AI Damage1993 Ford Taurus SHO: common problems
Owners of the 1993 Ford Taurus SHO filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Vehicle speed control 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 21% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 21% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 7% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- Vehicle speed control: 7 complaints (50% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (21% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
After investigating the car at my mothers house I determined that the frame failed at that moment causing the vehicles throttle cable to stick, and the power steering unit to fail along with the brake system to fail.
Driving on the highway with no issues. Reached the bottom of a downgrade and pressed on the gas pedal. Engine revved but car didn't accelerate. There were no noise or indications for a pending failure. .pulled to the side and tried all gears and reveres. Car would not move.
1993 ford taurus sho..electrical problems and brake problems.
While parked in the driveway, the vehicle began smoking and then caught fire. The vehicle was destroyed due to the underhood fire. On march 5, 2008, the contact received a ford safety recall for the vehicle speed control. The current and failure mileages were 100,000. Updated 4/11/08
Vehicle fails to stop or slow down when brakes are applied at speeds from 5 to 50 mph on wet roads or pavement with loose gravel. Abs activates and vehicles makes no attempt to slow down.
While pulling away from a stop sign making a right turn the bolts for the engine subframe broke loose from the floor, the engine dropped. I lost engine power, steering and brake assist. Although there is a recall listed on the ford website #98s36 I did not receive a notice.
Luckily I noticed the loss of brake lights right away and disconnected the burned cruise control switch and replaced the fuse. Driving without rear brake lights is a definite hazard.
Vehicle stalled while driving. This almost resulted in rear end collisions. Dealership replaced the crank shaft sensor, fuel pump, timing belt, and some wires, but the failure recurred. Consumer was restrained from driving this vehicle because it was unsafe.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Taurus SHO has 12 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 14, above average.
What to check before buying
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1993 Ford Taurus SHO?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (14%), brake failure (7%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1993 Ford Taurus SHO?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1993 Ford Taurus SHO from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1993 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.