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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 →

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

Visibility complaints

55 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1998
SteeringVisibility

WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES SINCE APRIL OF 1997 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER CHANGED THE POWER STEERING BELT WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLEIS AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THIS PRO…

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WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES SINCE APRIL OF 1997 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER CHANGED THE POWER STEERING BELT WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLEIS AT DEALERSHIP FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831459

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1998
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

REAR BRAKE MAKES GRINDING THAT DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE.*ET

NHTSA ODI #781087

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1998
Visibility

HEATER CORE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #540582

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 1998
Visibility

DEFROSTER IS USED,WINDOWS FOG UP, CAUSING POOR VISIBILTY. DEALERS COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827351

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 1998
Visibility

WHEN DEFROSTER IS ON THE WINDOWS ARE INSTANTLY FILLED WITH A THICK SOLID GREEN FOG, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. TSB IS OUT FOR PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825044

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1998
Power TrainStructureVisibility

COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION, PUMP SHAFT SPLIT IN HALF.

NHTSA ODI #537348

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsSteering

PASSENGER'S DOOR RATTLES. REPLACED STEERING RACK/LEAKING OIL PAN GASKETS/OIL FILTER AND BRACKET/ SEAT BELT RETRACTOR/REAR DEFROSTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #533341

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 1998
Visibility

DEFROSTER FOGS WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN FIRST ENGAGED.

NHTSA ODI #531935

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1998
Visibility

DURING RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. WILL BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN OR DELAY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820773

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1998
SteeringVisibility

GRINDING/VIBRATING NOISE FROM STEERING WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED RIGHT TURN DUE TO DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION STEERING. IN ADDITION, IN SOME WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHEN DEFROSTER IS ACTIVATED, WINDSHIELD FOGS UP, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #517595

Official recalls

6

98V067000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.