IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. TS
1996 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Taurus years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Taurus are substantially higher than the model-year median of 318.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 93 of 825 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 214 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 182 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
69 crash reports12 fire reports45 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
214 reportsWHILE DRIVING 60MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
THE CAM SHAFT SPROCKET FAILED, RESULTING IN A EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. DT
HEARD TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED THREE TIMES LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE UPON INSPECTION FROM FORD DEALER THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CAM SPROCKET HAD STRIPPED FROM THE CAM SHAFT AS A RESULT THE ENGINE IS TOTALED RESULTING IN A 6000.00 DOLLAR LESS TAX AND LABOR REPAIR BILL. DT
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS EMAILS FROM SEVERAL TAURUS SHO OWNERS REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET. *SLC
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD DIED DUE TO INTAKE CAM SWITCH FAILURE. *YH
A FREEZE PLUG BECAME CORRODED, THIS CAUSED THE COOLANT TO SPRAY ON THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH NO WARNING, ABRUPTLY. NOW HEAD GASKETS COULD BE CORRODED OR CRACKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. NLM
RUSTED OUT FREEZE PLUGS A KNOW PROBLEM ORGINATING WITH FORD. NLM
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. CAM SENSOR, HEATER CORE, NEW HOSE FROM RESERVOIR AND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, RADIATOR CAP, RADIATOR, WATER TUBE ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT, OIL PAN GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FOUND 1995 MODEL HAS A RECALL RELATING TO THE SAME FAILURES. *TT THE CONSUMER FELT THAT T…
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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. CAM SENSOR, HEATER CORE, NEW HOSE FROM RESERVOIR AND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, RADIATOR CAP, RADIATOR, WATER TUBE ASSEMBLY, THERMOSTAT, OIL PAN GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER FOUND 1995 MODEL HAS A RECALL RELATING TO THE SAME FAILURES. *TT THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE LINKED TO THE RECALL FORD SENT OUT IN REFERENCE TO THE FAULTY HEAD GASKETS/ENGINE FAILURES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS. *SCC
WHEN EVER MY CAR HITS OVER 250 DEGREE'S IT WILL STALL OUT , YOU THEN HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE ENGINE COOLS TO START IT BACK UP , THIS MAINLY OCCUR,S WHEN IT IT VERY WARM OUT SIDE.I FIRST HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ON INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ABOUT 95 DEGREE'S ALL OF A SUDDEN THE C…
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WHEN EVER MY CAR HITS OVER 250 DEGREE'S IT WILL STALL OUT , YOU THEN HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE ENGINE COOLS TO START IT BACK UP , THIS MAINLY OCCUR,S WHEN IT IT VERY WARM OUT SIDE.I FIRST HAD THIS HAPPEN WHEN I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ON INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP WAS ABOUT 95 DEGREE'S ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURED SEVERAL TIME BEFOR WHILE DRIVING IN MY HOME TOWN JUST DOING 30- 45 MILES PER HOUR OR SITTING AT A RED LITE .I HAVE READ THAT FORD HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODULER ON EARLIER MODELS I WENT TO OUR FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDNT JUST FIX IT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT SINCE MY CAR WAS A 1996 NOT A 1995 I FEEL IF FORD NEW THAT THE EARLIER MODELS HAD THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO FIX IT ON MINE ALSO. *AK
Official recalls
698V067000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Mar 25, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. THESE VEHICLES WERE INADVERTENLY EQUIPPED WITH AN 18-GALLON FUEL TANK RATHER THAN THE 16-GALLON AS SPECIFIED. THE 18-GALLON TANK HAS A SECOND VALVE LOCATION WHERE A SHIPPING PLUG SHOULD BE INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
96V176000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Sep 18, 1996
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.
96V166000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Sep 5, 1996
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
96V151000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Aug 12, 1996
THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LOCATED ON THE FUEL RAIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS A VACUUM DIAPHRAGM THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING MANUFACTURE OF THE REGULATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DIAPHRAGM TEARS OR RUPTURES, LIQUID FUEL COULD ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM THROUGH THE VACUUM LINE RESULTING IN EITHER RELEASE OF FUEL FROM THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. FUEL RELEASE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THOSE REGULATORS PRODUCED DURING THE SUSPECT TIME PERIOD WILL BE REPLACED.
96V086000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
May 14, 1996
THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN. IF THE ROLL PIN IS DAMAGED, BOTH THE ROLL PIN AND THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.
96V016000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp
Jan 25, 1996
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.