Is the 2000 Ford Taurus a bad year?
1,190 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Taurus years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2000 Ford Taurus are in line with other Taurus years. Suspension, air bags, exterior lighting and 1 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Taurus owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 75,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 442 (37%) | 56k–98k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 88 (7%) | 48k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 87 (7%) | 40k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 87 (7%) | 64k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 107 (9%) | 31k–87k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 99 (8%) | 42k–76k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 86 (7%) | 62k–95k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 66 (6%) | 33k–102k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 62 (5%) | 50k–124k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Tires | 57 (5%) | 31k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 45 (4%) | 50k–132k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 39 (3%) | 55k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 33 (3%) | 66k–133k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 29 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 75,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,190 complaints: 102 mention a crash · 25 mention a fire · 62 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in May 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Combination metal/rubber transmission cooling lines rotted out spraying hot transmisiion fluid through out the engine compartment and onto the hot engine.
My 2000 Ford taurus was out of warranty (53,000 miles) when the transmission and torque converter had to be replaced.
Purchased a 2000 Ford taurus in 2001 with 22,479 miles, now has approximately 43,000 miles. On sept. 27th, when wife of the I was backing up out of a parking space the steering wheel began to vibrate and stopped backing up.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 75,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Ford Taurus: 8
On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin… If this occurs, the tire may rupture resulting in a rapid air loss, which could result in a crash.
This malfunctioning could render the stop lamps inoperable or cause them to stay on all the time. This could cause confusion to a following driver, which could lead to a crash. In addition, if the switch and/or associated wiring fail in the open position, the brake lights will not actuate and the driver will not be able to shift the vehicle out of "Park" If they fail in the closed position…
Simultaneous application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in an increase in engine rpm. This could result in a customer experiencing an "Unintended vehicle speed increase" Or a perceived "Unable to stop" Condition.
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals. If the grease from the adjustable pedal assembly enters the stop lamp switch, it can contaminate the contacts leading to carbon build up, and potentially, a short circuit. A short circuit could lead to either the brake lamps staying on, or to a loss of brake lamp function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. Due to the use of incorrect material by a supplier, the headlamp switch knob can fracture and separate from the headlamp switch. This would cause difficulty for the driver to activate the headlamps, which could affect driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Vehicle description: passenger sedans with factory or dealer-installed deck lid spoilers with LED center high mounted stop lamps (Chmsl). Under the requirements of the standard, the chmsl shall be activated only upon appplication of the service brakes.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The "Vehicle capacity weight" And "Designated seating capacity" Information was not printed on the safety certification labels affixed to these vehicles. Excessive loading can cause tire and vehicle damage that could result in a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 7
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Ford Taurus. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
NHTSA defect investigations: 9
Speed control cable damage
Rear coil spring fracture
Rear coil spring fracture
Front suspension coil spring fracture
Brake/accelerator pedal application
Neighbouring years
2001 Taurus: 1,035 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Taurus year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Taurus years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Ford Taurus a bad year?
1,190 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Taurus years. At 75,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Ford Taurus?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: suspension (442), air bags (88), exterior lighting (87), speed control (87), brakes (107).
How many recalls does the 2000 Ford Taurus have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 04V-332), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 04V-106), Brakes (NHTSA 02V-266), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 01V-258) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.