1999 Ford Taurus

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1999 Ford Taurus
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford Taurus Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1999 highlighted. 1981: 2 complaints 1981 1983: 1 complaints 1984: 4 complaints 1985: 2 complaints 1986: 101 complaints 1987: 255 complaints 1987 1988: 333 complaints 1989: 562 complaints 1990: 381 complaints 1991: 649 complaints 1992: 681 complaints 1992 1993: 1557 complaints 1994: 923 complaints 1995: 1205 complaints 1996: 825 complaints 1997: 770 complaints 1997 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 874 complaints 1999 2000: 1195 complaints 2001: 1037 complaints 2002: 1426 complaints 2002 2003: 1223 complaints 2004: 375 complaints 2005: 774 complaints 2006: 318 complaints 2007: 149 complaints 2007 2008: 175 complaints 2009: 64 complaints 2010: 202 complaints 2011: 187 complaints 2012: 78 complaints 2012 2013: 579 complaints 2014: 227 complaints 2015: 253 complaints 2016: 75 complaints 2017: 43 complaints 2017 2018: 45 complaints 2019: 11 complaints 2019
1999: 874 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19812
19831
19844
19852
1986101
1987255
1988333
1989562
1990381
1991649
1992681
19931557
1994923
19951205
1996825
1997770
1998545
1999874
20001195
20011037
20021426
20031223
2004375
2005774
2006318
2007149
2008175
200964
2010202
2011187
201278
2013579
2014227
2015253
201675
201743
201845
201911

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

SUSPENSION 15%

15% of complaints: suspension — 127 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10%

10% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 89 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
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, 20120313

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19990122

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, 20171119

POWER TRAIN 8%

8% of complaints: power train — 68 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
STEERING 6%

6% of complaints: steering — 49 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 3%

3% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 29 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19990122

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19980904 — seat belts

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 C

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

Campaign 98V198000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980921 — vehicle speed control

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 I

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CLIP, AND RE-INSTALL IF NEEDED.

Campaign 98V204000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19981125 — power train

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 MOD

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE APPROPRIATE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE.

Campaign 98V288000 — check if this car was fixed

1999 — complaint volume: 874
R 19991011 — seat belts

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 MECHANISM

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.

Campaign 99V250000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20021022 — PE (closed 20030429)

FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE

I 20040524 — PE (closed 20040816)

FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE

R 20050110 — suspension

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA,

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 15

Campaign 04V332000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

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 S

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.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

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 CONF

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.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1999 Ford Taurus — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for suspension issues (127 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (89 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (68 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 98V198000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V204000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V288000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V250000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V332000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2017 ▲ 2018 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 1993 ■ 2002 ■ 2003

See all years ranked →

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:front:springs:coil springs, accounting for 15% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Taurus have?

7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.