2000 Ford Taurus: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2000 Ford Taurus: 8 recalls, 1195 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Equipment Vehicle recall #00V242000 · 2000 · 167,000 vehicles
What's wrong: The "vehicle capacity weight" and "designated seating capacity" information was not printed on the safety certification labels affixed to these vehicles. On affected sable sedan vehicles, the "vehicles capacity weight" (and also the luggage load) information printed on this label is incorrect - sable wagon luggage load was incorrectly used for the sable sedan. These vehicles do not comply with the label requirements…
Why it matters: Excessive loading can cause tire and vehicle damage that could result in a crash.
The fix: Owners will be provided with a supplemental label with the correct information, along with instructions for affixing the label adjacent to the vehicle certification label. Owner notification began October 20, 2000.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #01V048000 · 2001 · 28,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Vehicles produced with spoilers were manufactured from March 1 through October 31, 2000; and vehicles with spoilers installed by dealers were manufactured from January 1 thorough December 30, 2000. With the ignition switch in the start or run positions and the hazard warning lights operating, the chmsl can illuminate (at reduced intensity) even though the service brakes have not been applied. This does not meet the…
Why it matters: Under the requirements of the standard, the chmsl shall be activated only upon appplication of the service brakes. Also, the vehicle could roll increasing the risk of a crash, if the shift lever can be shifted out of park without depressing the brake pedal.
The fix: Dealers will install a jumper/resistor assembly at the spoiler that provides an electrical resistor to ground and corrects the chmsl and brake-shift interlock conditions. Owner notification began March 19, 2001.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #01V075000 · 2001 · 74,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Due to the use of incorrect material by a supplier, the headlamp switch knob can fracture and separate from the headlamp switch.
Why it matters: This would cause difficulty for the driver to activate the headlamps, which could affect driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the headlamp switch knob. Owner notification began April 9, 2001.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #01V078000 · 2001 · 157,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch and wipe down the adjustable pedal assembly to remove excess grease. Owner notification began March 22, 2001.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #01V258000 · 2001 · 1,083,000 vehicles
What's wrong: A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from…
Why it matters: Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began August 20, 2001.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #02V266000 · 2002 · 369,614 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles equipped with adjustable padels are being recalled in order to adjust the brake and accelerator pedals to a minimum of 50 mm of lateral separation. Simultaneous application of both the brake and accelerator pedals could result in an increase in engine rpm.
Why it matters: This could result in a customer experiencing an "unintended vehicle speed increase" or a perceived "unable to stop" condition.
The fix: Owners will be instructed as to the proper way to set the position of the pedals and to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the spacing between the brake and accelerator pedals measured. If the spacing is found to be less than 50 mm, the dealer will adjust the pedals to increase the distance…
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #04V106000 · 2004 · 938,789 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles are being recalled to correct a problem with a malfunctioning stop lamp switch and/or associated wiring. 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.
Why it matters: 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, the brake lights will remain on, which will not allow the speed control to be…
The fix: Dealers will remove the stop lamp switch and associated wiring assembly and install a newly designed stop lamp switch and wire assembly. Owner notification is expected to begin on April 5, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Suspension Vehicle recall #04V332000 · 2004 · 899,060 vehicles
What's wrong: 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, and the district of columbia, the front coil springs could fracture due to corrosion associated with…
Why it matters: If this occurs, the tire May rupture resulting in a rapid air loss, which could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install protective spring shields. In addition, Ford is extending the warranty coverage of the front coil springs in all other states, for fracture only, up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. If the vehicle has already accumulated more than 150,000 miles,…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 25 mention a fire, 81 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Suspension (443): the most common themes are noise or vibration (90), rust / corrosion (22).
- Engine & cooling (103): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (45), warning light on (9), fire / smoke (9).
- Transmission & drivetrain (99): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (23), noise or vibration (11), leaks (8).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (97): the most common themes are noise or vibration (27), brake failure / soft pedal (23).
The 2000 Ford Taurus has 1195 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 30 Taurus model years for complaints (2.1× the average Taurus year). Complaints peaked in 2004 (202 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 70,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1999 (874 complaints, 5 recalls), 2001 (1037 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2000 Ford Taurus.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2000 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2000 Ford Taurus. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2000 Ford Taurus problems?
Owners have filed 1195 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are suspension (443), engine & cooling (103), transmission & drivetrain (99).
What gas mileage does the 2000 Ford Taurus get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2000 Ford Taurus repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.