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1994 Ford Taurus problems

The most common problem on the 1994 Ford Taurus is engine and cooling, typically around 85,000 miles. It has 4.5 times the complaints of a typical Taurus model year.

Typical year4.5x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
918
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
116
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
20-21mpg
Typical repair
$2,500

The worst 1994 Ford Taurus problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1994 Ford Taurus

Transmission failure 73Stalling 62Headlights 42Overheating 40Jerking 27Fire or smoke 24No deployment 23Slipping 22Engine failure 21Fuel pump 16Coil spring 15Sudden acceleration 15Adaptive cruise 13Brake failure 11Hesitation 10Wipers 10Tire blowout 9Harsh shifting 8Knocking 7Loss of power 7Won't shift 7Check engine light 6Door locks 6ABS 5Won't start 5

Recalls 4

Structure: frame and membersReported December 16, 1998 · 2,697,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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, vermont, virginia, west virgnia, and wisconsin. The rear lower subframe mount plate nut can experience stress corrosion cracking if subjected to long term exposure to road salts. This can result in fracture and loss of the structural integrity of the subframe mount attachment. Detachment of the body mounts at the rear corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, allows the rear corners of the subframe to drop.
Risk
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.

Recall number 98V323000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: headlights: switchReported January 21, 1998 · 506,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 98V009000 · Recall details

Vehicle speed controlReported February 26, 1997 · 212,700 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. Water can accumulate within the speed control cable conduit. If enough water accumulates, it could freeze within a low area of the cable routing when exposed to a long term cold soak at temperatures at least several degrees below freezing.
Risk
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.

Recall number 97V025000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fanReported February 25, 1997 · 75,200 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 taurus/sable with 3.0l engines and 1992-1994 lincoln continental vehicles with 3.8l engines. During high winds, heavy, blowing and drifting snow, and low temperatures, the engine cooling fan can become blocked or frozen with snow. The fan motor may not rotate and could overheat.
Risk
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.

Recall number 97V019000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 1994 Ford Taurus

Defect investigations

Front suspension springOpened August 9, 1999, closed February 16, 2000

There is no summary currently available

RQ99017

Engine cooling fan firesOpened September 30, 1996, closed April 15, 1997

There is no summary currently available

EA96024

Headlight failureOpened July 31, 1996, closed January 26, 1998

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 from brief flickers (less than one second) to greater than 20 seconds.over time, the outages grow in length and duration because of heat-induced deterioration of the switch and associated wiring.recall 98v‑009 will apply to approximately 506,000 taurus, sable, mark viii, and continental vehicles produced from 1-dec.-92 through 30-sep-93 at the atlanta, chicago,and wixom assembly plants.87% of my 1992-1995 taurus/sable and 97% of my 1993-1995 mark viii warranty repairs (headlight switch replacement) involved vehicles built during the dec. 92 - oct. 93 build range.

EA96019

Engine cooling fan firesOpened May 2, 1996, closed September 30, 1996

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 unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.

PE96033

Technical service bulletins for the 1994 Ford Taurus 116

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 116 bulletins for the 1994 Ford Taurus

1994 Ford Taurus fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.0L 6‑cylFWD17-1826-2720-21
3.8L 6‑cylFWD172620

What 1994 Ford Taurus owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 1, 2018 · Lights · 70,000 miles · CA

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

Filed Sep 25, 2017 · Lights · 127,000 miles · MT

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 failure online and found the federal safety agency campaign number: 98v009000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. No further assistance was offered. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Filed Mar 30, 2015 · Airbags · 110,540 miles · CA

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.

Filed Nov 7, 2013 · Transmission · 95,858 miles · FL

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

Filed May 22, 2013 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · MN

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. The current and failure mileage is 85,000. Manufacture has supposedly sent out tsb for revised forward clutch piston #9837. Ford has been aware of the problem through technical service bulletin's 91-5-7, 92-1-4,92-26a-6, 93-9-11 and 94-24-7 which even tells the dealers to use a steel piston and not to use the aluminum piston and if they have any in stock to return them to the parts depot for credit.

Filed Jan 9, 2013 · Engine · 88,000 miles · VA

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 location immediately, but I look under the car and there were all different color fluids coming out. Back in 1999 there was a letter sent to mr. William clay ford relating to this issue ~ a vehicle that has been so well kept and not even have passed 100k miles... This malfunction of ford, should be fixed and honored at all costs and now I am looking at a bill of $2300.00 to get this fixed ~ when if it would have been built right from the beginning this issue would have never happened. I am asking for help of program 98m01 ~ this extension is mandatory for I am a single mother / driver of a ford vehicle ~ it's the american way...... Right???? Mr. William clay ford ~ get me back into a safe vehicle.

Filed Sep 18, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 155,000 miles · NJ

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 the federal safety agency campaign id number: 93v106000 (structure:frame and members) and contacted the dealer. The dealer advised the contact that his VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and they filed a complaint on the contact's behalf. The failure mileage was 155,000.

Filed Nov 11, 2011 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · CA · fire

Car had been parked in my driveway for five days without use. About 9:00am I moved the car and parked it in the street in front of my house. There was no indication of any problem of any kind. About 45 min. Later I was alerted to the sound of a car horn and found the fords horn was honking. When I opened the door to attempt to pull the lever to open the hood there was smoke in the car and a small flame on the left lower corner of the cash. I went to get a fire extinguisher and phoned 911, was gone maybe 30 seconds and when I returned the dash was fully aflame. I then dragged my hose out and by the time @45 seconds later I got the water on, the passenger compartment was fully engulfed. After about 7 min. Of me putting water on the fire and it about 90% out the fire department showed up and finished putting it out. The only problems the car had before was the interior lights had quit working from the door in july but still worked from the headlight switch. About a year and a half ago the fuse that fed the radio among other things had blown but when replaced with the same 15amp fuse all had been ok.

Filed Aug 4, 2011 · Body · 130,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 ford taurus. The contact was driving 5 MPH and attempting a left turn when the vehicle exhibited an abnormal pop noise. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact found that the cradle bolt was fractured. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who confirmed the failure and ordered the part needed for repairs. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 98v323000 (structure:frame and members) and advised that the failure was related to the recall. The manufacturer was then contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 9/20/11 *cn updated 10/11/11

Filed Feb 26, 2011 · Body · WI

The front lower subframe mount plate nut dropped. There was loss of the structural integrity of the subframe mount attachment. Detachment of the body mounts at the front corners of the subframe, which supports the engine and transmission, allowed the front corners of the subframe to drop.

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Compare the 1994 Ford Taurus

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Other model years

199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019

Questions about the 1994 Ford Taurus

Is the 1994 Ford Taurus reliable?

Owners have filed 918 complaints about the 1994 Ford Taurus, 4.5 times a typical Taurus model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1994 Ford Taurus?

Engine and cooling, with 291 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles. Next is transmission (265).

How many recalls does the 1994 Ford Taurus have?

4 recalls, covering structure, exterior lighting and vehicle speed control.

What gas mileage does the 1994 Ford Taurus get?

Official estimates for the 1994 Ford Taurus range from 20 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17-18 city and 26-27 highway.

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