2007 Ford Taurus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe unintended or unexpected acceleration, often traced by mechanics to the throttle body, cruise-control cable or linkage, or a sticky accelerator. Transmission failures (several involving the torque converter) and door latches that will not stay shut in cold weather are the other recurring themes, with brake lines rusting through on higher-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration / sticky throttle

   • 57 complaints (38%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe the car picking up speed without the driver pressing the gas, sometimes while cruise control is off or after the engine revs on its own. Owners report tapping or pumping the pedal, shifting to neutral or park, or shutting the engine off to regain control. Several say dealers or mechanics replaced the throttle body, cruise-control cable or linkage, or found nothing on a scan, and in some cases the symptom returned after repair. Spread across roughly 16,000 to 160,000 miles, reported in city and highway driving and in cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the throttle body, cruise-control cable and linkage for sticking or frayed parts, and ask whether the throttle body or cables have been replaced. On a test drive, check that the pedal returns freely and the idle settles after revving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle is accelerating on its own. I was driving at about 25 to 30 miles per hours when I notice the needle on the instrument panel wasn't going down when I took my foot off the pedal,and later it started to get more aggressive and started accelerating on its own. I made it home safely, but I'm afraid to drive my car now.”

   NHTSA complaint #10502214, filed 2013-03, 97,000 miles

   “When I am driving on the street 35mph all of a sudden my car starts to excel (picks up speed) and in order for me to stop it from picking up speed I have to pull over and put it on park then press the gas pedal one quick time and then I can start to drive again. I can't do nothing else but pullover”

   NHTSA complaint #11299988, filed 2020-01, 35 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission failure, often torque converter

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 66,750 mi at 6.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2015

   Complaints describe sudden loss of drive power, hesitation, shaking or rubbing noises at around 35-40 mph, and in some cases the car not moving in gear at all. Several owners say a transmission shop identified the torque converter or the transmission itself as the cause and quoted a replacement. Others report dealers confirming a problem but being unable to repair it promptly, and some describe fluid leaks or a loose dipstick. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 125,000 miles, commonly with no warning beforehand.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and check the fluid level and condition (color, burnt smell). During the test drive, listen for noise or hesitation around 35-40 mph and confirm the car engages drive and reverse promptly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle transmission has hesitation, shaking problem and rubbing noises at 35-40 MPH. Possible failure on the road was admitted by Ford service department. Vehicle was diagnosed with the problem at last service but couldn't be fixed because parts are not available. This is my sole means of transportation but I was told it may be many months before it can be fixed. Meanwhile it is a safety issue as breakdown on the road may cause accident. Updated 12/17/13”

   NHTSA complaint #10554369, filed 2013-12, 43,776 miles

   “Vehicle suddenly lost power to the wheels in the middle of heavy rush hour traffic, though the vehicle was still on. After coasting into a parking lot, I tried to move the car both forward and backward and it just wouldn't go. There was no noise to indicate something had broken. After taking it to the transmission shop, I found out from the owner that the torque converter was at fault and that they saw this all the time on this generation of Ford Taurus around 60,000 to 90,000 miles driven. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10595047, filed 2014-05, 75,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinking to the floor / rusted brake lines

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 135,000 mi at 10.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2022

   Complaints describe the brake pedal traveling to the floor with reduced stopping, sometimes intermittently, and in some cases a collision at low speed. Owners who had the car inspected say the steel brake lines had rusted through, particularly where the coating was missing on cars in the Northeast where road salt is used. Others mention the ABS and brake lights staying on without a clear diagnosis. Mostly reported above 75,000 miles, often on cars driven in road-salt climates.

   What to check: Have the brake lines inspected underneath, especially along the driver's side near the hangers, and ask whether they have been replaced. Check the pedal for firmness and that it does not sink when held.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On july 10, 2017 I was proceeding within the speed limit on a city street. I noticed a line of stopped cars some distance ahead of me. I attempted to apply my brakes, but it soon became evident that that they were not functioning properly. Thus, my rate of speed was not being sufficiently reduced. I pumped the brakes, but to no avail. I then applied a great deal of pressure to the brake pedal, but it meekly sunk to the floor. By the time I went for the emergency brake, and I collided with the car in front of me at a low rate of speed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11005600, filed 2017-07, 90,000 miles

   “Factory steel brake lines rusted through. The brake lines were partially plastic coated. The part of the line that rusted through wasn't coated and ran down the drivers side of the car near one of the hangers. Brake lines should not be made out of steel for vehicles. The salt that is used on the roads in the north east us eats the brake lines up way too quickly. This is a serious safety issue!”

   NHTSA complaint #10660829, filed 2014-11, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Engine stalling while driving

   • 13 complaints (9%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2017

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning at low and highway speeds, which also takes away power steering assist. Owners report the car restarting after being shifted to neutral or park, or after cycling the key. Some say dealers replaced the instrument cluster or other parts without stopping the stalling, and others describe rough running or surging before the engine dies. Scattered from very low mileage up to about 145,000 miles, reported both in traffic and at highway speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the car has ever stalled and whether the instrument cluster, PCM or ignition components have been serviced. On a test drive, watch for rough idle, surging or sudden drop in power.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have in my possession a 2007 Ford Taurus issued to me as a fleet vehicle from my employer. I picked up the vehicle at the dealership with less than 6 miles on it. Over the past 4 months the vehicle has stalled while I was driving the vehicle about 8 times. The majority of times it was in taking a left hand turn and the vehicle would stall as I would initiate the turn. Several times the vehicle stalled while driving about 20 MPH through a parking lot going straight. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10176000, filed 2006-12, 4,000 miles

   “This car died twice as my wife was driving home yesterday. No warning. It was running well since buying it a month ago, and is well maintained with 105k miles on it. It first died 500 yards from home, and died again as she parked in the driveway. This shuts down power steering and becomes very difficult to steer. It restarted when shifted to neutral or park. We have researched and found other people with the same problem. Some dying at 70 MPH on highways with no warning. Sporadic dying up to 5 times daily or months between incidents. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11015675, filed 2017-08, 105,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws recurring complaints about unintended acceleration, transmission trouble and cold-weather door latches, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on the throttle body, cruise-control linkage, transmission and door latches is worthwhile, and service records help show whether these have already been addressed.

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.