Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 954 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Taurus, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 173 | 18% |
| Vehicle speed control | 93 | 10% |
| Steering | 88 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 77 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 74 | 8% |
| Power train | 73 | 8% |
| Seat belts | 52 | 5% |
| Visibility | 46 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 35 | 4% |
| Air bags | 31 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD CONDENSATION INSIDE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WITH TORRENTIAL RAINS TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT TOOK ON AN INCH AND A HALF OF WATER INSIDE THE COVER, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAD INCREASED CO
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
TL* THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT'S FRIEND HEARD KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING INDICATORS
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I WOULD SAY 7 TIMES OUT OF 10 WHILE DRIVING IN MY CAR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RANDOMLY POPS UNBUCKLED OR IF I REACH FOR SOMETHING IT UNBUCKLES. IT IS A LITTLE SCARY TO BE HONEST. SOMETIMES WHEN I BREAK THE SLIGHTEST P
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED JUMPING AROUND, WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE RPM'S REVED UP HIGH. I STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF INTO THE INTERSECTION I CAME CLOSE T
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE CAR HAS HAD YRANSMISSION REBUILT LAST YEAR AND IM STILL MAKING PAYMEMTS ON THE CAR. THEN 4MONTHS AGO I HAD THE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED RAN GOOD UNTIL DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY WHEN IT STARTING ACTING THE SAME WAY IT WAS BEF
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR ROW SEAT BELTS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAIL
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
MAY 2016 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALL OUT OF WHACK, THE RPM'S WERE GOING HIGHER AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THE CAR H
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY AC UNIT BLEW OUT AND STOPPED WORKING THIS SUMMER, NOW THAT IT IS RAINY SEASON THERE IS A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR OF MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CALL REF NUMBER: 03V087000. COMPLAIN
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1999 Ford Taurus. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE A PIN SHAFT IN THE SWITCHABLE ELR/ALR MECHANISM THAT IS INCORRECTLY FORMED. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SWITCHING MECHANISM COULD BECOME NONFUNCTIONAL, PREVENTING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE RETRACTO
Risk: IF THE MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONS AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE WEBBING TO BE EXTRACTED, THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY A VEHICLE OCCUPANT. IN THE EVENT THAT THE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ALR
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES. ASSEMBLIES WITH JULIAN DATE CODES OF 200 THROUGH 223 ARE SUSPECT AND WILL BE REPLACED.
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 VIRG
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
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 15
| Reliability raw | 60 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 69 | good |
| Maintenance | 73 | good |
| Depreciation | 85 | excellent |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 954 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 173 of them (18%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 60/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 69/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.