1994 Ford Taurus Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 269about this part
- Share
- 29%of 923 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 269 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1994 Ford Taurus, 29% of the 923 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1994 Ford Taurus reverse just stopped working,(sounded like neutral ). The car struggled to go over 25mph to get home. We made it home just in time for the car to stop working all together! None of the gears work and I will have to have it towed to a repair surface. Only 36,000 miles and already a new transmission!”
NHTSA complaint #10040880, filed 2003-09, 36,000 miles“My Taurus was running great, no problems at all until today 7-9-2004. I went in started my car, it made a noise, then stopped the noise. My transmission engaged in park only. All other gears there was no response. I put it in reverse, nothing, neutral, first, nothing, second, nothing drive, nothing and still nothing. My car would not move. My fluid level was fine. No events LED up to this mishap and I am wondering wwhat to do.”
NHTSA complaint #10080711, filed 2004-07, 123,000 miles“We have replaced the transmission in this car 3 times. The first failure was within 3 months and was under warranty. The second failure was at 84313 miles and we put a new Ford manufactured transmission in the car. That transmission failed at only 16000 additional miles. Our transmission repair cost us $1345 because we were not charged labor by our independent repair dealer. This time we didn't put in a Ford manufactured transmission and we're still going at over 120,000 miles. We sued Ford in small claims court and lost.”
NHTSA complaint #10070985, filed 2004-01, 84,313 miles“Transmission had begin to fail without prior warning. All of the sudden one day I was driving with my wife and son and car began to lunge back and forth. And as I had gotten this looked at I was told that the transmission was failing from a professional in hawaii. I then paid over 1 thousand dollars to get the transmission fixed. Not even a year later and less than 30,ooo miles the transmission started to at up again. Came back to the states had someone look at it and again I was told that the transmission is failing. This is not suppose to be happening. …”
NHTSA complaint #10092978, filed 2004-09, 64,000 miles“The third transmission has now failed. The first time shortly after obtaining the car new. The second time at around 65,000 miles (at this juncture I was told by a reliable source that Ford was aware of this transmission problem). The third failure, aug. 2003, has just happened after repeat trip to the dealer with failure of the car to move complaints, in the last 6 months. Now I'm being told that the transmission is shot and the mileage warranty is not in force. The car is just a little over the 12,000 mile period but is was not when I began to have the problem corrected. …”
NHTSA complaint #10039626, filed 2003-09, 65,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 | 13% |
| 2017 | 1 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3% |
| 2015 | 18 | 6% |
| 2014 | 12 | 5% |
| 2013 | 44 | 8% |
| 2012 | 2 | 3% |
| 2011 | 18 | 10% |
| 2010 | 36 | 18% |
| 2009 | 5 | 8% |
| 2008 | 44 | 25% |
| 2007 | 16 | 11% |
| 2006 | 32 | 10% |
| 2005 | 123 | 16% |
| 2004 | 72 | 19% |
| 2003 | 316 | 26% |
| 2002 | 39 | 3% |
| 2001 | 58 | 6% |
| 2000 | 99 | 8% |
| 1999 | 91 | 10% |
| 1998 | 69 | 13% |
| 1997 | 214 | 28% |
| 1996 | 182 | 22% |
| 1995 | 394 | 33% |
| 1994 | 269 | 29% |
| 1993 | 174 | 11% |
| 1992 | 105 | 15% |
| 1991 | 260 | 40% |
| 1990 | 42 | 11% |
| 1989 | 52 | 9% |
| 1988 | 37 | 11% |
| 1987 | 29 | 11% |
| 1986 | 19 | 19% |
Other parts of the 1994 Ford Taurus
289 complaintsElectrical system
81 complaintsBody and structure
64 complaintsVehicle speed control
61 complaintsBrakes
56 complaintsExterior lighting
50 complaintsFuel system
50 complaintsSuspension
44 complaintsAir bags
38 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
30 complaintsSteering
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1994 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology