2001 Ford Taurus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about broken coil springs, and the majority of those reports concern the rear springs rather than the front ones covered by an earlier recall campaign. Complaints also cover a throttle or speed-control cable that can hang up and keep the engine revving, brake lines that corrode and rupture, and airbags that either fail to deploy in a crash or deploy without one. Reports arrive at a wide range of mileages, from under 30,000 to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Rear coil spring breaks and rubs the tire

   • 414 complaints (40%)
   • median 70,670 mi at 6.5 yrs old (351 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 71 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2016

   Owners describe hearing a thump, grinding or metallic noise and then finding that a rear coil spring has cracked or snapped, sometimes with the vehicle sitting lower on one side. In many reports the broken spring end rubs against the inside of the rear tire and scores or punctures it, and in some cases tires were ruined more than once. Complaints say dealers replaced springs and struts or quoted several hundred dollars, and several note that the front spring recall campaign did not cover the rear springs. Others say the failure was found during a routine oil change or state inspection. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 110,000 miles, frequently on older cars in rust-belt areas where the spring shows corrosion.

   Recall 04V3320004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look closely at the rear springs for cracks or fresh rust, and check the inner sidewalls of both rear tires for scoring or rubbing marks. Ask whether the front spring recall work was ever performed and whether the rear springs have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While I was driving on the highway at speeds approx 55 MPH, my passenger rear tire blew out. I pulled over and put on my spare tire (donut). Later that day I replaced it with a brand new tire. Within 20 miles the same tire blew out again. After looking underneath I discovered the coil over the strut had ripped open the tire like a can opener.”

   NHTSA complaint #10122459, filed 2005-06, 70,000 miles

   “Rear passenger coil spring broke, dug into the rear side of the tire all the way around down to the belt. I found it by accident when washing my wife's car, could have been a real disaster because she drove on the freeway earlier that day. Replacing both springs and tire at a cost of approx $500.”

   NHTSA complaint #10222632, filed 2008-03, 45,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front coil spring fracture (recall campaign)

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the front end dropping suddenly with a loud noise, or a spring found broken when the car was inspected. Several owners report the fractured spring contacting a tire, and one describes losing control around a curve. Some say the repair was handled under the front spring recall campaign, while others report being told their vehicle identification number was not included, or that reimbursement was refused because the work had not been done at a dealer. Reported across a broad mileage range, from about 40,000 to over 100,000 miles, mainly on cars registered or driven in high-corrosion states.

   Recall 04V3320004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for documentation that the front coil spring recall campaign was completed, and have a mechanic inspect both front springs and the front tires for contact damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Went to my local Ford dealer to take care of a recall notice I had received on my 2001 Taurus for broken front springs. While the dealer took care of my front springs they also inspected the rear springs on the car. When they were finished they came out and told me the rear springs are cracked and needed to be replaced but were not covered under the recall. I work in the auto industry dealing with metal parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10262592, filed 2009-03, 100,000 miles

   “My most recent contact with Ford was highly unpleasant and discouraging. I own a 2001 Ford Taurus with 80,000 miles that had 2 front coil springs and 1 rear coil spring break. I contacted Ford customer service to inquire what I needed to do regarding the recall on the coil springs; I gave my VIN # to the agent and was told that this car does not have any recalls and Ford could not offer me any service for the broken springs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10357414, filed 2010-09, 80,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Corroded brake lines and brake component failures

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe losing braking or finding brake fluid leaking near the driver's door, with a mechanic tracing it to rear brake lines that had corroded and ruptured where they pass under a recess in the floor pan. Another owner reports the front wheels seizing and the brakes failing while turning on a wet road, traced to a corroded proportioning valve. Separately, owners describe brake lights staying on or not working, and gear selector or shifting problems tied to the stop lamp switch and wiring. Reported from about 45,000 to 180,000 miles, with the line corrosion noted on older cars in damp or salted-road use.

