2001 Ford Taurus Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 97about this part
- Share
- 9%of 1,037 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 43,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 97 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Ford Taurus, 9% of the 1,037 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 43,500 miles. 17 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On different occasions my car would try to lunge forward when I slam on the brakes. I had some close calls in hitting someone or a car. Lucky I had my foot already on the brake pedal and would brake hard again, then again sometimes. I started checking under the hood and I found that my brake fluid container lid was not on tight. After placing the lid on tight I had no more problems with braking or the car would try to go forward when I slam on the brakes.”
NHTSA complaint #10313575, filed 2010-02, 117,000 miles“Was informed brake lights were not working, then when I stopped the vehicle and put it in park and restated could not get out of park so installed a new brake switch which worked for less then an hour. Thinking it could be a fuse checked the manual list of fuses and could not find a listing for the fuse that went to the brake switch so checked fuses one by one to see if they were bad all okay. So I assume the new switch was bad and replaced it with another and they one did not work either. I can now get out of park to drive the vehicle but I have no brake lights which is not safe at all. …”
NHTSA complaint #11099919, filed 2018-06, 152,000 miles“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“Pulsations while braking. When I had about 12000 miles on my 2001 Ford Taurus, the brakes started to pulsate when I applied them. The service dept told me it was normal wear and the disc needed resurfacing. Now with ~29000 miles the problem is reoccuring. I expect longer life out of my brakes.”
NHTSA complaint #10060206, filed 2004-03, 12,000 miles“At a stop light, no crash, but almost. I was applying the brakes hard and the car engine did not want to stop. The engine kept trying to go forward, but my hard braking kept it from going forward. I had to change car lanes to prevent a crash. I had to keep my foot on the brake pressing hard. The car engine finally stop trying move forward.. This has happen before with this car several times with some close calls. This happens on and off for the past 2 years. My brakes are in good sharp. Maybe a sensor problem ???”
NHTSA complaint #10321024, filed 2010-03, 118,657 milesRelated recalls
- 04V106000Mar 2, 2004Certain passenger vehicles are being recalled to correct a problem with a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring. This malfunctioning could…Covers: Ford Taurus 2000–2003, Mercury Sable 2000–2003
- 02V266000Oct 2, 2002Certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable padels are being recalled in order to adjust the brake and accelerator pedals to a minimum of 50 mm of…Covers: Ford Taurus 2000–2002, Mercury Sable 2000–2002
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 4% |
| 2017 | 1 | 2% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 3 | 1% |
| 2014 | 10 | 4% |
| 2013 | 8 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 5% |
| 2011 | 13 | 7% |
| 2010 | 33 | 16% |
| 2009 | 5 | 8% |
| 2008 | 15 | 9% |
| 2007 | 8 | 5% |
| 2006 | 26 | 8% |
| 2005 | 36 | 5% |
| 2004 | 26 | 7% |
| 2003 | 44 | 4% |
| 2002 | 46 | 3% |
| 2001 | 97 | 9% |
| 2000 | 108 | 9% |
| 1999 | 107 | 12% |
| 1998 | 81 | 15% |
| 1997 | 73 | 9% |
| 1996 | 71 | 9% |
| 1995 | 86 | 7% |
| 1994 | 56 | 6% |
| 1993 | 110 | 7% |
| 1992 | 67 | 10% |
| 1991 | 74 | 11% |
| 1990 | 26 | 7% |
| 1989 | 35 | 6% |
| 1988 | 22 | 7% |
| 1987 | 19 | 7% |
| 1986 | 8 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2001 Ford Taurus
515 complaintsVehicle speed control
99 complaintsAir bags
66 complaintsEngine cooling
60 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
58 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
39 complaintsBody and structure
38 complaintsElectrical system
37 complaintsTires
35 complaintsExterior lighting
29 complaintsSeat belts
24 complaintsFuel system
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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