KnownCarProblems2004 Ford Taurus Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 375 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Taurus, most often about the speed control (44% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is 7th of 20 Taurus model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2004 Ford Taurus problems
Speed control
164 complaints · 44%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: cables, accelerator pedal, cruise control.
While driving, if the AC is on, the car will sometimes accelerate on its own. It will rev up to 3000-3500 rpms and maintain for awhile and eventually stop accelerating. Possibly related, the cruise control turns on, but a cruising speed cannot be set. This happens multiple times.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle would abnormally accelerate when driving at any speed or when at a complete stop with the brakes depressed. On multiple occasions, the vehicle abnormally accelerated to 50 MPH without depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to a…
Transmission
72 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 104,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly.
Nothing, no warning. That is the major issue. Read and review the many complaints Ford is getting posted on transmissions all over the internet. It happens far to often, in many situations where people can be killed or injured. And with the Ford design, you're going to spend a minimum of $3000 for parts labor and…
My newly licensed 16 year old son was driving home from school and suddenly the car stopped pulling. It stayed running and he was able to barely coast to the side of the road. It would not go forward or backward and there was no noise or prior indication that there was a problem. After investigating the problem on the…
Engine
44 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 89,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Everytime the vehicle is driven the vehicle accelerates on its own even while applying the brake. While moving or stopped, I have to shift into neutral, the rpms rev up and I have to tap the gas pedal for the rpms to drop back down. Then, I have to shift back into drive. The only solution I have been given is to…
My 2004 Ford Taurus accelerated on its own quite a few times. After goggling the problem I saw that there had been a recall. I called Ford & was told my car wasn't included in the recall. They also told me to get it fixed because it could be dangerous. I know that because I was almost in a few accidents because of the…
Brakes
26 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 86,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist.
I was driving and had turned into a store parking lot. I made a turn down a row to park and as I ran over a grate, going no more than 25 MPH, the car began to accelerate. The RPM's went up to about 40 MPH. I could feel it. My foot was not on the gas. My daughter and I were horrified. I pulled into a parking spot as…
Driving down a side street going approximately 15 MPH. The vehicle started racing and speeding up. I applied the brakes and could feel the jerking of the car fighting to speed up. I pulled over and put the car in neutral which caused the RPM meter to race. I pushed hard on the hard accelerator and let off and that…
Electrical
26 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 104,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, starter assembly.
Faulty gem or smart junction box causing all door locks and trunk lid to not properly work.on occasion the trunk will open by its self while driving. I cannot lock the doors and the interior dome light stays on while driving and after the car is shut off. This has drained my battery. Driving at night is very…
The whole entire wires under the dashboard caught on fire and almost blew me my kids up in dallas texas, had it total and the mechanic stated that the whole computer system blew the wires out and that it was a manufacturing problem.
Air bags
21 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Contact states: apparent failure of air bags to deploy. Consumer's wife and son rear ended another vehicle. Upon impact, both front air bags disengaged but did not deploy. They charged but did not actually come out.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy after being involved in a crash. A police report was filed and there was one injury sustained. The specifics of how the crash occurred were not available. The vehicle was destroyed and the manufacturer was not made aware of the…
Body and structure
17 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in below freezing temperatures, the driver's side door would not close. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis of the failure or repairs. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The contact…
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that when it would rain, water would accumulate on the front passenger side floorboard. There was no visible damage to the seals of the windshield yet, the contact stated that water was entering the vehicle from the windshield. The dealer advised that there was a…
Fuel system
16 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 111,500 miles.
When accelerating at about 40 MPH the cruise control would not work when I tried to engage it, however the car began speeding up quickly while my foot was off the gas peddle. I tried to engage/disengage the cruise control but got no response, except the engine RPM and car was still speeding up, the car was getting…
While driving vehicle to work, noticed that cruise control would not engage as normal. As I began to decel onto the off-ramp, the engine RPM stay at approx 2800 RPM and would not go any lower. Found that black cruise control tab on throttle body had allowed throttle cable to slip out partially, causing the throttle…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Ford Taurus recalls
Seats: power adjust
Risk: The seat may not perform as intended during a crash which could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the upper support assembly on the power seats. The recall began on july 20, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with power adjustable seats may have been inadequately welded.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Stuck throttle
Summary
Preliminary evaluation (pe)12-005 was opened to investigate allegations of speed control cables detaching from the throttle body and subsequently interfering with the throttle closing fully to the idle position in model year (my) 2005 and 2006 ford taurus vehicles.the speed control cable, throttle body attachment arm (?nail head?) for the speed control cable, cable mounting bracket and cable routing for the my 2005 and 2006 ford taurus are common to all my 2004 through 2006 ford taurus and mercury sable vehicles equipped with either the 155 hp 3.0l 2-valve vulcan engine or the 200 hp 3.0l 4-valve duratec engine (the ?subject vehicles?). Figures 1 and 2 show the throttle body cam and speed co
Engine stalling ffv
Summary
On october 11, 2006, public citizen petitioned odi to investigate reports of engine stalls caused by e85 fuel in certain model year (my) 2003 - 2005 ford taurus flex-fuel vehicles (ffv). Odi's review of the petition and other available data found a low stall rate attributable to e-85 fueling and that the main concerns,prolonged engine start and rough idle during cold engine startup at winter temperatures, were resolved by an engine software update.to ensure that all subject vehicles receive this update, ford initiated a notification campaign to offer free engine computer recalibration.based on this information, this defect petition is denied. This denial should not be construed as a finding
Questions about the 2004 Ford Taurus
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Taurus?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: speed control (164 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); transmission (72 complaints, typically around 104,500 miles); engine (44 complaints, typically around 89,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Taurus have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 8, 2004 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Ford Taurus?
- It is 7th of 20 Taurus model years by number of complaints, with 375 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.