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2000 Ford Taurus

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Taurus.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2000 Ford Taurus is a passenger car fitted with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 5.5 quarts of 5W-20 API oil, returning EPA figures of 17 city, 26 highway, and 20 combined mpg. The model year carries a notable reliability burden, with 1,232 owner complaints and 8 recalls on record—suspension issues being the most frequently cited problem area—placing it well below the platform's 1993 peak of 1,822 complaints but far above the 11 logged in 2019. Within the Taurus's full complaint history spanning 1990 through 2019, the 2000 sits in the upper-middle tier, meaning prospective owners should approach this model year with particular attention to suspension component condition and recall completion status.

Model year2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2000

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque85-105 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy17/26/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 58R SOHC · 540 SOHC CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 58R SOHC · 540 SOHC CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-60R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	197.6 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	56.3 in
Wheelbase	108.7 in
Curb weight	3340 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	17 / 26 / 20 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	104 cu ft
Cargo volume	16 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

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.

8.1–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 2000 SE Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2000	SE Sedan 3.0L V6	8.10 sec	16.10 sec	145 hp	FWD
2000	SE Sedan 3.0L V6	8.30 sec	16.30 sec	145 hp	FWD
2002	SEL Sedan 3.0L V6	8.90 sec	16.80 sec	155 hp	FWD
1997	SHO Sedan 3.4L V8	7.50 sec	15.70 sec	235 hp	FWD
1997	LX Sedan 3.0L V6	8.20 sec	16.20 sec	145 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 5.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-105 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper: 7.4 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	13-16 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	10.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-105 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	184 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	780 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	20 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque	7.0-15.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing	10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	2 degrees

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.13 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	6.60 oz
Optional BCI Group Number	36R DOHC, Opt. and Canada
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	600 DOHC, Opt. and Canada cca
Standard BCI Group Number	58R SOHC

Service checks

Pressure Test	13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	175-182 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	35.0-55.0
Injector Primary Resistance	11-18 DOHC ohms

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket	24 ft-lbs / 85 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	76 ft-lbs / 85-105 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.118 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.030
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	Turn 90 degrees.	90 degrees
3	Loosen 1 turn.
4	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
5	90 degrees.	90 degrees
6	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	59 ft. lbs.	59 ft. lbs
2	mum of one full turn
3	33-41 ft. lbs.	33–41 ft. lbs
4	63-73

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	37 ft. lbs.	37 ft. lbs
2	Loosen bolts 1 turn.
3	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees.	90 degrees
5	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

7.4 ft. lbs., step 2: 16

7.4 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 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.

Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Transmission Filter (replace)

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 2000 Ford Taurus marks a sharp escalation in federal complaints for its generation, jumping to 1,232 complaints from 954 in 1999 and 587 in 1998, preceding a further spike to 1,471 in 2002. For the target year specifically, this uptick is accompanied by 8 recalls and a surge to 9 federal investigations, up from just 2 investigations in 1999. Suspension issues overwhelmingly dominate the 2000 complaint landscape at 406 reports, followed by service brakes, engine cooling, and airbags, which collectively correlate with 105 crash and 25 fire complaints; however, the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Compared to 2001, which saw slightly fewer complaints (1,049) but higher recalls (10), the 2000 model clearly sits within a volatile, elevated arc rather than the generation's quieter late-1990s period. Given the high volume of safety-related complaints, significant crash figures, and elevated investigation count, the 2000 model is a risky used-car purchase and should be passed over for lower-complaint years like 1998.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

184

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

1,232

Owner complaints

105 involved a crash · 25 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 1,232 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension406

Service Brakes, Hydraulic76

Engine & Engine Cooling76

Air Bags74

Power Train72

Vehicle Speed Control65

Exterior Lighting63

Tires41

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V242000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 24/08/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE "VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT" AND "DESIGNATED SEATING CAPACITY" INFORMATION WAS NOT PRINTED ON THE SAFETY CERTIFICATION LABELS AFFIXED TO THESE VEHICLES. ON AFFECTED SABLE SEDAN… Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL LABEL WITH THE CORRECT INFORMATION, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THE LABEL ADJACENT TO THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL. OWNER…

01V258000Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:MotorReported 08/08/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE WIPER MOTOR. MOTORS BUILT WITH THE SUSPECT TIME FRAME WILL HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COVER REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 184 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB 20-2233	2020-07-13	Structure	This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000…
TSB 19-2026	2019-02-07	Structure	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB 19-2026	2019-02-07	Structure	Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels…
TSB160068	2016-04-21	Suspension	Safety recall 04S17 - Front coil springs - requests for recall service action
16-0068	2016-04-21	Suspension	For 1999-2001 Taurus or Sable vehicles Safety Recall 04S17 has been issued for vehicles…

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.

Group 58R battery Vehicles taking 5.5 qt

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Taurus take?

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

Does the 2000 Taurus have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Taurus get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined mpg.