I had driven my car in the am and it would not start in the afternoon. I called for a tow on monday, after the holiday. The symptoms presented at the time of failure were: the car did not start, and the anti-theft light was blinking. The car was jumped and the vehicle was brought in for service. The dealership could not find any problems. Today, the car stopped working again, same issues.…
2007 Ford Taurus engine problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 23 engine complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Exhaust systems on the 2007 Taurus are prone to manifold flange weld failure, dropping the entire front end of the exhaust and creating safety hazards; stalling issues are common and often undiagnosable even after multiple component replacements. AC condensation dripping on the serpentine belt is a design flaw that can cause belt failure and power loss at highway speeds.
The 2007 Taurus has a systemic exhaust system defect that dominates these complaints. The manifold flange connection—where the exhaust pipe meets the engine—fails repeatedly, typically due to improper welding at the factory. The pipe either never gets flared properly or the weld cracks and gives way, dropping the catalytic converter and front exhaust section to the ground. This has happened at mileages as low as 24,872 and as high as 81,000. One owner experienced the same failure twice, at 32K and again at 81K miles. Owners report the exhaust falling off while pulling out of parking lots, during highway driving, and even just sitting parked. Ford engineers know about the problem—at least one repair shop confirmed Ford was aware and had a kit available—but no recall has been issued. Ford has covered parts and labor in some cases under warranty, but out-of-warranty owners pay for repairs themselves.
A separate design defect involves the AC system: the high-pressure refrigerant line drips condensation directly onto the serpentine belt. This causes the belt to slip and squeal during summer AC use, eventually seizing the compressor and snapping the belt, which kills the alternator and power steering while driving.
Engine stalling at low speeds (20–40 mph) and from stops is another recurring theme. One owner's throttle body was replaced three times without fixing the rough idle, dimming headlights, and erratic acceleration. Dealer diagnostics consistently come up empty, leaving owners stranded.
Same Ford Taurus engine reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Exhaust manifold flange separation / weld failure
The connection between the exhaust pipe and engine manifold fails, typically at a welds or flange. The catalytic converter, flex pipe, or entire front exhaust system drops or hangs down, creating a scraping hazard and loss of backpressure.
When: Reported at mileages ranging from 24,872 to 81,000 miles; one complaint cited failure at 32K and recurrence at 81K.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise from exhaust area during driving or upon startup; Entire front exhaust or catalytic converter hanging down or on ground; Vehicle suddenly loses power or becomes loud while operating; Scraping sounds when passing over uneven road surfaces; Increased fire risk from hot exhaust near fuel tank area
Repairs/costs cited: Repair kit available from Ford (at least one owner paid $200 for parts and labor). Some owners had flange re-welded at independent shops; dealership repair involved replacing catalytic converter and/or flange. One owner reported bolts snapped; another found pipe was never properly flared at factory.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford acknowledged the defect in at least one case but directed owner to dealership for paid repair with hope of future reimbursement via recall. One shop owner informed complaintant Ford was aware and a repair kit was available. No recall issued at time of complaints.
AC refrigerant line condensation on serpentine belt
High-pressure AC line drips condensation directly onto the serpentine belt during AC operation, causing the belt to slip, squeal, eventually seize the compressor, and snap the belt. Loss of power steering and alternator drive follows.
When: Occurs seasonally during summer AC use; catastrophic belt failure during expressway operation noted.
Symptoms owners cite: Light squeal from serpentine belt that escalates to loud squeal during AC use; Compressor seizes while driving on expressway; Serpentine belt snaps; Loss of power steering and alternator output, loss of power during highway operation
Repairs/costs cited: Temporary workaround is regular belt cleaning during summer months. No permanent repair available without recall. Owner suggested dealership repair with hope of future recall reimbursement, but dealerships unable to perform repair without recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer acknowledged the defect but refused to provide solution or recall. Suggested owner pay for repair at dealership with possible future reimbursement if recalled.
Engine stalling and erratic running (throttle body and IAC-related)
Vehicle stalls intermittently at low speeds (20–40 mph) or from stops. Also exhibits rough idle (loping), dimming/brightening headlights, jerking, hesitation on acceleration, and occasional unexplained acceleration. Throttle body replaced multiple times without resolving the issue.
When: Began around 60,000 miles and worsened over time; one failure at 30,300 miles; stalling at 58,000 and continuing; noted at 120,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Stalling while driving between 20–40 mph or from a stop; Rough idle (loping/surging); Headlights dim and brighten erratically; Jerking and hard shifting; Hesitation on acceleration and occasional unexplained acceleration; Engine noise after low-oil-pressure event
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced three times without resolution. Fuel filter replaced, fuel pump checked, spark plugs and wires renewed, battery replaced, fuel injectors tested, alternator verified, new radiator installed (third one). Mechanics unable to isolate or fix root cause.
Instrument cluster electrical fault causing stalling
Faulty instrument cluster causes the vehicle to stall while driving. Replacement of the cluster did not resolve the issue; a second replacement was also ineffective.
When: Failure at 58,000 miles; stalling continued after two replacements.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving 30 mph; Stalling recurs after first instrument cluster replacement; Stalling persists after second instrument cluster replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Instrument cluster replaced twice by dealership. Second replacement confirmed as faulty but did not remedy stalling.
No-start condition with anti-theft light blinking
Vehicle fails to start; anti-theft light blinks; initial jump-start allows operation, but failure recurs. Diagnosis uncertain between alternator and vehicle computer.
When: Failure occurred in afternoon after morning operation; recurrence reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not crank or start; Anti-theft light blinks rapidly; Can be temporarily restored with jumper cables; Failure repeats shortly after
Repairs/costs cited: First dealer visit found no issues; second diagnostic suggested alternator failure but could not rule out onboard computer; vehicle not repaired by dealership.
Leaking valve cover gasket / oil seepage
Oil band gasket (valve cover gasket) leaks, causing burning oil smell inside the cabin and driver headaches. Gasket replaced three times in three years without permanent resolution.
When: Failure noted at 100,000 miles; recurring over three-year period.
Symptoms owners cite: Burning oil smell inside vehicle; Driver headaches from fume inhalation; Oil seepage visible
Repairs/costs cited: Valve cover gasket replaced three times in three years. Vehicle was repaired but defect recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified but offered no solution.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford taurus. The contact stated that a burning oil smell was present inside the vehicle, causing her to have headaches while driving. The contact indicated the defect was caused by a leaking oil band gasket that was replaced three times in the past three years. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was…
Pulling out from parking lot when exhaust went loud. Found out bolts on exhaust by manifold pipe snapped allowing exhaust pipe to hang down in front causing the pipe scrape along road if hit pot hole or raised area of roadpipe could have been pushed back causing unknown damage. Could have been worse if was on freeway or operating at higher rate of speed. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford taurus. While driving 25 MPH the flange for the catalytic converter fractured off. He made an interim repair to resume normal vehicle operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a repair kit installed at an expense of $200.00. The manufacturer designed a repair kit because the flange for the catalytic converter was welded improperly. When the exhaust…
While driving slowly the vehicle became loud. The exhaust pipe had broke away from its exhaust pipe to exhaust manifold clamp and was laying on the ground. The actual clamp was still in place. *tr
Had engine trouble with your 2007 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 engine problem on the 2007 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 21 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 30,300 and 93,000 miles, with the median around 51,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,300; a quarter make it past 93,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2007/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.