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1993 Ford Taurus

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Taurus.

Body PASSENGER CAR

Defined as a passenger car requiring 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 API oil, the 1993 Ford Taurus occupies a distinct position within the model history covering 1990-2019. This specific year recorded the highest number of owner complaints across the entire lineage, totaling 1822 reports with Engine & Engine Cooling identified as the top complaint area alongside 8 recalls. In stark contrast to the 2019 model which logged only 11 complaints, the 1993 variant stands as the peak of reported reliability issues for researchers assessing the vehicle's historical data.

Model year2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 1993

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Thermostat

RT1054 alt RT1053

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	192.1 in
Overall width	71.3 in
Overall height	53.9 in
Wheelbase	105.9 in
Curb weight	3153 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Taurus of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 1993 SHO Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1993	SHO Sedan 3.2L V6	7.50 sec	15.40 sec	220 hp	FWD
1992	SHO Sedan 3.0L V6	6.80 sec	15.20 sec	220 hp	FWD
1991	SHO Sedan 3.0L V6	6.60 sec	15.20 sec	220 hp	FWD
1991	SHO Sedan 3.0L V6	7.70 sec	16.20 sec	220 hp	FWD
1995	SHO Sedan 3.2L V6	7.70 sec	15.80 sec	220 hp	FWD
1996	SHO Sedan 3.4L V8	8.00 sec	16.20 sec	235 hp	FWD
1996	LX Sedan 3.0L V6	8.70 sec	16.50 sec	145 hp	FWD
1996	LX Wagon 3.0L V6	8.90 sec	16.70 sec	145 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 24,000 mi	Battery (inspect electrolyte level)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 120,000 mi	Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1993 Ford Taurus marks a pronounced spike in federal complaints—1,822, more than double the prior year’s 885 and the highest within its generation—while recalls and investigations remained relatively stable at 8 and 13, respectively. This surge aligns with the first full year of the Taurus’ second generation (1992–1995), suggesting early production or design refinements may have lagged, particularly in engine and cooling systems (556 complaints), the dominant issue area. Complaints tapered in subsequent years but remained elevated through the mid-1990s, with recalls and TSBs peaking later (1995–1996), indicating persistent but evolving reliability challenges. The 1993 model’s crash (68) and fire (52) complaints further underscore its outlier status in safety-related incidents. While later years benefited from corrective actions, the 1993’s data implies heightened risk of unresolved defects. **Avoid this year unless thorough service records and pre-purchase inspection confirm critical systems—especially engine cooling—have been addressed.**

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

114

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

1,822

Owner complaints

68 involved a crash · 52 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92’93’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,822 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling556

Suspension132

Visibility132

Power Train130

Exterior Lighting126

Electrical System125

Service Brakes, Hydraulic100

Structure55

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94E036000Suspension:Front:Shock AbsorberReported 25/11/1994

THE ARC WELDS ON THE SWAY BAR BRACKET, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STRUT RESERVE TUBE, DID NOT FUSE PROPERLY. Remedy: MONROE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STRUT FREE OF CHARGE.

97V025000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 26/02/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, IOWA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN… Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BOOT TO THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Taurus. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Thermostat RT1054

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Taurus take?

4.5 qt of SYNTHETIC 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Taurus have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.