RecallRepo

1994 Ford Taurus Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1994 Ford Taurus has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,490,900 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,284 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STRUCTURE 98V323000 1998-12-16 2,697,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND,…

Consequence

IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL SUBFRAME REAR MOUNT BOLTS, REINFORCEMENT PLATES, AND PLATE NUTS.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 98V009000 1998-01-21 506,000 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS CAN GO OUT FOR BRIEF INTERVALS.

Consequence

LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION CAN AFFECT A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE ROADWAY AND REDUCE THE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH THAT INCORPORATES A CRICUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WIRING, IF NEEDED.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 97V025000 1997-02-26 212,700 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA,…

Consequence

DRIVER CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED USING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 97V019000 1997-02-25 75,200 affected
Defect

THESE VEHICLES ARE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 1992-1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES WITH 3.0L ENGINES; 1994 TEMPO/TOPAZ WITH 2.3L ENGINES; 1992-1995 TAURUS/SABLE WITH 3.8L ENGINES; 1994-1995…

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE SMOKE OR FLAMES FROM THE FAN AND/OR SHROUD, THE FAN ELECTRICAL WIRING, OR THE FAN MOTOR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ELECTRICAL JUMPER HARNESS CONTAINING AN AUTOMATIC RESETTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PROTECT THE FAN MOTOR LOW SPEED CIRCUITRY FROM OVERHEATING.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
202
2crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
192
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
60
2crashes3fires2injuries
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
43
1injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
43
6crashes3fires5injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
35
1crashes1fires2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
33
1deaths
POWER TRAIN
31
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
29
1deaths
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
28
26crashes15injuries
Total complaints1,284

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“While driving at night headlights go off for a few seconds and then come back on it happens several times and then stops happening”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2018-03-01

“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 ford taurus. While driving various speeds, the headlights flashed intermittently without warning and the headlight switch was hot to the touch. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The contact researched the…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2017-03-14

“Airbag light flashes on/off frequently. Defective sensor is suspected. Part is unavailable. A major safety concern. Not sure if there was a recall prior to purchase or change out of parts. *tr”

AIR BAGS · reported 2013-11-14

“The car when leaving a stop acts like its in neutral then catches and leaps forward. Ford used a cheap forward clutch piston. *tr”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2013-11-04

“After the vehicle has been running for a while and approaches a stop, it "de-clutches" and either fails to shift into gear, when pushing gas pedal to accelerate or it then shifts hard during take off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the transmission needed to be replaced.…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2013-05-22

“I just got off the telephone with ford corp., ~ I have inherited a 1994 taurus from my grandmother, who took excellent care of it and it only has 88,000 original miles ~ the day after thanksgiving, the head gasket blew & the exhaust started pouring out thick smoke, I was able to get to a safe…”

ENGINE · reported 2012-11-23

“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 ford taurus. The contact stated that the engine and transmission failed. The contact started the vehicle and both the engine and the transmission collapsed. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 93v106000 (structure:frame and members) and contacted the…”

ENGINE · reported 2012-09-17

“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 ford taurus. The contact stated that the engine and transmission failed. The contact started the vehicle and both the engine and the transmission collapsed. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 93v106000 (structure:frame and members) and contacted the…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2012-09-17

Defect investigations

Investigation EA96019 Opened 1996-07-31 · closed 1998-01-26

HEADLIGHT FAILURE

EXCESSIVE HEAT IN AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO OPEN FOR TIME PERIODS OF VARYING LENGTH TO COOL OFF.OPENING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THIS MANNER INTERRUPTS ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW TO THE HEADLIGHTS, SHUTTING THEM OFF.HEADLIGHT OUTAGES HAVE RANGER…

Investigation EA96024 Opened 1996-09-30 · closed 1997-04-15

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

There is no summary currently available

Investigation PE96033 Opened 1996-05-02 · closed 1996-09-30

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN…

Investigation RQ99017 Opened 1999-08-09 · closed 2000-02-16

FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING

There is no summary currently available

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 Ford Taurus as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.