Problems · by component

1999 Ford Taurus power train problems

92 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Taurus cite power train, 10% of all 918 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
92
10% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED JUMPING AROUND, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE RPM'S REVED UP HIGH. I STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF INTO THE INTERSECTION I CAME CLOSE TO HITTING ANOTHER CAR! I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED . AS I WAS DRIVING IT HOME THE CAR HESITATED IN THE INTERSECTION THEN JERKED YOU CAN FEEL THE PULSING OF THE CAR AS IT ACCELERATES AND DEACCELERATES. IT IS A SAFETY HAZZARD”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2017Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11047287
“MAY 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALL OUT OF WHACK, THE RPM'S WERE GOING HIGHER AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THE CAR HAS HAD MORE PROBLEMS AND WAS BROKE DOWN FOR ALMOST THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. DEC. 2016 HAD A NEW STARTER, POWER STEERING PULLEY, AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. CAR RAN GREAT FOR 3 DAYS THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING AND FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OR COMPLETELY GOING OUT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR THIS CAR I JUST FINISHED PAYING OFF THE $900 TRANSMISSION JOB, PLUS I AM STILL PAYING ON THE CAR! I AM A SINGLE MOTHER ON DISABILITY WITH NO MONEY FOR REPAIRS OR ANOTHER CAR. PLEASE HELP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2017Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10946622
“THE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE THROTTLE CABLE SPECIFICALLY BUT I CANNOT FIND INFORMATION REGARDING THIS WITH THE NHTSA. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2013Power trainODI 10545247
“GOT A TRANSMISSION LEAK, THE TRANSMISSION PAN SEALS WERE REPLACED AS THEY WERE WET AND TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND REFILLED. NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS STILL LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID BROUGHT IT BACK TO SHOP WHERE THE SEALS IN THE TRANSMISSION PUMP WERE SHREDDED. WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND FILLED. GET TRANSMISSION BACK IN CAR AND O/D LIGHT IS ON. REPLACED THE CABLES AND SILINIOD PACK. NEXT DAY DRIVING THE CAR AT 10 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER AND WAS LIKE IN NEUTRAL. PARKED CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. TOWED TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID TRANSMISSION IS BUSTED/BROKE AND NEEDS REPLACING. AFTER READING HERE SEEMS THIS TRANSMISSION ON THIS YEAR OF CAR IS CRAP AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!! PLEASE MAKE THEM RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION AND PAY OWNERS FOR THERE SCREW UP!! THIS IS CRAP I LOVE MY CAR AND NOW THIS. MAYBE I GO FOREIGN. PS NO FEDERAL BAILOUT FOR THEM AS THEY DON'T HELP THERE CUSTOMERS THATS WHY THERE FAILING. GOOD CAR BAD TRANSMISSION /CUSTOMER SUPPORT!!!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 29, 2013Power trainODI 10504933
“I WAS GOING DOWN HE INTERSTATE WITH MY 3 KIDS WHEN MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE RPM'S WOULD GO UP WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I HAD TO MERGE OVER 3 LANES OF INTERSTATE TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER AND LUCKILY GOT TO STOP BEFORE WE WENT OVER A BRIDGE! I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY JUST CALLED TO TELL ME IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THEY JUST REPLACED ONE A FEW WEEKS AGO. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2012Power trainODI 10442231
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO WARNING. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND IT WAS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL HAD TO STOP ALL NORTH BOUND TRAFFIC ON I5 IN LOS ANGELES SO THE TOW TRUCK CAN MOVE THE CAR WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY TO SAFETY. WE COULDN'T EVEN OPEN THE CAR DOOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2011Power trainODI 10419527

Showing 6 of 92 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: cooling unit and lines

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH THE "CALIFORNIA" EMISSIONS PACKAGE. AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE WAS INSTALLED. THE LINE CONTACTS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE SUPPORT BRACKET AND OVER TIME, CAN WEAR AND DEVELOP A LEAK.

Power trainReported Nov 9, 1998NHTSA 98V288000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.