2001 Ford Taurus
The Verdict
The 2001 Ford Taurus has 1,044 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (702 complaints) and electrical (113 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 5/100, it earns a "Total Klunk" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Taurus, consider the 2019 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2019 has 98% fewer complaints
View the 2019 Ford Taurus dashboard →
Klunk Score: Total Klunk
Among the most complained-about vehicle years on record. Strongly consider alternatives.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 3
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE TONGUE MAY NOT FULLY EJECT FROM THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON IS PUSHED SLOWLY. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO RESULT IN A PAR...
Risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVIC...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT ANCHOR LATCH (ISO-FIX ANCHOR) FASTENERS DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE RESIDUAL TORQUE. THE ANCHORS ARE SECURED TO THE FLOOR PAN WITH A REIN...
Risk
THE ANCHOR MAY NOT HOLD THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN POSITION DURING AN ACCIDENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND RE-INSTALL THE BRACKET NUT USING A TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL (RED LOCTITE). OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 11, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED D...
Reported Apr 10, 2026
Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Dura...
Risk
A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.
Reported Jan 4, 2016
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 663 | 95 | 195 | 166 | 91 |
| 2001 | 702 | 89 | 113 | 88 | 52 |
| 2002 | 1186 | 46 | 104 | 88 | 46 |
| 2003 | 636 | 36 | 141 | 111 | 299 |
| 2004 | 187 | 19 | 47 | 55 | 67 |
| 2005 | 462 | 26 | 43 | 138 | 103 |
| 2006 | 173 | 23 | 37 | 59 | 26 |
| 2007 | 63 | 6 | 30 | 37 | 13 |
| 2008 | 71 | 8 | 23 | 37 | 35 |
| 2009 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010 | 71 | 30 | 19 | 52 | 28 |
| 2011 | 60 | 11 | 50 | 50 | 16 |
| 2012 | 35 | 4 | 24 | 14 | 1 |
| 2013 | 333 | 5 | 52 | 166 | 29 |
| 2014 | 94 | 9 | 34 | 86 | 10 |
| 2015 | 123 | 2 | 24 | 94 | 12 |
| 2016 | 43 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 1 |
| 2017 | 21 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
| 2018 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
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.
The vehicle failed 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
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
TL* THE CONTACT'S MOTHER OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER MOTHER WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE DRIVER SHIFTED THE GEARS TO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION TO COME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. UPON INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V266000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER BELLINGHAM FORD LINCOLN LOCATED AT 1820 JAMES ST, BELLINGHAM, WA 98225, (360) 392-7000, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE BRAKES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND FILED A COMPLAINT (CAS-25346332). THE FAILURE MILLAGE WAS 143,553.
MY HIGH BEAM LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON BUT THE LOW BEAMS ARE ON. WHEN I PUSH THE SWITCH TO TURN MY HIGH BEAMS ON THEY TURN ON BUT THE LIGHT INDICATOR TURNS OFF AND WHEN SWITCH MY HIGH BEAMS ON MY SPEEDOMETER STARTS KINDA WORKING, OTHERWISE IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.
THE BREAK LIGHT ARE STAYING ON DRAINING THE BATTERY, IVE REPLACED THE PAART WITH A PART FROM ADVANCE AUTO , BUT LIGHTS STAY ON , FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR MY VIN NUMBER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. JOHN BLEAKLEY FORD INC (870 THORTON RD, LITHIA SPRINGS, GA 30122) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAMELBACK FORD (1330 E CAMELBACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85014, (602) 635-7551), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
DRIVERS DOOR NOT LATCHING. HAVE HAD TO DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY TO PURCHASE WD40 TO TRY AND GET MY DOOR SHUT. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY LIGHTS FLASHING. AND WHO PLUGS A PHONE INTO A CAR CHARGER FOR 2 HOURS AND IT DOESN'T CHARGE. IT NEVER USED TO DO THAT. DOOR WOULDN'T SHUT WHILE SITTING IN DRIVING AND WHEN DRIVING IN CITY AND HIGHWAY. LIGHTS FLICKERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. PHONE WOULDN'T CHARGE WHILE ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO DIG THE TWO RECEIPTS OUT FROM THE WD40 PURCHASE. IT IS GOING IN TODAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY WANT TO LOOK AT MY DOOR WHICH WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $85 ON TOP OF THE OIL CHANGE.
WAS INFORMED BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, THEN WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK AND RESTATED COULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK SO INSTALLED A NEW BRAKE SWITCH WHICH WORKED FOR LESS THEN AN HOUR. THINKING IT COULD BE A FUSE CHECKED THE MANUAL LIST OF FUSES AND COULD NOT FIND A LISTING FOR THE FUSE THAT WENT TO THE BRAKE SWITCH SO CHECKED FUSES ONE BY ONE TO SEE IF THEY WERE BAD ALL OKAY. SO I ASSUME THE NEW SWITCH WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER AND THEY ONE DID NOT WORK EITHER. I CAN NOW GET OUT OF PARK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. I WAS JUST TOLD THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE SOME YEAS BACK BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ONE. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING MORE IS GOING ON HERE.
THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING DOES NOT STAY IN IT'S SEAT WHERE IT IS MOUNTED BY THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING OVER ACCELERATION WHEN USING MODERATE ACCELERATION, VERY HARD BRAKING IS NECSESARY TO STOP AND PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL CAUSES MAJOR OVER REVING OF THE ENGINE.
TODAY, JUNE 24, 2017 AT ABOUT 1:00 PM, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN, TO TURN LEFT ONTO THE STATE HIGHWAY. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, SO I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL. SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON MY PART, AND RAPIDLY STARTED INTO THE BUSY INTERSECTION. DESPITE MY VAIN ATTEMPTS TO STOP MY VEHICLE, BY PUSHING AS HARD IS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET, IT DIDN'T DECREASE THE ACCELERATION AT ALL. BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN, I WASN'T ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. I COLLIDED WITH A VAN WHICH WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON THE GREEN LIGHT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES (WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE OR BOTH VEHICLES BEING TOTALED), VERY FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO SUBSTANTIAL INJURIES TO THE WOMAN OR HER FOUR YOUNG CRYING CHILDREN IN THE OTHER VEHICLE, NOR TO ME. AFTER MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS OF DRIVING WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT, I WAS SHOCKED AND UPSET BY THIS, AND ALL THE PASSENGERS WERE TRAUMATIZED BY THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE OFFICER DIDN'T GIVE ME A CITATION, ATTRIBUTING THE ACCIDENT TO A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN, COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED BY THIS AWFUL EXPERIENCE. THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, AND I HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM, SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE WON'T BE BADLY INJURED OR LOSE THEIR LIVES IN THE FUTURE. AN ADDITIONAL ITEM I SHOULD MENTION IS THAT I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THIS VEHICLE MAINTAINED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A POPPING NOISE AND A FOUL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED REGARDLESS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE REPAIR, THE REAR AND FRONT COILS SPRINGS WERE FOUND TO BE EXPOSED AND FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V332000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 10/26/16*LJ *TR
2001 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DAMAGES. *SMD ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *JB
CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATING WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR CABLE ADJUSTER APPEARS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V106000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT, A MECHANIC, REACHED OUT TO THE DEALER TO PURCHASE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE REPAIR TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
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