2004 Ford Taurus
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 164 of 375 complaints (44%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (16) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 1,223 in 2003 to 375 in 2004.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | vs. 2004 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950–3,300 | 2,950–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | 3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–21 | 19–21 | 19–20 | 19–20 | 20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–18 / 24–25 | 17–18 / 24–26 | 16–18 / 23–25 | 17–18 / 23–25 | 17–18 / 25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423–468 | 423–468 | 444–468 | 444–468 | 444 | |
| Complaints filed | 1,426 | 1,223 | 375 | 774 | 318 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 75 | 56 | 36 | 40 | 19 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 11 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 44 | 59 | 25 | 28 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Taurus have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Ford Taurus?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 164 of 375 NHTSA complaints (44%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Ford Taurus get?
EPA rates it 19–20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Ford Taurus?
EPA estimates $3,100–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 18 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Station Wagons | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Station Wagons | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Large Cars | 17 mpg | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Midsize Station Wagons | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 44 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 72 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 30 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 13 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 19 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 26 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 164 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 17 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS · Campaign 16E026000 · Apr 1, 2016
Defect: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.
Consequence: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST · Campaign 04V330000 · Jul 8, 2004
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED.
Consequence: THE SEAT MAY NOT PERFORM AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER SUPPORT ASSEMBLY ON THE POWER SEATS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.