2000 Ford Taurus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report broken suspension coil springs most often — front springs, and very frequently rear springs that are not covered by the front-spring recall — with the broken spring sometimes puncturing a tire. Complaints also describe brake-light switch problems, stalling or low-speed die-outs, and occasional transmission or torque converter failures. Many reports come in between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, and several owners note that the spring breakage was found during routine service rather than after a sudden event.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Broken coil springs (front and rear)

   • 360 complaints (30%)
   • median 76,231 mi at 6.7 yrs old (297 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $617 (median of 36 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2017

   Owners describe coil springs that snap, sometimes with a loud noise, leaving the corner of the car sitting low. The broken spring can rub against or puncture the tire, and several reports note a flat or destroyed tire discovered after the break. Many owners say the dealer replaced front springs under the front-spring recall but declined to cover rear springs, which owners were told were not part of it; others say the vehicle was outside the recall by state or build date. Reports span roughly 5,000 to 200,000 miles, with many clustered between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles and some found during routine inspections.

   Recall 04V3320004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect all four coil springs for cracks or fresh breaks, especially the rear springs, and check tires for sidewall damage. Ask whether the front-spring recall work (04V332000) was done and whether the vehicle was registered in one of the covered states.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear left spring had broken off at the bottom by the support. The car was drivable. But out of concern, I went to a local repair shop. Also the mechanic noticed that a stabilizer bar bolt was missing. So I authorized them to replace the springs, struts and stabilizer bars to the tune of 1000$. I can verify the exact amount by receipt. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures or save the old parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10181221, filed 2007-01, 87,340 miles

   “As I went to start my 2000 Ford Taurus se I started the car put the car in drive and heard a loud popping noise, my rear coil spring had fractured and punctured and sliced and destroyed the rear tire, I am in the process of getting the vehicle repaired at a Ford dealer,there have been 100's of the same incident and this should be Ford's liability to replace the rear springs and liable for new tire.”

   NHTSA complaint #10146895, filed 2006-01, 118,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Stalling or sudden loss of power while driving

   • 97 complaints (8%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2022

   Owners describe the engine quitting at low speed or during normal driving, sometimes repeatedly, and sometimes failing to restart. In some reports the car hesitates or refuses to accelerate, then suddenly catches and lurches forward, and one owner links this to a throttle concern the dealer would not address. Complaints also mention rough running, misfires and running hot after extended driving. Reported from about 7,800 to 202,000 miles, with several cases under 70,000 miles and repeated stalling over time.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at low speed and at idle with the air conditioning on, and ask whether the car has a history of stalling, hard starts or misfire codes. Have the throttle body and idle behavior checked during a pre-purchase inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The 2000 Ford Taurus just stops running while driving on the road. Some times the vehicle doesn't start at all and leaves us stranded where we are sitting, for example: at the grocery store, the church and sometimes at home. This incident occurs very often and we have taken it back to the place where it was purchased and to other garages because of the unconcerned people from where this vehicle was purchased. The place we bought it from said they wouldn't help us because there was nothing wrong with it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10299737, filed 2010-01, 68,000 miles

   “It presented a series of missed fired and over heating on the road , after driving around 150 miles , the engine leaking oil and it loss power make it on safe to drive . The air conditioning system is iced up like a fridge and less cooling in an over whole look the car need safety control and all of this can clearly seen on the city road way .”

   NHTSA complaint #11322524, filed 2020-04, 120,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission or torque converter failure

   • 57 complaints (5%)
   • median 55,031 mi at 5.3 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,985 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2016

   Owners report the car suddenly stopping acceleration at highway speed, with no prior transmission symptoms, and shops identifying a failed torque converter. Other complaints describe an automatic transmission that quit at a stoplight and required replacement. One owner reported a mechanic seeing multiple Taurus torque converter jobs per month. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 76,000 miles, often during highway driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for delayed or harsh shifting and any shudder on light acceleration, and ask for service records on fluid changes or transmission work. Confirm the fluid level reads correctly on the dipstick.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have owned my 2002 Ford Taurus for 32 months. During this time, I have hade the the brake pedal switch replaced twice, new rear struts, replaced airbag system. The car is now back at Ford to have a new transaxel installed. There have been more than $5,000 in repairs to this car which has just over 60,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10000702, filed 2003-01, 60,000 miles

   “Traveling at 70 MPH on the interstate, the car just stopped accelerating when pushing the gas pedal. The transmission had simply shut down. The transmission had given us no problems before this time. We brought it to a transmission shop, the torque converter had to be replaced. The cost was $1100. The owner of the shop says he gets in 2 Taurus' a month with the torque converter stripped out. He replaced it with a higher quality torque converter. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10171061, filed 2006-10, 56,700 miles

Buying note. A used example is worth a close look at all four coil springs and tires first, since that is what owners report most, and it is worth confirming which open recalls apply to the specific VIN. Records of brake-light switch, transmission and stalling repairs will tell you more than the mileage alone.

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.