IllustrationEVERY TIME IT RAINS THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND THE ENGINE BEGINS TO DIE
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
Steering complaints
101 reportsMOAN OR GROAN WHEN RETURNING STEERING FROM FULL RIGHT HAND TURN. *AK
IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN RELATION TO THE DESIGN OF THE RACK AND PINION CAUSING A NOISE ON THE RETURN OF THE WHEEL. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP, FORD, THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED AND THEY ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. IN A CAR NOT EVEN THREE YEARS OLD THIS SHOWS A …
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IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN RELATION TO THE DESIGN OF THE RACK AND PINION CAUSING A NOISE ON THE RETURN OF THE WHEEL. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP, FORD, THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED AND THEY ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. IN A CAR NOT EVEN THREE YEARS OLD THIS SHOWS A DEFINATE NEED FOR A RECAL OR AT LEAST SOME MANUFACTURER SUPPORT. THANK YOU
THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAS NOT ACTUALLY FAILED. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN A LARGE GROANING NOISE IS MADE WHEN TRUNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. FORD HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVIC BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM STARTING BACK IN 1996 AND WANT TO CHARGE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONE…
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THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAS NOT ACTUALLY FAILED. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN A LARGE GROANING NOISE IS MADE WHEN TRUNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. FORD HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVIC BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM STARTING BACK IN 1996 AND WANT TO CHARGE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT SINCE THIS DEALS WITH THE STEERING UNIT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED AND THEY SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL THEIR VEHICLES AT NO COST TO THE OWNERES.
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND RETURNING, VEHICLE MAKES NOISES AND VIBRATES. DEALER SAYS STEERING FILTER HOSE AND POWER STEERING GEAR SHORT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML
MY PROBLEM IS NOT BEEN DETERMINED A SAFETY DEFECT AS YET BUT COULD POSSIBLY BE ONE EVENTUALLY. THE STEERING MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. I HAVE REVIEWED YOUR DATABASE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND OTHER INSTANCES OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR HANDLES AND HAVE ALSO TO THIS D…
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MY PROBLEM IS NOT BEEN DETERMINED A SAFETY DEFECT AS YET BUT COULD POSSIBLY BE ONE EVENTUALLY. THE STEERING MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. I HAVE REVIEWED YOUR DATABASE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND OTHER INSTANCES OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR HANDLES AND HAVE ALSO TO THIS DATE HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED. I REALIZE THIS IS A FORUM FOR REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS BUT I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER MEANS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING HAS FROZEN UP, MAKING STEERING HARD TO CONTROL, AND IT DOESN'T RETRACT ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
EXPERIENCED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT. DIAGNOSED AS A SHORT RACK AND POWER STEERING RETURN PROBLEM. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM "DOESN'T OCCUR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS," AND COULDN'T PROVIDE A REASON FOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND I SHOULD BE REFUNDE…
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EXPERIENCED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT. DIAGNOSED AS A SHORT RACK AND POWER STEERING RETURN PROBLEM. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM "DOESN'T OCCUR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS," AND COULDN'T PROVIDE A REASON FOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND I SHOULD BE REFUNDED MY COSTS FOR THE REPAIR. THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ACTION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM, FROM WHAT I AM READING FROM OTHERS, IS TOO SYSTEMIC TO BE A COINCIDENCE. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. ALSO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
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.