   Recall 04V106000Recall 02V266000

   What to check: Have the brake lines under the floor pan inspected for rust, and check that the brake lights work and that the gear selector moves out of park normally. Ask whether the stop lamp switch recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I lost braking when a came to a hard stop. Noticed that brake fluid dripping out by driver's door. I found out the brake lines that go to the rear of the car ruptured. Most of the brake lines are visible and are in good shape under the vehicle. Part of the brake lines rise under a recess in the underbody floor. There a plastic shield protects it from the parking brake cable. It was there that the lines had corroded badly and ruptured. This is listed on sited on the internet and should be warned to all Taurus owners.”

   NHTSA complaint #10484735, filed 2012-11, 177,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2001 Ford Taurus. The brake light stayed lit when the engine was off. The Ford dealer replaced the stop lamp switch harness. The contact stated that recall#04v106000 was issued for the same failure. However, the manufacturer stated that it did not include this vehicle due to the VIN. The contact has the repair invoice. The current and failure mileage were 66,000. Update 4/23/07 the tensioner and belt was replaced”

   NHTSA complaint #10185335, filed 2007-03, 66,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle or speed-control cable sticks, engine revs

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the engine holding high rpm or the car accelerating after the accelerator pedal is released, in some cases at low speed such as parking or pulling away. Drivers describe stopping the car by braking hard, shifting to neutral or park, or turning off the ignition. One complaint says the cruise control was disconnected afterward on a mechanic's recommendation, and several point to the throttle or speed-control cable as the place it hangs up. Reported from roughly 90,000 to 200,000 miles, often during low-speed maneuvering rather than highway driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the speed-control cable and its routing have been inspected or replaced, and have a mechanic check that the throttle returns freely to idle with the pedal released.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car will sometimes stay at high rpms even when pressure is released on the accelerator pedal. This happened to me in 2018 when I first got the car and has happened recently in december 2020. In the first episode, I depressed the brake and the car did not slow down until I shifted to neutral. In the second, my wife had to throw it into park. The car was in motion on a city street in both instances going straight”

   NHTSA complaint #11384164, filed 2020-12, 102,000 miles

   “On two separate occasions, the throttle cable (or speed control cable) got stuck and my car accelerated at a high rate of speed. Luckily, both times I was fairly close to home and made it without causing an accident. After the first incident, I found where the cable was getting hung up. I sprayed it with wd-40, but that obviously did not do the trick as it happened again today. I've read where others have had the same issue and, given this extremely dangerous situation, am shocked that the NHTSA hasn't taken action.”

   NHTSA complaint #10510629, filed 2013-05, 194,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags that don't deploy or deploy unexpectedly

   • 69 complaints (7%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 50 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Some complaints describe collisions in which neither front airbag deployed, sometimes with occupants injured, while another reports side airbags deploying without a crash at about 20 mph. In the unintended-deployment case the dealer could not determine a cause and the module was sent to the manufacturer, which attributed it to a faulty module. Owners in the non-deployment reports note that no airbag warning light had been showing beforehand. Reported between roughly 20,000 and 110,000 miles, in both low-speed and highway collisions.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light comes on briefly at start-up and then goes out, and ask whether the airbag system has ever been scanned or serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had a severe t-bone type crash with a vehicle-not my fault as the other vehicle lost control and ended up in front of me-traveling approximately 45 to 50 MPH. On a local highway. Our airbags, neither drivers nor passengers, did not deploy nor did the shoulder harnesses keep us from being thrown forward. Only the fact that we braced ourselves kept both of us from being badly injured.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047408, filed 2003-11, 36,500 miles

   “While driving 20 MPH vehicle was involved I a head on collision. Upon impact, dual air bags did not deploy. Passenger sustained lower back and neck injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10072243, filed 2004-05, 45,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the rear coil springs and the condition of the brake lines are the two things most worth having inspected before purchase, since both are described in complaints as progressing quietly until something breaks or a tire is damaged. Ask for recall paperwork, particularly for the front spring campaign and the stop lamp switch, and budget for suspension and brake work on a car of this age.

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.