4th generation (D186) · D186 · 8,142 complaints, 6,212 with mileage
Owners filed 8,142 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2007 Ford Taurus, and 6,212 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,100 and 110,000 miles. The median is 80,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the suspension (30.6% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles), throttle and speed control (16.0% of complaints, typically around 98,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (9.5% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles).
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 2,495 | 30.6% | 80,000 | 59,337–103,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1,300 | 16.0% | 98,000 | 71,000–125,000 |
| Power Train | 772 | 9.5% | 86,000 | 59,800–114,000 |
| Visibility | 432 | 5.3% | 57,061 | 41,400–82,555 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 395 | 4.9% | 68,800 | 42,000–89,000 |
| Electrical System | 358 | 4.4% | 75,000 | 44,076–110,000 |
| Air Bags | 332 | 4.1% | 64,000 | 39,000–95,000 |
| Structure | 301 | 3.7% | 68,700 | 47,000–106,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 279 | 3.4% | 43,500 | 21,000–76,680 |
| Exterior Lighting | 220 | 2.7% | 85,500 | 49,500–120,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,497 | 736 |
| 2001 | 1,264 | 829 |
| 2002 | 1,759 | 1,518 |
| 2003 | 1,524 | 1,294 |
| 2004 | 482 | 403 |
| 2005 | 1,005 | 907 |
| 2006 | 415 | 354 |
| 2007 | 196 | 171 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 80,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The suspension accounts for 30.6% of complaints (2,495 reports, 2,172 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,337 and 103,000 miles.
A single system taking 30.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 16.0% of complaints (1,300 reports, 1,081 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 98,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 71,000 and 125,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 9.5% of complaints (772 reports, 635 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,800 and 114,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 5.3% of complaints (432 reports, 318 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,061 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,400 and 82,555 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 4.9% of complaints (395 reports, 245 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,800 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 89,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 4.4% of complaints (358 reports, 264 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,076 and 110,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2002 model year drew the most — 1,759 complaints — while 2007 drew the fewest at 196. The median year sits at 1,134.
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Of the 8,142 complaints filed against this generation, 581 reported a crash; 125 reported a fire; 455 reported an injury; 15 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.1% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 55,100 and 110,000 miles, with a median of 80,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the suspension and throttle and speed control are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The suspension in particular shows a median failure mileage of 80,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Continued torque-converter, input-shaft and forward-clutch failures producing loss of drive; the AX4N pattern carries directly over from the DN101.
Front coil springs fracture from corrosion and the broken end can puncture the tire, causing loss of control. Subject of NHTSA recall action on salt-belt Taurus and Sable cars of the early 2000s.
Head gasket and intake manifold gasket failures with coolant loss.