Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Ford Taurus problems

Owners filed 375 complaints about the 2004 Ford Taurus with NHTSA between Apr 2004 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (164).

Complaints
375
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
36
Reported by owners
Fires
13
Reported by owners
Injuries
25
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control164
  2. Power train72
  3. Electrical system26
  4. Engine25
  5. Air bags21
  6. Engine and engine cooling19
  7. Service brakes18
  8. Structure17
  9. Steering13
  10. Visibility12
  11. Suspension10
  12. Fuel system, gasoline9
  13. Exterior lighting8
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic8

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
200415
200522
200611
200715
20089
200914
201024
201125
201289
201340
201444
201516
201621
20178
201810
20196
20204
20210
20220
20230
20241
20250
20261

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

Vehicle speed control

164 reports15 crashes1 fire
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTY ROAD GOING 50 MPH WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE RPMS WERE HIGH. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT IT WAS AS IF MY BRAKES WERE OUT BUT I KNOW THEY WERE FINE. I KEPT SPEEDING UP SO I HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PUSHED BRAKE PUT IT IN NEITRAL BUT THE RPMS SEEMED TO GO HIGHER. I QUICKLY JUST PUT IT IN PARK WHILE STILL MOVING N RPMS HIGH. CSAR MADE A LOUD SOUND AND JERKED TO A STOP GAVE ME WHIP LASH THERE WAS NO CASRS ON THE ROAD I WAS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT AS I STOPPED I JUST PARKED TRYIUNG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO . WAS VERY SHAKEN UP SO I HAD TO PARK FOR AWHILE. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF PARKING AND CALLING EVERYONE ABOUT MY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE I STARTED IT UP AND DROVE 10 MPH HOIME. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A SELF EMPLOYED MECHANIC I KNOW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2020Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, EngineODI 11377836

Power train

72 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CEASED IN THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE ASSEMBLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2020Power train, Exterior lightingODI 11362300

Electrical system

26 reports5 fires
“AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, BRAKING TO STOP A RED LIGHT, THE CAR PROCEEDED TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. AFTER LETTING IT GO FOR A WHILE, IT TOPPED OUT AROUND 52MPH, AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING ON ITS OWN. I KEPT PRESSING OFF, BUT THAT WOULDN'T WORK. THE CAR STOPPED REVVING RPMS WHEN I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2018Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Unknown or otherODI 11162165

Engine

25 reports1 crash2 fires
“I HAVE ENGINE CODE P0430, I CHANGE ALL CONVERTERS, ALL 02 SENSORS STILL KEEP GETTING SAME CODE. MY GUESS IS UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I CAN US A LITTLE HELP GETTING THE PART. THANK YOU”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 4, 2019EngineODI 11229447

Air bags

21 reports16 crashes
“Airbags seats and seatbelts useless for 6'8" 375lbs adult man. I sit within 6" of the steering wheel airbag the seatbelt goes across my bicep not my shoulder and the seat itself only goes up to the middle of my back, the head rest is between my shoulders. Why is there no exemption for giants and airbags and seatbelts? By having these "safety features" in my vehicle, my life is put in more danger than other people that are normal sized. If I ever get into an accident and the airbags or seatbelt injure me I will be suing you for forcing me to use these dangerous for me things. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL WHEN YOU ARE A GIANT, and your regulations make being in a car more deadly to me.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2026Air bags, Seat belts, SeatsODI 11724033

Engine and engine cooling

19 reports1 crash2 fires
“I HAVE A 2004 FORD TAURUS AND AROUND 2006 THE THROTTLE SOMETIMES ACCELERATES AND STICKS ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO STOPPED WORKING AROUND THIS TIME. WHEN I WAS DRIVING I WOULD NOTICE THE RPM'S GOING UP AND NOT COMING DOWN, SO I WOULD HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND REV THE ENGINE. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ASKED MULTIPLE MECHANICS TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE HAS HAD A CLUE ABOUT THIS OR HOW TO FIX IT, INCLUDING CLASSIC FORD IN MENTOR, OHIO. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlODI 10456161
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.