1997 Ford Taurus SHO from North America - Comments

Tires wear excessively early (every ~20,000 miles H Rated Tires). Possibly the Camber/Toe keeps coming out of adjustment.

Driver seat leather wearing.

Football (audio console) replaced at 15K.

Driver window motor replaced at 16K.

CD Changer replaced over the course of 7 visits.

Battery replaced at 22K.

Sunroof needed alignment at 24K.

ABS Computer Module failed at 66K.

In early 1998 I purchased a 1997 Ford Taurus SHO program car from my local dealer. The car had been purchased and used by Ford as a "Junior Executive" automobile, whatever that means. The vehicle itself was in great shape with only 15K miles on it, so my wife and I figured "Hey, it's practically new." The car was back into the shop within the first two weeks to have the "Football" replaced. The tape deck unit was not functioning properly, so the entire radio/climate control unit had to be replaced. Within a month (the car had 16K miles on it at this point) I had to take it back to the dealer to have the drivers side rear window motor replaced. It seemed a bit early to have this motor replaced, but it was under warranty so I didn't complain too much. Things seemed to go fine for about three weeks, when the CD changer wouldn't register that there were any CDs and wouldn't release the CD cartridge. This problem took about 7 visits, 3 different CD units and the course of six months to finally get straighten. In the mean time, while visiting family in Iowa at Christmas time, I accidentally pressed the sunroof "Tilt" button while looking for the map light (in the dark of course). The sunroof then refused to close. It took about 25 minutes of me standing in 4 inches of snow, and my wife trying from the inside to get the sunroof closed. (to this day, the sunroof still doesn't close everytime you press the close button). Upon our return, we once again took the car to the dealer for warranty repairs. A few months passed with no further problems from the car, everything seemed to work properly. One afternoon while leaving on another trip to Charlotte (about 3 hours) I took the car through one of these gas station car washes, when the sunroof leaked water on my wife. Upon further inspection, we found that (while being closed flush on the drivers side) the passenger side of the sunroof failed to close the entire way, leaving about an 1/8" gap. I stopped by the dealer, set up an appointment and we proceeded on our way. When we arrived in Charlotte, We checked into our hotel and decided to grab a bite to eat before the concert. We drove maybe fifteen minutes from the hotel to a cafe. We spent about another 15-20 minutes eating. When I got back out to the car after eating, it was dead. Nothing. Nada. When I turned the ignition key, abosolutely nothing happened. The car didn't sound like it had a low battery, it didn't make any sound. I had to wait for about and hour and a quater for a tow truck to come, then had to wait another hour while the local dealer supplied me with a rental car (it was a Ford operated rental agency too!!). I was further informed that FORD expected me to cover the costs of the rental, and that my car might not be ready the next day (since it was 5pm) and that I would be charged to take the rental out of state, and then they expected me to return to Charlotte to retreive my car. I was floored at the apathy of Ford, especially when my service records showed the unacceptable number of time that the vehicle had been in the shop for warranty repairs (over 12 times in 12 months). I bit my tongue and rented a car (Crown Vic $60 a day). Luckily my car was ready the next morning, prognosis, the battery had gone dead. I don't see how, when it happened out of the blue, I had had NO problems starting the car at the hotel, and then 45 minutes later (15 of the driving and recharging the battery, and nothing pulling power fromt he battery when the car was turned off) the battery is all of the sudden dead, with no charge?? It was at this point that I starting telephoning Ford Customer Service, who most of the time were rude and told me they had no further interest in me or my vehicle problems. After 9 phone calls and 6 months of complaining, a call to a lawyer, and hassling with the local dealer (who all they wanted to do was trade-in this car and sell me another one) Ford finally gave me a 75K mile warranty on my car. It took long enough for Ford to show any signs of customer service. I was very diasappointed in the way that Ford handled the situation. I expect that cars have some problems, but it seemd to me that 12 times for warranty repair in 12 months on a car with less that 30K miles was a bit unacceptable. So far, knock on wood, the car hasn't been in for anything other than routine maitenance (oil, brakes, etc.) in about 10 months or so. Maybe the problems have worked themselves out. I cannot recommend the SHO version of this car to anyone who doesn't have the time or patience to deal with a car that is constantly in the shop.

Update, at 66K the ABS module has failed. The Ford Dealer claims to have NEVER seen this before. So now, it is another $650 repair. The car has had no problems in the past 2 years, electrical or mechanical.

I have a 97 Ford Taurus GL, and I have had the exact same problems that the SHO had. The only thing different is that the car has 70,000 miles on it.

My experiences with Ford's Customer Care people have been very similar to yours- they have been impolite, condescending, and have failed on one occasion to tell me that a recall was in force on my car. The result of that incident was that the recall expired before I knew I had a problem (the notorious brown coolant problem), and Ford refused to bear any costs associated with the repair.

What's sad about all this is that Ford used to be better than the other manufacturers about customer service. Now, their Customer Care standards have deteriorated to the point of resembling Chrysler's, a company with which I would not deal again under ANY circumstances.

Let me guess- if Ford had stepped up to the plate on your SHO, and given you prompt, courteous treatment, they'd have had a customer no one could take away from them, right? Instead, they jeopardize a lifetime relationship with you over a refusal to take responsibility for the car THEY designed and built. Is it any wonder car sales are in trouble?

I have a 97 Taurus LX that runs like a top. I did have the tie rod replaced at 70k, and it now needs a muffler and a new keyless entry remote, but outside of that no problems so far.

I've read the reviews on this site, and I can't see why people are complaining. I bought my Taurus, (97 LX, loaded, mint condition) for $500 from my Mother in law. Had it not been such a good deal I'd have stuck with my Honda Accord.

