4F50N TRANSAXLE NO 1-2 UPSHIFT AND DIAGNOSITC TROUBLE CODE P0732.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Ford Taurus powertrain problems
moderate 113 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
113
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 113 powertrain complaints filed for the 2005 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Ford Taurus we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 113.
Owners have filed 113 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Ford Taurus powertrain carries persistent, well-documented defects. Owners most commonly describe catastrophic torque converter failure: the spline wears under normal driving and suddenly strips, causing the transmission to act as if shifted into neutral. The engine revs; the car stops without warning, often in traffic or on highways at speed. This happens with no prior check engine light or hesitation—it's a blind failure. Repair shops say this is routine work on this model and year; one master technician confirmed the 2005 Taurus has the identical torque converter problem Ford recalled on the Freestar, yet the Taurus was excluded from recall.
Transmission jerking and hard shifts are also widespread, sometimes progressing to complete failure. Some owners report transmission problems resuming within weeks or months after costly dealer repairs.
Sudden unintended acceleration is another cluster failure: the throttle or cruise control cable sticks, preventing the engine from returning to idle even after the driver releases the gas pedal. Owners report difficulty stopping and engine speeds exceeding 6,000 RPM with no pedal input. In one case, this occurred repeatedly despite multiple dealership attempts to fix it; the dealer later refused to guarantee the problem was resolved.
One owner's transmission rebuild masked the root failure: a defective Manual Lever Position Sensor (MLPS) that the dealership missed during pre-purchase inspection. Transmission failures also follow dealer service—one owner had problems within days of a transmission flush at the lease-end buyback inspection.
Cost across these failures ranges from $750 to $3,300 per repair, often out-of-pocket because vehicles are past warranty at 60,000–80,000 miles. Ford routinely refuses assistance outside warranty, and dealers sometimes cannot replicate intermittent issues in the shop.
Same Ford Taurus powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Torque Converter Spline Failure
Pump shaft spline (approximately 0.160 inches thick) wears excessively under normal use and fails, causing complete loss of transmission power. Owners report the transmission acting as if shifted into neutral while driving, with engine revving but no power to wheels. Multiple owners reference this as a known problem with the 2005 Taurus, noting recalls exist for similar failure on Ford Freestar but not Taurus.
When: Typically 45,000–110,000 miles; one case at 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power while driving; engine revs but car won't move; Car stops in intersection or on highway without warning; No forward or reverse gears; transmission acts as if in neutral; No prior warning signs or check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement or transmission rebuild; owners cite $1,035–$3,100+ in repair costs. One owner reports Ford dealer acknowledged this is a common failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for 2005 Taurus despite similar recall on Ford Freestar (2012) and other Ford models (2014). Owners report Ford refuses assistance outside warranty.
Transmission Jerking, Slipping, Hesitation
Transmission exhibits jerking, hard shifts, or slipping between gears, often progressing to complete failure. Check transmission warning light illuminates. Some cases recur after dealer repair or rebuild.
When: Mileage ranges from 23,000 to 169,000 miles; some failures occur within weeks of transmission service
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking or hard hesitation while driving at various speeds; Transmission slips unexpectedly between gears; Check transmission warning light illuminates; Intermittent stalling or failure to accelerate; Hesitation between 1st and 2nd gear shifts
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement, rebuild, or partial repair (valve body, clutch plates). Costs $1,200–$3,300+. One owner required transmission rebuild twice within 31,000 miles after initial repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers willing to cover partial repairs (50% in one case); Ford Corporate denies responsibility outside warranty. One dealer acknowledged this is a common problem.
Sudden Unintended Acceleration
Vehicle accelerates without driver input on gas pedal, often after release of pedal. Throttle remains stuck in open position or cruise control cable malfunction prevents throttle from returning to idle. Extremely dangerous; owners report difficulty stopping even with full braking.
When: Multiple incidents reported at various speeds (15–70 mph) and mileages (25,000–127,000 miles); some recurring multiple times on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs and vehicle accelerates without depressing gas pedal; Throttle or cruise control cable stuck; throttle won't return to idle; Increased RPMs (up to 6,000+ RPM) with no driver input; Difficulty stopping even with heavy brake pressure; Idle speed remains at 2,500 RPM or higher when in cold weather with E85 fuel
Repairs/costs cited: Cruise control cable replacement, throttle body replacement, or PCM reprogramming. One owner reports $748 in parts (throttle body, cruise control cable, fuel filter, air filter, transmission flush). Repairs include ignition coil, spark plugs, tie rods, wheel alignment, brakes.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable to replicate in multiple cases and offer no repair. One dealer later updated PCM codes and performed $1,682 in repairs, but refused to provide written guarantee. Ford Corporate offered discount on new vehicle purchase; informed owner no liability if vehicle resold.
Manual Lever Position Sensor (MLPS) Failure
MLPS fails after transmission service, causing hard starting, check transmission light, and service engine light. One owner's transmission rebuild masked the actual root cause: a failed MLPS that caused the initial transmission problems.
When: 8 days after transmission rebuild; original failure at 64,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hard to start; Check transmission light comes on continuously; Service engine light illuminates and stays on
Repairs/costs cited: MLPS replacement cost $75. Transmission shop identified failed MLPS as root cause of initial transmission failure; dealership missed diagnosis during pre-purchase inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford denied warranty assistance because no service records at dealership existed during 3-year lease period, despite proper maintenance.
Transmission Won't Engage; Gear Shifts Fail
Transmission fails to engage any gear (forward or reverse) despite gear selector moving freely. Vehicle stops suddenly or fails to move from complete stop. Often attributed to stripped torque converter splines or internal transmission damage.
When: Mileage 47,000–142,000 miles; some without prior symptoms
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift moves normally but transmission does not engage; No forward or reverse gears available; Vehicle will not move despite engine running; No slipping or noise preceding failure
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission rebuild or replacement; costs $1,800–$2,200+. One mechanic cited transmission motor mounts never properly bolted to vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No assistance offered; vehicles typically outside warranty. One owner noted dealer willingness to pay only half of transmission repairs.
Transmission Failure After Service/Flush
Transmission fails shortly after dealership transmission flush or inspection performed as part of lease-end purchase. Root cause may be service-induced or pre-existing defect masked until service.
When: Within days to weeks after transmission flush/service
Symptoms owners cite: Boost valve failure in valve body; Check transmission light; Hard starting
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission rebuild with new overhaul kit and boost valve, $1,200. MLPS replacement, $75.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Customer Service denied warranty claim, citing no repair history at Ford dealership during 3-year lease (owner maintained vehicle outside dealership network).
Synthesized from 113 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Ford taurus. While driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The issue occurred very frequently. In addition, the vehicle would stall and idle, but not completely shut off. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the transmission most likely needed to be replaced. The vehicle has not yet been repaired.…
Tl*the contact owns a 2005 Ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle abnormally jumped out of gear and stalled. The contact waited several minutes and was able to restart the vehicle, as it proceeded to drive normally. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where they advised him that the transmission failed and needed to be…
On the 1st start of the day (every day), for one-two minutes, when I push down on the brake, the car will move slightly forward. There is a clunking noise from the engine area, and the rpms decrease when the brake pedal is pressed. This occurs in park or neutral. The dealer had an engineer from Ford look at it said he did not know what is causing it, but tried other taurus and saw the same…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2005 Ford Taurus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Ford Taurus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 113 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 107 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 62,318 and 102,000 miles, with the median around 84,847. A quarter of owners report trouble before 62,318; a quarter make it past 102,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Ford/Taurus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.