot. Once cooled, I added coolant and noticed the coolant jug had cracked. As a result, the head/head gasket had cracked due to the overheating from loss of coolant. As a result of the cracked head, exhaust is now entering into the coolant system, and causing coolant to boil out, and pump exhaust fumes into the cabin. I took it back to the shop, and was told that it was not their problem, and that the blown engine was not a result of the accident. I have made it a point to talk to every Taurus owner I can, and many have the same exhaust odor in the cabin. The stress of driving, or an accident, causes the coolant jug to crack and leak out coolant. …
My 200 Taurus overheated again, for the 2nds time in 3 months I was stranded alongside the road. I had just got my car out of the shop after paying 868.00 to get it out for cracked heads at southern tire in erwin,tn 1205 jackson loce highway. On 9/4/03 my car jerked and then lost power slowing down causing me to quickly pull over tot he side of the road so the car behind me didn't hit me. My neck has been hurting since then and my family of 8 is missing it's transportation. I should not have cooling problems again this soon after getting it repaired and my family has no financial means of buying a new car at this time.we are making monthly payment on a car that is obviously a lemon and a dud. I have owned cars for 17 years and I have never had this much trouble with a car.this car also broke down on June 4th ,2003.
Engine complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2000 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 108 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2000 Ford Taurus, 9% of the model year's 1,195 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (40 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Taurus engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2000 Ford Taurus, though it has 8 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 2000 Ford Taurus engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 9 fires and 3 injuries and 1 death 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.