MYRModel Year Report

1999 Ford Taurus

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1999 Ford Taurus
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
874
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 1999

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Suspension

21% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 2 complaints 1981 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 4 complaints 1985: 2 complaints 1986: 104 complaints 1987: 259 complaints 1987 1988: 341 complaints 1989: 570 complaints 1990: 392 complaints 1991: 659 complaints 1992: 694 complaints 1992 1993: 1,565 complaints 1994: 931 complaints 1995: 1,208 complaints 1996: 825 complaints 1997: 770 complaints 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 874 complaints 1999 874 2000: 1,195 complaints 2001: 1,037 complaints 2002: 1,426 complaints 2003: 1,223 complaints 2004: 375 complaints 2005: 774 complaints 2006: 318 complaints 2007: 149 complaints 2007 2008: 175 complaints 2009: 64 complaints 2010: 204 complaints 2011: 187 complaints 2012: 79 complaints 2012 2013: 584 complaints 2014: 229 complaints 2015: 271 complaints 2016: 81 complaints 2017: 44 complaints 2017 2018: 47 complaints 2019: 15 complaints
1981: 2 complaints 1981 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 4 complaints 1985: 2 complaints 1985 1986: 104 complaints 1987: 259 complaints 1988: 341 complaints 1988 1989: 570 complaints 1990: 392 complaints 1991: 659 complaints 1991 1992: 694 complaints 1993: 1,565 complaints 1994: 931 complaints 1994 1995: 1,208 complaints 1996: 825 complaints 1997: 770 complaints 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 874 complaints 1999 874 2000: 1,195 complaints 2001: 1,037 complaints 2002: 1,426 complaints 2003: 1,223 complaints 2003 2004: 375 complaints 2005: 774 complaints 2006: 318 complaints 2006 2007: 149 complaints 2008: 175 complaints 2009: 64 complaints 2009 2010: 204 complaints 2011: 187 complaints 2012: 79 complaints 2012 2013: 584 complaints 2014: 229 complaints 2015: 271 complaints 2015 2016: 81 complaints 2017: 44 complaints 2018: 47 complaints 2018 2019: 15 complaints
1981: 2 complaints 1981 1983: 1 complaint 1984: 4 complaints 1984 1985: 2 complaints 1986: 104 complaints 1986 1987: 259 complaints 1988: 341 complaints 1988 1989: 570 complaints 1990: 392 complaints 1990 1991: 659 complaints 1992: 694 complaints 1992 1993: 1,565 complaints 1994: 931 complaints 1994 1995: 1,208 complaints 1996: 825 complaints 1996 1997: 770 complaints 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 874 complaints 1999 874 2000: 1,195 complaints 2001: 1,037 complaints 2002: 1,426 complaints 2002 2003: 1,223 complaints 2004: 375 complaints 2004 2005: 774 complaints 2006: 318 complaints 2006 2007: 149 complaints 2008: 175 complaints 2008 2009: 64 complaints 2010: 204 complaints 2010 2011: 187 complaints 2012: 79 complaints 2012 2013: 584 complaints 2014: 229 complaints 2014 2015: 271 complaints 2016: 81 complaints 2016 2017: 44 complaints 2018: 47 complaints 2018 2019: 15 complaints

1999: 874 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19812
19831
19844
19852
1986104
1987259
1988341
1989570
1990392
1991659
1992694
19931,565
1994931
19951,208
1996825
1997770
1998545
1999874
20001,195
20011,037
20021,426
20031,223
2004375
2005774
2006318
2007149
2008175
200964
2010204
2011187
201279
2013584
2014229
2015271
201681
201744
201847
201915

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Suspension

21% · 187 reports

Most commonly citing coil springs and front.

CRASHINJURY

Steering

13% · 115 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and pump.

CRASHINJURY

Service brakes

13% · 115 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Vehicle speed control

13% · 110 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and linkages.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while in reverse, the vehicle suddenly accelerated backward and crashed into a fence. The contact suffered injuries to the back and right leg. The vehicle was towed to a dealer.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-03-13

The vehicle in front stopped short. Had applied brakes quickly. ABS brakes locked up. Vehicle accelerated after the brakes were applied. Rearended vehicle. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 1999-01-22

Also filed under Air bags and service brakes, hydraulic

Was driving and all of a sudden the speedometer started jumping around, when I stepped on the gas the RPM's reved up high. I stopped at the stop sign and the car accelerated by itself into the intersection I came close to hitting another car!

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-19

Also filed under Power train

Power train

11% · 95 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1998-09-04Seat belts98V198000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual seat tracks. The front seat belt buckle attaching stud may have been improperly heat treated. This heat treatment may have resulted in…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and stud assembly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    1998-09-21Vehicle speed control98V204000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A dash insulator retainer clip was not fully assembled to the accelerator cable dash fitting. The clip can disengage from the accelerator cable and fall…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles to ensure proper installation of the accelerator cable clip, and re-install if needed.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    1998-11-25Power train98V288000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equpped with the "California" Emissions package. An incorrect transmission oil cooler line was installed. The line contacts the anti-lock braking system…

    Remedy: Dealers will install the appropriate transmission oil cooler line.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. ▮
    1999Complaint volume 874 complaints filed for this model year.
  5. R
    1999-10-11Seat belts99V250000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt retractor may have a pin shaft in the switchable elr/alr mechanism that is incorrectly formed. In some circumstances, the switching…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lap and shoulder belt assemblies. Assemblies with julian date codes of 200 through 223 are suspect and will be replaced.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2002-10-22Preliminary evaluationClosed 2003-04-29 Front suspension coil spring fracture
  7. I
    2004-05-24Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-08-16 Front suspension coil spring fracture
  8. R
    2005-01-10Suspension04V332000 On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan…

    Remedy: Dealers will install protective spring shields. In addition, Ford is extending the warranty coverage of the front coil springs in all other states, for fracture only, up to 10 years of service or…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1999 Ford Taurus — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Suspension: 187 reports on file for this year.
  • Steering: 115 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 115 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 98V198000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 98V204000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 98V288000 · Power train
  • Recall 99V250000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 04V332000 · Suspension
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1999 Ford Taurus reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 Ford Taurus is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Ford Taurus?
The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 21% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Taurus have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.