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2000 Ford Taurus Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2000 Ford Taurus has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Frame corrosion and cabin water intrusion.” Ford uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) to determine when oil changes are due based on actual driving load — not just mileage. Ford's published cap is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. The schedule below reflects Ford's Normal service intervals; F-Series trucks and Super Duty have additional towing-specific items.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2000 Ford Taurus.

Reported to NHTSA

Frame corrosion and cabin water intrusion

STRUCTURE

10 NHTSA complaints · 2008-04 → 2016-06

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE SUBFRAME THAT HELD THE TWO REAR TIRES WAS ALSO RUSTED AND FRACTURED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10876090
“WHEN IT RAINS I GET PUDDLES OF WATER ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF THIS HAPPENING, THE BLOWER MOTOR HAS RUSTED OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10318806
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STEERED ABNORMALLY TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED CORROSION ON THE FRAME NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10433046

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front and rear coil spring fracture

SUSPENSION

90 NHTSA complaints · 2008-04 → 2017-05

“COIL SPRINGS FOR THIS YEAR ARE DEFECTIVE! MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING EXPLODED AND SHOT THROUGH THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY! I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10626995
“CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SPRING DURING A TURN ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEAR COLLISION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10409880
“I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 FORD TAURUS DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WITH MY WIFE AND SMALL CHILD, ON OUR WAY TO CHURCH, WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING BROKE AND NEARLY PULLED OUR CAR INTO A GUARD RAIL AND OFF A BRIDGE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10825359

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration from stuck throttle

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

21 NHTSA complaints · 2009-02 → 2020-04

“ANOTHER CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, MY CAR SUDDENLY SPED UP TREMENDOUSLY AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING THE BRAKES (THE ENGINE REVVED PAST 4 RPM!)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10546043
“I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH AND I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS GAINING SPEED. I THEN SHIFTED IN TO NEUTRAL AND THE MOTOR BEGAN TO REV TO 4K RPMS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10916187
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED. THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 60 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10487890

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission failure to engage

POWER TRAIN

17 NHTSA complaints · 2008-04 → 2020-07

“DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT WAS AS IF IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. NO FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING ABOUT TO HAPPEN TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SLIPPING OR ACTING UP PRIOR TO THIS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10836780
“RAN TWO ERRANDS. GOT BACK IN CAR, STARTED UP, PUT IN GEAR AND NOTHING. MADE WHIRRING NOISE, BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. COULD NOT BACK UP, GO FORWARD, NOTHING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10453846
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE GEARS WERE FUNCTIONING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10445073

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical fire originating under dash or hood

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

9 NHTSA complaints · 2008-07 → 2019-02

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WALKED TO THE BACK OF HIS HOME WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE INCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10233970
“THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES 30 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS PARKED. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE HOOD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10430512
“THE CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND OUT OF NO WHERE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10818974

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in frontal crash

AIR BAGS

8 NHTSA complaints · 2008-10 → 2022-11

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10265709
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO INJURE HER FACE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10244536
“TAKATA RECALL I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE UNSAFE AIRBAGS AND THEY SEEMED TO FEEL AS IF IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AND TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX MY AIRBAGS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11040129

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal failure to stop vehicle

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

5 NHTSA complaints · 2009-03 → 2014-03

“WHEN DRIVING DOWN STREET ABOUT 25MPH, I WENT TO STOP A STOP SIGN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I CHECKED FLUID LEVEL AND WAS FULL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10498445
“AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE USED FOR VERY LITTLE MONEY, I HAD A LOT OF WORK DONE INCLUDING SOME BRAKE WORK. THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE MY SON IN LAW WAS SLOWING TO EXIT AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10574101
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DOWNHILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10453485

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic Motorcraft oil per the IOLM, or every 7,500-10,000 miles. EcoBoost engines require full synthetic; Coyote 5.0L V8 specifies SAE 5W-30.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate tires every 10,000 miles, or with every other oil change. F-150 4x4 owners should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain bias wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid level every 10,000 miles. Front pads on F-150 and Explorer typically last 40,000-60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Ford specifies brake fluid replacement on an inspection basis, but moisture testing every 3 years is recommended. Replace if reading exceeds 3% water content.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. EcoBoost turbocharged engines are sensitive to airflow restriction — don't extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford 6R80, 10R80, and 8F transmissions use Mercon LV fluid rated 150,000 miles under normal service. Severe service (towing, plowing) drops this to 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On 4x4 models, replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Motorcraft XL-12 — do not substitute generic transfer case fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 100,000 mi

F-Series and Expedition: replace rear axle fluid every 100,000 miles, or 50,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip rear ends require friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on Coyote 5.0L, EcoBoost 2.7L/3.5L, and 2.3L are rated 100,000 miles. EcoBoost engines: never exceed the interval — gap erosion causes coil failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (Dex-Cool compatible) coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Older trucks with Yellow Motorcraft coolant: 50,000 miles throughout.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. On F-150, located behind the glove box; on Escape and Explorer, accessed from the passenger footwell.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

649 crashes 1990–2024

How the 649 occupant deaths break down

459

driver deaths

190

passenger deaths

649

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2000 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

105

complaints mentioning a crash

25

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2000 Ford Taurus reflects Ford's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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