CarBrief

NHTSA has 375 owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Taurus, and the biggest group is speed control[1][2]. It has one recall, for power adjustable seats[3].

375owner complaints[1]
1recalls[4]
19–20MPG combined (EPA)[5]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 375 owner complaints on file for the 2004 Taurus[1]. 36 mention a crash, 13 a fire and 25 injuries, and 2 deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component.

Component group Complaints Crashes Fires Injuries
Speed control[2] 164 15 1 6
Power train[6] 72 4 0 1
Engine[7] 44 2 4 0
Brakes[8] 26 3 0 2
Electrical system[9] 26 0 5 0
Air bags[10] 21 16 0 15

Speed control. The median mileage at failure is 100,000[2]. In the sample of complaints we read, owners describe the engine surging or revving when they stop or park, and the car not slowing until it is shifted into neutral. Others describe cruise control that would not engage or acted on its own, and an accelerator pedal that vibrates or responds poorly[2].

Power train. The median mileage at failure is 104,500[6]. In the sample we read, owners describe a transmission or torque converter that stops sending power to the wheels or slips out of gear, often with no warning. Some describe the car rolling backward after it was put in Park[6].

Engine. The median mileage at failure is 89,500, and the group includes 4 fires[7]. In the sample we read, owners describe rough idle, hesitation and stalling. Two texts describe a fire[7].

Electrical system. Owners filed 26 complaints with 5 fires[9]. In the sample we read, some owners describe water leaking into the cabin on the passenger side, and others describe burning smells or burnt wiring[9].

Air bags. There are only 21 complaints, but 16 mention a crash and 15 an injury, with a median mileage at failure of 57,500[10].

Recalls

NHTSA lists one recall for the 2004 Taurus[3].

Fuel economy

EPA lists several versions of the 2004 Taurus and Taurus Wagon, all with a 3.0L 6-cylinder engine, an automatic 4-speed and front-wheel drive[5][11]. Combined ratings are 19 or 20 MPG[5][12][11][13][14][15].

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Taurus, regular fuel[5] 18 / 25 / 20 $3,350
Taurus, regular fuel[12] 17 / 24 / 20 $3,350
Taurus, gasoline or E85[14] 17 / 25 / 20 $3,350
Taurus Wagon, regular fuel[11] 17 / 24 / 20 $3,350
Taurus Wagon, regular fuel[13] 16 / 23 / 19 $3,550
Taurus Wagon, gasoline or E85[15] 17 / 24 / 19 $3,550

EPA's annual cost uses its current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings lists the 2004 Taurus as not rated for the sedan and the wagon body styles it shows[16][17][18]. That means there are no star ratings to compare.

Engine and size

The EPA fuel economy entries list a 3.0L 6-cylinder engine[5][14]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Sedan (LX/SE/SEL) Wagon (SE/SEL)
Length 198 in 198 in
Width 73 in 73 in
Height 56 in 58 in
Wheelbase 109 in 109 in
Curb weight 3,307 lb 3,497 lb

How 2004 compares with other years

1995: 1,214 complaints, 7 recalls19951996: 849 complaints, 6 recalls1997: 800 complaints, 3 recalls1998: 555 complaints, 2 recalls19981999: 895 complaints, 5 recalls2000: 1,195 complaints, 8 recalls2001: 1,037 complaints, 9 recalls20012002: 1,426 complaints, 3 recalls2003: 1,223 complaints, 3 recalls2004: 375 complaints, 1 recalls37520042005: 774 complaints, 0 recalls2006: 318 complaints, 2 recalls2007: 149 complaints, 0 recalls20072008: 328 complaints, 1 recalls2009: 75 complaints, 1 recalls2010: 204 complaints, 3 recalls20102011: 187 complaints, 4 recalls2012: 79 complaints, 5 recalls2013: 591 complaints, 9 recalls20132014: 235 complaints, 5 recalls2015: 280 complaints, 6 recalls2016: 85 complaints, 4 recalls20162017: 44 complaints, 4 recalls2018: 52 complaints, 4 recalls2019: 18 complaints, 2 recalls2019
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Taurus model year. The 2004 is highlighted[4].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19951,2147
19968496
19978003
19985552
19998955
20001,1958
20011,0379
20021,4263
20031,2233
20043751
20057740
20063182
20071490
20083281
2009751
20102043
20111874
2012795
20135919
20142355
20152806
2016854
2017444
2018524
2019182

NHTSA counts for each Taurus model year run from 1995 to 2019[4]. The 2004 model has 375 complaints[4]. Eleven years list more: 1995 to 2003, 2005 with 774, and 2013 with 591[4]. Thirteen years list fewer, covering 2006 to 2012 and 2014 to 2019[4].

The 2004 model has 1 recall[4]. Only 2005 and 2007 list none, and 2008 and 2009 also list 1[4]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so they work best as a rough comparison between Taurus years.

Should you buy a used 2004 Taurus?

The 2004 Taurus has fewer complaints than 11 other Taurus years, with 375 against 1,426 for 2002 and 774 for 2005[4]. The largest group is speed control at 164 complaints[2]. In a sample we read, owners describe surging when stopping and parking, so ask about it on a test drive. Transmission failures also appear in the power train sample[6]. The seat recall has a dealer remedy in the recall notice, so check with Ford that it was done on any car you look at[3].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Taurus?
Speed control has the most NHTSA complaints at 164, followed by power train at 72 and engine at 44, out of 375 total[1][2][6][7].
Has the 2004 Ford Taurus been recalled?
NHTSA lists one recall, 04V330, for power adjustable seats that may have been inadequately welded. The remedy is for dealers to swap out the upper support part of the seats[3].
What is the gas mileage of a 2004 Ford Taurus?
EPA lists 19 or 20 combined MPG, with city ratings of 16 to 18 and highway ratings of 23 to 25[5][12][11][13][14][15].
Is the 2004 Ford Taurus a good year?
It has fewer complaints than 11 other Taurus years and more than 13[4]. It has 1 recall[3].
What are the dimensions of the 2004 Ford Taurus?
The sedan is 198 in long and 73 in wide[19]. The wagon has the same length and width and a height of 58 in[20]. These are Canadian-market specifications[19][20].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 375 owner complaints on file for the 2004 Ford Taurus (36 mention a crash, 13 a fire, 25 injuries, 2 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 164 complaints name the speed control component group (15 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 100,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 04V330, filed July 8, 2004: Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust. NHTSA recall database
  4. Owner complaints and recalls for every Ford Taurus model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  5. EPA rating for Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  6. 72 complaints name the power train component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 104,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 44 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 89,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 26 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 86,250). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 26 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 5 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 104,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 21 complaints name the air bags component group (16 crashes, 0 fires, 15 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. EPA rating for Taurus Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  12. EPA rating for Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  13. EPA rating for Taurus Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Taurus, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. EPA rating for Taurus Wagon, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR W/SAB None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  17. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  18. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4-DR WAGON None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  19. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TAURUS 4DR SEDAN LX/SE/SEL: length 198 in, width 73 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,307 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TAURUS 4DR WAGON SE/SEL: length 198 in, width 73 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,497 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.