Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Ford Taurus
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Ford Taurus has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 375 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16E026000 Front Brake Pad Shims May Shift and Contact Disc NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V330000 FORD/POWER ADJUSTABLE SEAT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 164 complaints
- Power Train 72 complaints
- Electrical System 26 complaints
- Engine 25 complaints
- Air Bags 21 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 19 complaints
Of the 375 complaints on file, 36 report a crash and 13 a fire; across all 375 complaints, owners report 25 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Ford Taurus faces several reliability concerns, particularly with vehicle speed control and powertrain issues. Recall data and owner complaints indicate that brake and seat defects have been problematic, suggesting potential for costly repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$800 | very common |
| Powertrain | 80,000–120,000 miles | $600–$1,400 | common |
| Electrical system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| Service brakes | 50,000–80,000 miles | $150–$400 | occasional |
| Engine | 70,000–110,000 miles | $500–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pads and discs
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system service
- Spark plug replacement
- Timing belt inspection
- Tire rotation and balance
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unintended acceleration
- Transmission slipping
- Electrical failures
- Brake pedal sponginess
- Engine knocking
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Ford Taurus at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.