IllustrationI HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. *JB
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
What owners actually said
825 reportsPURCHASED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN NOV. 2001. IT ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CRUISE GOING DOWN HILL. THE GAS PEDAL OFTEN GETS HUNG UP WHICH LEAVES ME TAPPING IT MY FOOT TO GET IT TO GO, SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. IT ALSO HANGS UP IN PASSING GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME. AND ALSO HOW DO…
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PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN NOV. 2001. IT ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CRUISE GOING DOWN HILL. THE GAS PEDAL OFTEN GETS HUNG UP WHICH LEAVES ME TAPPING IT MY FOOT TO GET IT TO GO, SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. IT ALSO HANGS UP IN PASSING GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME. AND ALSO HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE TO CHECK TO SEE IF ALL THE RECALLS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT U BUY. *NLM
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I BOUGHT A FORD TAURUS 1996 FROM VENUNS FORD IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST AND SHIFTING ITS GEARS. THE MOTOR WAS RUMBLING AND SHAKING. I HAD TO REPAIR THE AXLES OF THE CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK EVERY MONTH BECAUS…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I BOUGHT A FORD TAURUS 1996 FROM VENUNS FORD IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST AND SHIFTING ITS GEARS. THE MOTOR WAS RUMBLING AND SHAKING. I HAD TO REPAIR THE AXLES OF THE CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK EVERY MONTH BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE. THE WATER PUMP OVER HEATED AND THE GAS PEDAL IS STILL STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST TODAY. ALSO THE DEALER IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE WARRANTY SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I ASKED THE DEALER TO TAKE A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION BUT THEY REFUSED. I ASKED FOR AN EVEN EXCHANGE FOR A DIFFERENT CAR BUT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THIS CAR AND THE OTHER IF I GOT ONE. URGENTLY RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM *TT
WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED INTO GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM HIGH SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ABRUPTLY. *JB PH
THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON THE DASH OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AFTER MANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. THE OBD COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE IS READING FOR 4 OXYGEN SENSORS WHEN THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 3 OXYGEN SENSORS. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE FAILING EMISSIONS TESTING FOR…
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THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON THE DASH OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AFTER MANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. THE OBD COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE IS READING FOR 4 OXYGEN SENSORS WHEN THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 3 OXYGEN SENSORS. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE FAILING EMISSIONS TESTING FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA. *NLM
I USED MY ORIGINAL JACK TO LIFT THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE FRONT, LEFT TIRE. WHILE LOWERING THE VEHICLE, THE JACK SUDDENLY GAVE OUT WITH THE SOUND OF STRIPPING THREADS, AND THE CAR SLAMMED TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, NO PART OF MY BODY WAS UNDER THE CAR, AND THE TIRE WAS IN PLACE. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE FAULTY JACK…
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I USED MY ORIGINAL JACK TO LIFT THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE FRONT, LEFT TIRE. WHILE LOWERING THE VEHICLE, THE JACK SUDDENLY GAVE OUT WITH THE SOUND OF STRIPPING THREADS, AND THE CAR SLAMMED TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, NO PART OF MY BODY WAS UNDER THE CAR, AND THE TIRE WAS IN PLACE. IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON THE FAULTY JACK: WHERE THE CRANK MEETS THE BOLT: 5J 29 2 AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE BOLT: 00492 AT THE BASE OF THE JACK: 2549 NOTE: I WAS DOING THIS IN MY GARAGE, ON A FLAT, CONCRETE SURFACE. THE JACK REMAINED ON ITS BASE THE ENTIRE TIME - IT DID NOT TIP OVER.*JB
THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS REGARDING HER VEHICLE. *TS *JB
MY FORD TAURUS HAS LESS THAT 50,000 MILES ON IT AND I TREAT IT LIKE A BABY. BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT SERVICED DO TO THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMING ON. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER, PERFORMED MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, CHANGED THE ENGINE COOLANT AND REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE…
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MY FORD TAURUS HAS LESS THAT 50,000 MILES ON IT AND I TREAT IT LIKE A BABY. BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT SERVICED DO TO THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMING ON. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER, PERFORMED MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, CHANGED THE ENGINE COOLANT AND REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AS PER TSB 97-8-6. I ALSO HAD THEM ROTATE THE TIRES. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AS FAR AS RUNNING (EXCEPT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON). AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WAS HAVING A HARD TIME "GRIPPING THE ROAD". CALLED FORD DEALER. TOOK IN AGAIN. THEY INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS NO HELP THERE. THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY A LEASED CAR AND WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY US IT HAD LOW MILEAGE. NOT A HAPPY CAMPER! *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB
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.