1997 Ford Taurus Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 42about this part
- Share
- 5%of 770 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,374miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 42 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Ford Taurus, 5% of the 770 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,374 miles. 25 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.
“I was involved in a one car accident with some stone guard rails on route 18 north in eatontown, new jersey. My seat belt release on impact and sent me flying to the passenger side of the car on top of my boyfriend. Also the air bags never deployed. And we hit the gurad rails at 65 MPH. I would like to hear something back from someone at the Ford headquarters. Because my boyfriend and I could hav lost ours lives due to the defects of this car. The car is totaled out. …”
NHTSA complaint #10104852, filed 2004-12, 115,500 miles“Dt: the contact stated when the vehicle was first started the air big light illuminated. The air bag light blinked four times and then went off for approximately three or four seconds. While the vehicle was running this pattern was repeated over and over. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10140916, filed 2005-10, 104,000 miles“Dt: the contact stated while driving at 70 MPH the contact's vehicle hit a retainer wall. The airbags did not deploy until the vehicle was completely stopped. The vehicle was totaled ,and is currently at a salvage yard. There has been no inspection to see why the airbags malfunctioned. A police report was taken at the scene.”
NHTSA complaint #10141648, filed 2005-11, 83,749 miles“The vehicle hydro planed while making a right turn at 40 MPH on a wet road. As a result the consumer lost control of the vehicle, and impacted a guard rail head on. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. The consumer sustained serious thumb injuries when it came in contact with the steering wheel, and required surgery. The vehicle was totaled.”
NHTSA complaint #10056079, filed 2004-02, 50,000 miles“Consumer states that when they were hit on the front passenger side of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. Dealer notified. The consumer was involved in a head on collision. Before the crash a complete repair kit was placed in the vehicle but the air bag failed to deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10012405, filed 2003-03, 57,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 6% |
| 2017 | 2 | 5% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 5 | 2% |
| 2014 | 5 | 2% |
| 2013 | 11 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 4% |
| 2011 | 8 | 4% |
| 2010 | 11 | 5% |
| 2009 | 6 | 9% |
| 2008 | 15 | 9% |
| 2007 | 7 | 5% |
| 2006 | 21 | 7% |
| 2005 | 27 | 3% |
| 2004 | 21 | 6% |
| 2003 | 46 | 4% |
| 2002 | 47 | 3% |
| 2001 | 66 | 6% |
| 2000 | 88 | 7% |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% |
| 1998 | 39 | 7% |
| 1997 | 42 | 5% |
| 1996 | 45 | 5% |
| 1995 | 55 | 5% |
| 1994 | 38 | 4% |
| 1993 | 54 | 3% |
| 1992 | 49 | 7% |
| 1991 | 55 | 8% |
| 1990 | 41 | 11% |
| 1989 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Taurus
214 complaintsEngine cooling
145 complaintsBrakes
73 complaintsElectrical system
62 complaintsSteering
59 complaintsVehicle speed control
58 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
57 complaintsFuel system
33 complaintsSuspension
28 complaintsBody and structure
25 complaintsEquipment
24 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 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