NHTSA has 895 owner complaints on file for the 1999 Ford Taurus[1]. Suspension is the biggest group, with 184 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car, and these are the groups the reports name, biggest first.
- Suspension. 184 complaints[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe shaking in the steering wheel, front end vibration, clunking noises and the car pulling to one side. Several say repeated dealer visits did not settle it.
- Speed Control. 111 complaints[5]. Owners describe the car speeding up on its own or not slowing down when they lift off the gas pedal. Some say the engine raced while stopped, and the dealer could not repeat the problem.
- Brakes. 108 complaints[6]. Owners describe a pedal that sinks to the floor, brakes that lock up or fade on wet roads, and a shudder in the wheel when stopping. Some of these reports end in a rear end collision.
- Steering. 107 complaints[7]. Owners describe a wheel that is hard to turn, power steering that cut out while driving, and pump repairs that did not last.
- Engine. 94 complaints[8]. This group also includes 6 fires[8].
- Power Train. 91 complaints[9].
- Seat Belts. 61 complaints[10].
- Visibility. 59 complaints[11].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 1999 Taurus is necessarily included.
- Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs (04V332), July 2004. About 899,060 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[12]
- Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage (99V250), September 1999. About 25,306 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: stalling.[13]
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit And Lines (98V288), November 1998. About 1,800 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire.[14]
- Vehicle Speed Control (98V204), September 1998. About 6,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names.[15]
- Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage (98V198), August 1998. About 7,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury.[16]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] | 17 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 |
| Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[17] | 16 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 |
| Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[18] | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 |
| Taurus SHO, 3.4L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive[19] | 15 / 23 / 18 | $4,550 |
| Taurus Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[20] | 16 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 |
| Taurus Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[21] | 16 / 25 / 19 | $3,550 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR None[22].
How 1999 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1,214 | 7 |
| 1996 | 849 | 6 |
| 1997 | 800 | 3 |
| 1998 | 555 | 2 |
| 1999 | 895 | 5 |
| 2000 | 1,195 | 8 |
| 2001 | 1,037 | 9 |
| 2002 | 1,426 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1,223 | 3 |
| 2004 | 375 | 1 |
| 2005 | 774 | 0 |
| 2006 | 318 | 2 |
| 2007 | 149 | 0 |
| 2008 | 328 | 1 |
| 2009 | 75 | 1 |
| 2010 | 204 | 3 |
| 2011 | 187 | 4 |
| 2012 | 79 | 5 |
| 2013 | 591 | 9 |
| 2014 | 235 | 5 |
| 2015 | 280 | 6 |
| 2016 | 85 | 4 |
| 2017 | 44 | 4 |
| 2018 | 52 | 4 |
| 2019 | 18 | 2 |
NHTSA's counts for the Taurus show 895 complaints and 5 recalls for 1999[3]. Among the 25 model years listed, 19 have fewer complaints than 1999 and 5 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2019 (18) and the most are for 2002 (1,426)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 1999 Taurus?
The 1999 Ford Taurus has 895 complaints on file[1]. Suspension, speed control, brakes and steering lead the list[2][5][6][7]. The page also shows 5 recalls for this year[3]. Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so read them as a guide to what owners notice. If you are shopping for one, check the brakes, steering and suspension on a test drive and confirm that recall work was done.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 1999 Ford Taurus?
- Suspension leads with 184 complaints[2], followed by speed control[5], brakes[6] and steering[7]. See the problems section for what owners describe.
- Does the 1999 Ford Taurus have recalls?
- Yes. The pack lists 5 recalls for 1999[3]. They are listed in the recalls section of this page.
- How many complaints has the 1999 Ford Taurus received?
- NHTSA has 895 owner complaints on file[1]. These are unverified reports.
- Is the 1999 Ford Taurus reliable?
- Owners filed 895 complaints[1], with suspension, speed control, brakes and steering named at the top[2][5][6][7]. Check the recalls and year comparison sections before you decide.
- What is the gas mileage of the 1999 Ford Taurus?
- See the fuel economy section of this page, which is built from EPA data.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Ford Taurus
Compare all model years of the Ford Taurus
Other Ford models from 1999
Similar cars from 1999: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 895 owner complaints on file for the 1999 Ford Taurus (63 mention a crash, 17 a fire, 73 injuries, 4 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 184 complaints name the suspension component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,654). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Ford Taurus model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 111 complaints name the speed control component group (17 crashes, 3 fires, 26 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 108 complaints name the brakes component group (10 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 107 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,800). NHTSA vehicle records
- 94 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 6 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 91 complaints name the power train component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 81,250). NHTSA vehicle records
- 61 complaints name the seat belts component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 59,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 59 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 46,842). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 04V332, filed July 15, 2004: Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 99V250, filed September 20, 1999: Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 98V288, filed November 9, 1998: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit And Lines. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 98V204, filed September 1, 1998: Vehicle Speed Control. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 98V198, filed August 25, 1998: Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Taurus SHO, 3.4L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Taurus Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Taurus Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records