Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Ford Taurus problems

Owners filed 1,036 complaints about the 2001 Ford Taurus with NHTSA between Sep 2000 and Apr 2025. The most-cited component is suspension (514).

Complaints
1,036
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
92
Reported by owners
Fires
15
Reported by owners
Injuries
78
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension514
  2. Vehicle speed control99
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic85
  4. Air bags66
  5. Engine and engine cooling59
  6. Power train58
  7. Visibility39
  8. Tires39
  9. Electrical system37
  10. Structure37
  11. Exterior lighting29
  12. Seat belts24
  13. Steering19
  14. Fuel system, gasoline12

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20004
200141
200295
200374
2004110
2005124
2006139
200794
200894
200963
201058
201127
201237
201321
201419
201516
20167
20172
20181
20195
20202
20211
20220
20230
20241
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

514 reports8 crashes1 related recall
“SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION ON THE DASH HAS BEEN OFF MEANING ... TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT HAS TO SAY 1 ST. ON THE DASH REVERSE IS WHERE DRIVE IS OR D. ... YESTERDAY I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THERE WAS A HUGE THUNK AND I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR HAD FROZE THEN AFTER MESSING WITH THE SHIFT ARM IT WENT THUNK AGAIN AND I GOT IT HOME BUT CANT DRIVE ANY FARTHER ..I ALSO HAVE HAD ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS SINCE I GOT IT ONE DASH LIGHTS INSIDE WONT WORK NEXT DAY BLINKER NEXT DAY RADIO NEXT DAY HEAD LIGHTS .... AND THE FRONT END THUNKS WHEN DRIVING AND IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE ROAD ...IT FEELS *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2021Suspension, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11389681

Vehicle speed control

99 reports17 crashes1 fire
“THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES STAY AT HIGH RPMS EVEN WHEN PRESSURE IS RELEASED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN 2018 WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR AND HAS HAPPENED RECENTLY IN DECEMBER 2020. IN THE FIRST EPISODE, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. IN THE SECOND, MY WIFE HAD TO THROW IT INTO PARK. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET IN BOTH INSTANCES GOING STRAIGHT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11384164

Service brakes, hydraulic

85 reports15 crashes2 related recalls
“2001 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE.* LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE TURNED THE IGNITION ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2014Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10651215

Air bags

66 reports46 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE EMITTED FROM BOTH AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS AND INSPECTION. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT CODES WERE CLEARED. THE MODULE WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO LATER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE LEGAL ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2015Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10678606

Engine and engine cooling

59 reports2 crashes2 fires
“I READ AN ARTICLE TODAY CONCERNING THE US IS INVESTIGATING FORD TAURUSES FOR STUCK THROTTLES, MODEL YEARS 2005-2006. PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE 2001 MODEL YEAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A FORD DEALER IN 2004 (APPROX) AND HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE CAR ENGINE SPEEDING-UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE ARTICLE IS LOCATED AT: HTTP://MONEY.CNN.COM/2012/03/12/AUTOS/FORD_TAURUS_INVESTIGATION/INDEX.HTM?SOURCE=CNN_BIN AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, THE FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS STILL DOING IT TODAY. THE WARRANTY COMPANY, BACK IN 2004/2005, SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA, BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THEY EVER DID. THANK-YOU. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10451199

Power train

58 reports4 crashes
“The contact owns a 2001 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that there was a slight hesitation upon shifting the transmission into drive. The contact stated that the gear selector seized, and the vehicle was no longer able to shift out of park. Additionally, the brake lights were no longer operable. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2025Power trainODI 11654691
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

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