Ford Taurus Transmission Problems & Cost | 6F50 / AX4N

The second generation 1992-1995 Taurus was popular, and remained America’s Best-Selling Car for its entire production run. The 3rd generation 1996-1999 Taurus remained a strong seller, but lost its sales title a year after it was introduced. The 4th-gen 2000-2007 Taurus became the victim of budget-engineering, and was forced to finish out its final year as a ‘fleet only’ model. However, Ford realized that dropping such a popular nameplate was a mistake, so they affixed it to the un-popular Ford 500, and gave that fullsize sedan a styling makeover, along with several new powertrain options. By 2010, the 6th generation Taurus had become the Blue Oval’s default fullsize sedan, and received an entirely new platform, along with modern engines, transmissions, and a hot twin-turbo Taurus SHO performance model. Does something seem wrong with your Taurus transmission? The Taurus was equipped with the AX4N (renamed 4F50N) transmission in its earlier models and the 6F50 model in later models. Let’s look at some of the most common Ford Taurus, and see what you can do to get your car back on the road.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

Ford Taurus Transmission Replacement Cost Estimate

These are the most current prices for a remanufactured replacement Ford Taurus transmission.

Replacement AX4N / 4F50N Transmission:

Replacement 6F50 Transmission:

Ford Taurus Transmission Diagnostic Trouble Codes | DTCs

Ford Taurus Recalls

1997 Taurus – Fire risk from ATF leak – 97V097000

Summary
On June 30, 1997, a recall was issued for 100,000 copies of the 1997 Ford Taurus. It seems the low-intermediate servo cover on the AX4S transmission could come off while the car is being driven. If this happens, transmission fluid could leak onto the catalytic converters, creating a serious fire risk.

Consequence
If the catalytic converters are hot enough, the transmission fluid could ignite and start a fire.

Remedy
Ford instructed dealers to inspect the transmission and replace the defective servo covers. For more information, owners can contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-800-424-9393.

1996-1997 Taurus – Unexpected Vehicle Roll Away – 96V166000

Summary
On September 23, 1996, a recall was issued for the 1996-1997 Ford Taurus. It seems that 40,000 of them were fitted with a park prawl abutment bracket that could prevent the park prawl from engaging the Park gear, even though the gear shift is in the Park position.

Consequence
If the transmission isn’t in Park when the driver releases the brake pedal and exits the vehicle, it could potentially roll away, causing serious injury or property damage.

Remedy
To fix the problem, a Ford dealer would inspect the transmission, and if necessary, install a revised park prawl abutment bracket. For more information, owners can contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-800-424-9393.

Ford Taurus Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)

TSB 03-12-3 – Torque converter clutch not engaging and/or OBDII trouble codes P0741 or P1744
1996 – 2003 Ford Taurus – 1996 – 2003 Ford Windstar – 1996 – 2002 Lincoln Continental – 1996 – 2003 Mercury Sable
Problem – Drivability issues can result when the torque converter clutch will not engage when commanded. This can be caused by a number of issues including a worn out AX4S torque converter, or a sticking TCC solenoid.
Solution – Replace torque converter and/or TCC solenoid

TSB 10-22-4 – AWD vehicles – Shudder/chatter/vibration on turns or thump/clunk noise on light acceleration – 6F Transmission
2010 Ford Fusion – 2010 Ford Taurus – 2010 Ford Edge – 2010 Ford Flex – 2010 Mercury Milan – 2010 Lincoln MKS – 2010 Lincoln MKZ – 2010 Lincoln MKT – 2010 Lincoln MKX
Problem – Certain vehicles built between 10/1/2009-12/31/2009 equipped with all-wheel-drive, may experience a shutter or vibration in the driveline during a tight turn. They may also experience a thump or clunk noise during light acceleration. These symptoms may also occur under 40 mph (64 KM/H), when driving uphill or towing under heavy acceleration.
Solution – Installing a properly remanufactured PTU (Power Transfer Unit— a simplified transfer case) may solve this problem.

TSB 11-12-10 – Sluggish acceleration from 0-5 mph (0-8 km/h) followed by harsh bump or slip on takeoff – 6F35 Transmission & 6F50 Transmission
2010 – 2011 Ford Taurus – 2009 – 2011 Ford Edge – 2009 – 2011 Ford Flex – 2011 Ford Explorer – 2010 – 2011 Lincoln MKS – 2009 – 2011 Lincoln MKX – 2010 – 2011 Lincoln MKT
Problem – Some vehicles may experience sluggish acceleration or a hesitation feel during a rolling stop, followed by a harsh bump or slip feeling. This can be caused by a design flaw in the 6F35 valve body / 6F50 valve body.
Solution – On transmissions originally built for Mercon LV transmission fluid (listed on the dipstick), the valve body will have to be modified by deleting one hole in the valve body separator plate, and removing the check ball in the area of the deleted hole. If this modification is not performed properly, the transmission may experience a loss of reverse or a 2-3 shift flare.