You knew what you were getting into when you bought the Ford in the first place. I can feel no sympathy. When I have had to put more than $1000 dollars in my Taurus, I'll sell it.

Beware of cam sprocket failure. It will ruin your engine. Go to www.v8sho.com for more info.

Ditch the SHO ASAP... I had a 96 and the cam sprocket failed at 70k totalying the engine out...

Ford FUBAR'd themselves with the SHO's...the V6's are to expensive when something goes wrong... and the V8's just blow up each time...

Welcome all,

let me tell you my story:

The first SHO:

After buying it with no warranty, on the way home the ABS light came on as it did most of the time. The tires did wear rapidly and needed prompt usually soon replacement.

Rolled it, totaled it, continue:

SHO two:

I loved the car so much I had to own another.

After buying it with no warranty, on the way home the ABS light came on as it still does. ABS light is the light of bad omen because when it comes on everything else goes wrong. The transmission starts shifting funny and the gauges start bouncing everywhere.

Oh, and does the molding above your gauges start separating from the rest of your dash (happened in both SHOs). Haven't had any sunroof jamming problems, but the handle seems to float to the back seat sometimes.

The Wheel bearing replaced at 87k.

Shift Solenoid at 88k.

I think you have my opinion.

My son has a 97 ford taurus sho which he races. it has had some modifications, but nothing major. great car, never had any problems with it. 105,000 miles plus.

SHO is not a bad car at all,. Sounds like you had a lemon or something like that. My SHO runs great and never has problems. Had the cams welded by a non ford mechanic and car runs so good. I think things are over dramatized sometimes cause some things like the battery are not the cars fault.

Our 1997 Ford SHO has 168,000 miles and has been a great car for most of those years, however, we have had many electrical problems over the years. The dealer who sold us an extended warranty wrote the contract wrong in our favor so the extended warranty lasted until 150,000 miles. The dealer was excellent and honored their mistake and never gave us a problem. They always repaired the many electrical problems: air conditioning electrical (4 times),dash gages electrical (3 times). A continuing electrical problem we are still experiencing is with the internal overhead lights. They remain on, sometimes for hours before going off. This is dangerous at night. This has been repaired 3 times. Now the cost is on us. Overall the car has been great and we love the power from that V-8 engine.

We bought a 1997 V8 Ford SHO used about 5 months ago. Had cams welded $700.00 and oil change. Also did you know that the brake lights are very difficult to change? We had to have a mechanic do it for $23.00!

Love the car, but lately the RPM jumps up and down when I am at a stop. The car has 110,000 miles on it and is super fast. It cuts into traffic like no other car I've had. And it sails along at high speeds (65-70mph.) I sure hope nothing goes wrong with the transmission or engine.

My Taurus SHO (97) has had nothing, but problems since I got it. I never have consistent air in the summer. Took it in and they said it was an electrical problem. Then my door ajar light was on and I had to remove the fuse so the overhead light would stay off. Now my car alarm goes off spontaneously all day and night. I hate this car. My uncle also has the same car and had the same electrical problems. Awful lot of lemons out there huh?

11/14/2005

Seems like Ford created a very problematic car in the SHO. I purchased my 1997 SHO 2 years ago with 75K mileage and one month into ownership, had to rebuild the transmission. This car has gone through 5 batteries in a year and now has been a paperweight for 6 months. A local SHO specialty repair shop has tentatively agreed that this car needs a cam weld job to be operational. So now, a very costly repair is needed when I am 6 months pregnant with no transportation. I realize that contacting Ford would be futile and so I will suffer with this piece of ---- car. Never again will I ever own a Ford product.

Let me start by saying that I'm on my third SHO, currently own two. For a V8 powered sedan, their sporty at best. I will say that I'm a certified mechanic... and it's a good thing. If you own a SHO, GO GET THE CAMS WELDED TOMORROW. V8SHO is up to 645? cam failures (that they know of). Outside of the cam problems, I see many of the same problems in the SHO that every Taurus has... electrical & transmission. As for the battery problems, check your trunk light; simply fold down the rear seat, close up the trunk and look for the light to stay illuminated (high fail item). Also, check the door ajar switch on the drivers door, it's a problem too. To date, I have not personnaly witnessed an engine failure NOT cam related. If you weld the cams, these motors will run forever. My friend has a 97' with 238,000 miles, welded of course, and running strong... Go see v8sho.com to see what the hype is on these oddball sedans!

Hi all,

I have a 1998 Ford SHO with the 3.4 V8.

The only problem other than basic maintenance was the power steering hose from the reservior to the hard line, was rubbing on the cam pully, and of course wore a hole in it. And it had to happen at the most inoportune time driving to Florida.

It was an easy and cheap fix that I did myself in the parking lot of an auto parts store. To ensure that will not happen again, I bent the hard line up a little, being careful not to break it, and replaced the rubber hose. The hardest part was getting to the hose clamps. If you own or have seen a 3.4 in the car, there is no room for anything at all. But other than that, she runs great and quick.

I put on a few mods for my wife to have a nice looking car, and it turned out to be a real head turner. Sorry to hear about all your bad luck with the SHO, hope it gets better. In fact I am in the process of buying another one for me to drive - it is a 1993 with 43000 original miles, rod shifter instead of the cable shifter, and the 5 speed of course. Big plans to build this car. p.s. my SHO I have now has 87000 on it.

I noticed that a few posts were in relation to the map/dome lights staying on. I have your fix. I have a 1997 SHO and have had the same problem. I had a very good mechanic point out the problem for me and when it happens I can take care of it myself.

On older cars you remember the metal push sensor in the door to make the lights come on? Well in the new cars they are in the latch/lock located on the door itself. Easy, spray some lubricant inside the latch and open and close the door a few times. Do this every once and a while on all doors and your problem will go away.