Model year record

1994 Ford Taurus Sho recalls & problems

The 1994 Ford Taurus Sho has 2 safety recalls and 11 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (6 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints11filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 5reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Vehicle speed controlFeb 4, 2008

Cruise control

Recall 08V051000225,000 vehicles

Problem: FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Risk: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Vehicle speed controlAug 3, 2007

Vehicle speed control

Recall 07V3360003,600,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Taurus SHO

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

Taurus SHO

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

3.2 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed controlCruise control; Accelerator pedal	6	1	3	2	—
Electrical systemIgnition › Module	2	0	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Master cylinder; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline	1	0	0	0	—
Air bags	1	1	0	2	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bagsCrash2 injuries
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; IT SLID SIDEWAYS AND THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLICE, ROLLED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES AND CRASHED INTO THE LIGHT POLE AGAIN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND HOSPITAL REPORTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. UPDATED 07/08/10 *BF UPDATED 07/09/10.*JB UPDATED…
Apr 10, 2010 · 180,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Cruise controlFire
1994 FORD TAURUS CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE DESTROYING THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT FORD SHOULD GIVE HER HOWEVER MUCH MONEY THE CAR IS WORTH. SHE STATES THERE WAS A INCIDENT REPORT INDICATING THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HAS INCIDENT REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATING THE FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. *TR
Jul 20, 2005
Vehicle speed controlFire
ON DECEMBER 26TH 2002 OUR 1994 FORD SHO CAUGHT FIRE IN OUR GARAGE WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF. WE RECENTLY GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL STATING THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WARNING OF A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THANKS FOR THE WARNING FORD. A LITTLE TOO LATE. WE WERE OUT OF OUR HOUSE FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. *JB
Dec 26, 2002 · 110,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Cruise controlFire
I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 1994 FORD TAURUS INDICATING THAT A DEFECTIVE PART MAY CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. MY ENGINE DID CATCH FIRE IN JULY, 2005 AND THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I NEED TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR THE VALUE OF THE CAR ($2000) OR WHO I SHOULD CONTACT. *TR
Jul 20, 2005
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
DURING A PANIC STOP IN MY 1994 FORD TAURUS SHO I EXPERIENCED A HYDRAULIC FAILURE IN MY BRAKES. THIS WAS DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINES. I CAME WITHIN 6 INCHES OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. I REPLACED BRAKE LINES FROM THE AREA WHERE IT WAS SOUND BACK TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE FORWARD LINES PROBABLY SHOULD ALSO BE REPLACED. *JB
Nov 10, 2006 · 134,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
FORDS RECALL OF THEIR 3.8 V6 MOTOR IS A TRAVESTY THAT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT! THEY KNEW THE MOTOR WAS BAD, PUT OUT A RECALL WITH A MILEAGE LIMIT (100,000), BUT THEN ALSO A TIME LIMIT (7 YEARS)! HOW ABOUT A CAR THAT IS NOT DRIVEN THE 100K, AND GETS THE PROBLEM? THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT IF ONE GOES 100K, THEN THEY GOT SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! THEREFORE FORD DID THEIR JOB! BUT WHEN ONE PAYS GOOD MONEY FOR THEIR SCREW UP, AND THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, AND DID NOT DO 100K, THEN THE PURCHASER DID NOT GET SOME VALUE OUT OF IT! FORD SHOULD STICK TO THE 100K, AND NOT THE TIME LIMIT! THE SOB'S HAVE ONCE AGAIN, GOTTEN AWAY WITH A LAZYASS DESIGN, AND WERE ABLE TO THROW A LAME EXCUSE AND GET AWAY WITH IT! I'D…
Oct 5, 2005 · 36,600 miles
Vehicle speed control
CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT FUNCTION, BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, COULD NOT GET CAR OUT OF PARK, #1 -15 AMP FUSE KEPT BURNING OUT. CAR HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS FOR 1 YEAR. FUSE WOULD SOMETIME BURN OUT OTHER TIMES WOULD WORK FINE. DRAINED BATTERY. BOUGHT NEW BATTERY, REPLACED SPEED CONTROL SWITCH THAT GOES ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. CAUSE OF FAILURE. BRAKE FLUID LEEKED INTO SWITCH. FOUND PROBLEM WHEN CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY EXCESSIVE AMPS BEING PULLED FROM BATTERY, THE SWITCH WAS SMOKING.
Aug 12, 2005
Electrical systemFire
1994 FORD TAURUS SHO. CAR WAS SITTING IDLE NOT RUNNING FOR HOURS AND SUDDENLY STARTED ON FIRE. APPROXIMENTLY 1 MONTH BEFORE THIS THE CRUISE CONTROL JUST STOPPED WORKING. ALL WIRING IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE MOTOR IS NON REPAIRABLE. THE FIRE WAS FROM UNDER THE HOOD, DRIVERS SIDE, NEAR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT STARTED BEHIND THE FIREWALL. I HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS AND HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE CALLED 1-888-327-4236, AND THEY SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON IT. WHY, MAY I ASK, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN ON THE NEWS AND RADIO IF THERE WERE TO BE NO RECALLS? MY CAR IS STILL SETTING WHERE THE…
Jun 15, 2005

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.