TSB 15-0047 / 17-2219 – Push button start – Shift to Park or Transmission Not In Park message – discharged battery – unable to remove key
2011 – 2017 Ford Edge – 2011 – 2017 Ford Explorer – 2011 – 2017 Ford Flex – 2011 – 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan – 2011 – 2017 Ford Taurus – 2011 – 2016 Lincoln MKS – 2011 – 2017 Lincoln MKT – 2011 – 2015 Lincoln MKX
Problem – Vehicles equipped with a floor shift selector lever and push button start, may display a ‘Shift To Park’ or ‘Transmission Not In Park’ message, even though the transmission is actually in Park. It may also not be possible to remove the transmitter key, and the battery may discharge due to the warning message remaining illuminated.
Solution – Install new park detect switch

TSB 10-21-2 / 10-17-4 – Slipping, 5th gear starts from stop, PRNDL display error, backup camera on while vehicle is in Drive – 6F50 Transmission & 6F55 Transmission
2009 – 2011 Ford Taurus – 2009 – 2011 Ford Edge – 2009 – 2011 Ford Flex – 2009 – 2011 Lincoln MKS – 2009 – 2011 Lincoln MKT – 2009 – 2011 Lincoln MKX
Problem – Certain vehicles may intermittently experience slipping, 5th gear starts from a stop, the electronic PRNDL display may flash errors, and the backup camera may be on while the vehicle is in Drive.
Solution – Install new Ford transmission range sensor / TR sensor.

2013-2014 Ford Taurus – TSB 14-0056 – 15-0079

Problem:
Cars equipped with the 6R35 transmission may develop a leak around the left half shaft seal. This happens because the half shaft surface finish can cause premature wear to the case bushing and seal.
Solution:
To plug this leak, an updated case bushing, seal and half shaft will have to be installed.

2010-2012 Taurus – TSB 45132

Problem:
Harsh downshifts on rebuilt transmissions
Solution:
If unusually hard downshifts occur after rebuilding the transmission, it’s likely due to the wrong valve body separator plate being installed. The OEM Motorcraft Overhaul kit (part # MTKV-K5600-A or AU2Z-7V575-A) contains the wrong valve body separator plate, which should be replaced with part # BT4Z-7Z490-B.

2013-2014 Ford Taurus – TSB 44852 / 10057815

Problem:
Cars equipped with the 6F35 transmission may not be able to upshift, or first and reverse are the only gears available.
Solution:
This issue could be caused by a software issue, a problem with the low one way or low reverse clutch.

Can I drive with a Ford Taurus transmission problem?

If your Ford Taurus can still make it up and down the road, you might say “It’s fine, I’ll just drive it until I can get it fixed”. But that is not always a good idea, depending on the symptoms. You see, there are a lot of (very expensive) moving parts inside of a transmission, and if something isn’t right, continuing to drive with a transmission problem could damage something else.

How often does a Ford Taurus transmission need to be replaced?

The overall lifespan of a Ford Taurus transmission largely depends on how well it was maintained. Factory design flaws also factor into this equation, along with how/how hard you drive. But on average, we’ve seen the Ford Taurus transmission last for between 80,000-180,000 miles. A high quality replacement transmission however, can last considerably longer if all of the factory design flaws have been addressed and the vehicle has been maintained.

How are Ford Taurus transmission issues diagnosed?

It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Ford Taurus transmission problems might be, but you won’t truly know unless you have the right tools and experience. A good mechanic or transmission repair center will be able to connect your truck to a computer and find out which diagnostic trouble codes (DTC’s) have been stored. Once they know what to look for, they can perform a visual inspection to verify the problem.

How is a Ford Taurus transmission replaced?

In order to replace your Ford Taurus transmission, the truck has to be lifted from the ground in order to gain access to all of the parts that will need to be unbolted. Then the transmission can be lowered to the ground (typically with a transmission jack), so the new transmission can be installed.

Recommendations for Ford Taurus transmission issues?

To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a reman Ford Taurus transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.

How to Solve Ford Taurus Transmission Problems

Solution A: Buy a Used Ford Taurus Transmission

The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used transmission or used transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay.

Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Ford Taurus Transmission

Another option would be a rebuilt transmission or rebuilt transmission. A local repair shop will remove your transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area.

Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Ford Taurus Transmission

Many owners depend on their vehicle to commute and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured transmission.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

What Problem Does Your Taurus Have?

Let us know the year, mileage and problem you’re having as well as any trouble (OBD) codes you’ve found. If you’ve been given a quote or paid for a repair, we’d like to hear about that too!