NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1999

Ford Taurus SHO recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 94 owner complaints for the Ford Taurus SHO, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The 1997 model year drew the most complaints (30), and Engine and Engine Cooling is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Ford Taurus SHO VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

2 recall campaigns on file
94 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
5 model years with data (1995–1999)

most complaints: 1997 (30 for that model year)
top component: Engine and Engine Cooling (59 complaints)
latest recall 08V051000 (reported Feb 4, 2008)

6 complaints reporting a crash (6.4%)
4 complaints reporting a fire (4.3%)
5 complaints reporting an injury (5.3%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Ford Taurus SHO complaints by model year

5 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1997 model year has the most complaints: 30 of 94, or 31.9%. Next come 1996 (24) and 1999 (21). The fewest are for 1995, with 9 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Ford Taurus SHO complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Ford Taurus SHO complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
1995	9	1	1	1
1996	24	1	0	2
1997	30	1	2	0
1998	10	1	0	0
1999	21	2	1	2
All model years	94	6	4	5

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Ford Taurus SHO components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often, in 59 complaints (62.8% of all 94), followed by Power Train (9) and Suspension (9).

Components named most often in Ford Taurus SHO complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Ford Taurus SHO complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Engine and Engine Cooling	59	62.8%
Power Train	9	9.6%
Suspension	9	9.6%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	6	6.4%
Electrical System	5	5.3%
Vehicle Speed Control	5	5.3%
Tires	3	3.2%
Unknown or Other	3	3.2%
Air Bags	2	2.1%
Exterior Lighting	2	2.1%
Seat Belts	2	2.1%
Structure	2	2.1%
Visibility	2	2.1%
Engine	1	1.1%
Latches/Locks/Linkages	1	1.1%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Ford Taurus SHO recalls

2 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Taurus SHO, newest first. The 2 campaigns cover model year 1995.

2 recall campaigns

Ford Taurus SHO recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 2 campaigns

NHTSA campaign 08V051000
Reported Feb 4, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Model year 1995
Ford is recalling 225,000 MY 1992-2003 econoline, MY 1993-1995 Taurus SHO, MY 1992-1998 crown victoria, MY 1993 bronco, f-series, MY 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, MY 1992-1998 Mercury Grand Marquis, and MY 1992-1995 Lincoln Town Car vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that is not compatible with the vehicle circuit polarity.
Consequence:
As a result, the fuse is located in the output circuit rather than in the intended input power feed circuit, and may not offer the intended protection in the event of an electrical short to ground.
Remedy:
Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on February 18, 2008. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Filed by Ford Motor Company
NHTSA campaign 07V336000
Reported Aug 3, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
Model year 1995
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Consequence:
This could result in an underhood fire.
Remedy:
Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected October 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on August 13, 2007, and mailing completed by September 19, 2007. Owners may contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Filed by Ford Motor Company

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Ford Taurus SHO questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Ford Taurus SHO have?

NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recall campaigns for the Ford Taurus SHO, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The most recent, 08V051000, was reported on February 4, 2008 and is filed under “Vehicle speed control”.

Which Ford Taurus SHO model year has the most complaints?

The 1997 model year, with 30 of the 94 complaints in NHTSA’s file (31.9%). The next are 1996 (24) and 1999 (21). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Ford Taurus SHO complaint?

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often: 59 complaints, or 62.8% of all 94. Power Train (9) and Suspension (9) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Ford Taurus SHO?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Ford dealer.

How many Ford Taurus SHO complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 94 complaints, 6 report a crash, 4 a fire, 5 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Ford models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Ford VIN decoder with every Ford model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Ford F-150 1995–2027 · 158 recalls · 35,790 complaints
Ford Explorer 1995–2027 · 131 recalls · 31,089 complaints
Ford Escape 2000–2026 · 95 recalls · 27,343 complaints
Ford Fusion 2006–2020 · 46 recalls · 22,383 complaints
Ford Focus 1999–2018 · 36 recalls · 22,086 complaints
Ford Windstar 1995–2005 · 33 recalls · 14,108 complaints
Ford Edge 2004–2024 · 43 recalls · 14,009 complaints
Ford Taurus 1995–2019 · 52 recalls · 12,702 complaints

All Ford models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.