1999 Ford Taurus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two kinds of trouble: front coil springs that break and can puncture a front tire, and steering that becomes hard to turn as the power steering pump or rack and pinion leaks. Many reports arrive between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles, and several owners mention that recall work for the springs was delayed, not covered, or refused for their vehicle.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front coil spring breaks and punctures tire

   • 139 complaints (16%)
   • median 68,500 mi at 5.9 yrs old (82 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2015

   Owners describe a loud bang from the front of the car, followed by a sagging corner and sometimes a blown-out tire, after a coil spring breaks. Several say the broken spring piece cut into the tire, and repairs covered springs, struts and tires at their own cost when the vehicle was not handled under the recall. Complaints also describe waiting for recall parts, being told the vehicle was not included, or being refused the passenger-side spring because it had not broken yet. Mostly reported between about 27,000 and 92,000 miles, often on cars driven for years in areas where road salt is used.

   Recall 04V3320004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a shop inspect both front coil springs and check whether recall 04V332000 was completed; ask for documentation, since coverage was limited to certain states. Also look at the inner sidewall of the front tires for rubbing or cuts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Both front coil spings of my 99 Taurus failed catastrophically while my 16 yr old son was driving. A share of spring shredded the right front tire, nearly causing a serious accident with this brand new driver. I have the parts as well as digital photos available. Only 54000 miles on vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10066193, filed 2004-04, 54,000 miles

   “I was notified by mail by Ford motor company in august of 2004 of a recall of my 1999 Taurus regarding the coil springs. The recall # is 04s17/04m04. The notice stated that in certain high corrosion areas the front springs could fracture and rupture the tire. It was anticipated that in december 2004, kits would be available to the Ford dealers to install over the springs to prevent tire rupture. On tuesday dec. 21, 2004, I brought in the car to the dealer for routine service (90,000 miles). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10105641, filed 2005-01, 90,100 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering hard to turn, fluid leaks

   • 72 complaints (8%)
   • median 57,900 mi at 4.8 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $810 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2015

   Owners report the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn, especially at low speed or in turns, along with whining from the pump and fluid escaping at the reservoir cap or into the rack boots. Complaints describe replacing the rack and pinion or the power steering pump, in some cases with the problem returning. Some owners say a shop told them fluid was blocked inside the reservoir. Usually reported between about 41,000 and 127,000 miles, often noticed first during parking-lot or driveway turns.

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and look for seepage around the pump, reservoir cap and rack boots, then turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for whining or binding.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I lost the power steering on my 1999 Ford Taurus station wagon. When it stopped working, I had a very difficult time turning around corners. I had a very difficult time making a left turn into my driveway. I then became afraid to drive it as I did not have the strength to make a turn. I had to have a male friend who is far stronger than me, drive the car to the dealer for repairs. My car only has 41,000 miles on it. This is not a part that should wear out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10000773, filed 2003-01, 41,000 miles

   “While driving at 20 MPH consumer heard a noise near the engine compartment, and it became hard to steer. Consumer took the vehicle home and called a mechanic. The mechanic examined the vehicle and determined that power steering pump needed to be replaced. Fuel pump had been replaced four times since ownership of the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10065051, filed 2004-03, 54,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal to the floor, line or hose failure

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking all the way down and the car not stopping, in some cases leading to a collision. Complaints point to rusted or split steel brake lines and to a brake hose cut by a broken suspension part, with the loss of fluid leaving little or no braking. Repairs involved replacing long sections of line, hoses, the master cylinder or the booster. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 46,000 up to about 185,000 miles, usually without warning.

   What to check: Ask for the brake lines and hoses to be inspected underneath for rust, wet spots or cracking, and check that the pedal stays firm when held under pressure.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife recently experienced a total brake failure on my 99 Taurus wagon (46k miles). She was starting out of her parking space so there was no collision. This should not have happened as this vehicle has a dual diagonal system for safety. Unfortunately the diagonal part is what did it in as the two lines running to the rear wheels were run together and both rotted out simultaneously.”

   NHTSA complaint #10179280, filed 2007-01, 46,200 miles

   “We had a total brake failure on our 1999 Ford Taurus, we drove out of our drive way going to the mail box and when we hit the brakes the brake failure light came on as the brakes went to the floor and the car coasted to a stop. If we had been going faster it would have been very serious. The problem was that the brake line to the back brakes split and leaked all the fluid which LED to the failure, are these cars supposed to have a back up systems?”

   NHTSA complaint #10182252, filed 2007-02, 114,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips or stops moving

   • 53 complaints (6%)
   • median 81,359 mi at 5.5 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,600 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2017

   Owners report the transmission slipping or revving as if in neutral, sometimes with rough shifting and the service engine light coming on, then losing all gears. Complaints describe the failure happening while driving or pulling away from a stop, and repair estimates ranged from a sensor replacement to a rebuilt or used transmission. A few owners say the problem came back after a repair. Commonly reported between about 66,000 and 100,000 miles, sometimes suddenly with no earlier warning.

   Recall 98V288000

   What to check: Test drive from cold and check for delayed engagement, slipping on acceleration or rough overdrive shifts; ask whether the fluid was serviced and whether any transmission work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car has 84,000 miles, no warning signs. I had just got off the interstate and was stopped behind another car. When I started out I heard a thunk and the transmission wouldn't work.the car is now at the Ford garage and the cost of a factory rebuilt transmission is $2500.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #10113933, filed 2005-03, 84,000 miles

   “A minor slippage in the transmission became a complete transmission failure in less than a mile. No power to any gears, had to be towed. Only repair options presented were new/used transmission, ranging from 1500-3000 in price, even though the nature of the failure was known by the dealership and the other mechanics I spoke with. Otherwise, good car, but now it sits in my driveway. I would like the transmission repaired/replaced reasonably or for free given the complete and total, sudden failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10419592, filed 2011-08, 100,000 miles
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Seat belt will not pull out or retract

   • 43 complaints (5%)
   • median 67,391 mi at 7.6 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2019

   Owners report seat belts, mainly in the rear, that will not extend or will not retract, leaving a seat unusable for a passenger. Some say the retractor mechanism failed on both sides within a short time, and others were told their vehicle was not covered by the recall because of its identification number. Repair quotes for the retractor assembly were given to some owners. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 132,000 miles, often on rear belts that saw little use.

   Recall 99V250000Recall 98V198000

   What to check: Pull each belt fully out and let it retract on every seating position, and ask whether recall 99V250000 or 98V198000 was completed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The consumer was having a problem with the seat belt. The consumer purchased the vehicle used and discovered that the vehicle had been recalled for a seat belt problem. The dealer told the consumer that the vehicle identification number did not qualify for the recall. The seat belt would not retract and or come out enough to buckle it. Refer to recall campaign 98v198000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10099156, filed 2004-11, 20,000 miles

   “The contact stated the front passenger seat belt intermittently will not retract or it will lock before it is fastened into the buckle assembly. There is a NHTSA recall, # 99v250000 regarding the seatbelts front: anchorage. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #10154546, filed 2006-04, 25,000 miles

Buying note. Check the front springs and whether the coil-spring recall was completed, inspect the brake lines and steering for leaks, and test every seat belt and the transmission on a cold test drive. Service records showing recall and steering work are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.