Most common 2004 Ford Taurus problems
Share of the 375 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Taurus complaints by model year
Best Taurus years: 2019, 2017, 2016. Years to avoid: 2005, 2013, 2002, 1995, 2000. Compare all years →
2004 Ford Taurus recalls (1)
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with power adjustable seats May have been inadequately welded.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper support assembly on the power seats. The recall began on July 20, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 Ford Taurus:
Stuck throttle
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)12-005 was opened to investigate allegations of speed control cables detaching from the throttle body and subsequently interfering with the throttle closing fully to the idle position in model year (MY) 2005 and 2006 Ford Taurus vehicles.The speed control cable, throttle body attachment arm (?nail head?) for the speed control cable, cable mounting bracket and cable routing for the MY 2005…
Engine stalling ffv
On October 11, 2006, public citizen petitioned odi to investigate reports of engine stalls caused by e85 fuel in certain model year (my) 2003 - 2005 Ford taurus flex-fuel vehicles (ffv). Odi's review of the petition and other available data found a low stall rate attributable to e-85 fueling and that the main concerns,prolonged engine start and rough idle during cold engine startup at winter temperatures, were…
What 2004 Ford Taurus owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 164 →
I entered the highway accelerating normally to blend in with traffic in the right travelling lane. Within seconds the car accelerated on its' own up to any alarming rate of speed. I slammed on brakes- nothing happened. Attempted to put car in neutral- nothing happened. I could not steer the car as it was going at least 100mph. I weaved between 3 lanes of traffic before hitting a car's bumper and flipping over 2-3 times and landed upright in the ditch in the medium. I was awake the entire time- in sheer terror. Had I not been wearing a seatbelt I likely would have been killed. The car was totaled. To my knowledge this 2004 Ford Taurus 24vt has had many other accidents and Ford motor co. Has not issued a recall. This is inexcusable!
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Ford Taurus. When the vehicle was shifted into reverse, it suddenly accelerated and crashed into a tree. Immediately after the crash, the vehicle independently shifted into drive. The contact attempted to engage the brakes; however, they failed to respond. The contact's vehicle sideswiped another vehicle on the passenger side before crashing into an embankment and tree stumps. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure the failure mileage was 52,728. Updated 03/24/17
Transmission & drivetrain all 72 →
I was driving on the highway doing around 70 and, all of a sudden, the RPM's revved up really high (into the 7000's) and the car indicator said check transmission. I quickly changed lanes and got onto the shoulder and shut off my car. I let it sit for ten minutes while I checked for visible problems. Finding none, I then turned the car back on and put it in gear and it would not move. I tried it in every gear but the car still refused to move. I then had it towed to a mechanic that said that my transmission was bad. My regular mechanic and I had done some research over the phone while we were waiting to hear back from the mechanic and found that other people had the same problem. They said that it was the fault of a bad torque converter. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle and attempting to shift, the gear shifter locked in the park position. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer (deacon jones Ford-Lincoln located at 3301 mclain street, goldsboro, nc 27534 phone number [phone]) who confirmed their failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 04V106000 (exterior lighting) however, their vehicle's VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to NHTSA to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
Engine & cooling all 44 →
The whole entire wires under the dashboard caught on fire and almost blew me my kids up in dallas texas, had it total and the mechanic stated that the whole computer system blew the wires out and that it was a manufacturing problem.
Vehicle started stalling at expressway speeds, most notably when pulling a hill or during acceleration. This progressed to stalling at idle and low RPM speeds, and eventually LED to surging and the inability to keep the vehicle running. This problem LED to the vacuum boost for the power brakes failing which caused the power brakes to fail unexpectedly and the vehicle would not stop, hit my garage and caused $3000 damage to my home, and $1000 worth of body damage to the front of the vehicle. Took the vehicle to 2 different Ford dealers. First one stated that it was the fuel pump and pressure regulator, replacing these did nothing but cost $800. Second one discovered that the plastic upper intake manifold was cracked at the EGR valve and pcv valve locations leading to the engine running too lean. …
2004 Ford Taurus engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford Taurus a good car?
Based on 375 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Taurus rates average: 31% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Taurus at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford Taurus?
The speed control & acceleration — 164 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cables. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (72) and engine & cooling (44).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Taurus have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Ford Taurus, the most recent from July 8, 2004 (power adjust). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Taurus?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2017 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2013, 2002, 1995 and 2000. See the full Ford Taurus years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Taurus problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.