IllustrationWHEN TRAVELING 35MPH ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY HESITATED/ AND SHOOK AND AND VIBRATED. ALSO, BRAKES PULSATE, AND WANDERED OFF TO THE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED BRAKES TWICE WITHIN TWO WEEKS LATER. *AK
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 reportsWHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN CITY TRAFFIC VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHEN ENGINE STALLED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE OF $1400.00. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH HEARD NOISE LIKE A GARBAGE DISPOSAL, THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER STOPPING SAW A LOT OF TRANSMISSION PIECES ON GROUND. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1000 SINCE IT FAILED PREMATURELY. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT T…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH HEARD NOISE LIKE A GARBAGE DISPOSAL, THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER STOPPING SAW A LOT OF TRANSMISSION PIECES ON GROUND. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $1000 SINCE IT FAILED PREMATURELY. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE 3 RECALLS ON TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1996 MODEL AND WAS SEEKING REFUND OF THE REPAIR COST. OWNER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING OVER RAIL ROAD TRACKS VEHICLE STALLED IN MIDDLE OF TRACKS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. CONSUMER COASTED VEHICLE OFF TRACKS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AFTER COMING OFF A GREEN LIGHT, AT ABOUT 15 MPH, TRANSMISSION FLUID BEGAN TO LEAK AND THE RPM'S REVVED WITH NO FURTHER ACCELERATION. AFTER HAVING VEHICLE TOWED TO AAMCO, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT SEAL HAD A MAJOR LEAK AND FAILED ALONG WITH THE STADOR AND TRANSMISSION. I ASKED HAYWARD FORD FOR RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE ISSUE…
Read full complaint
AFTER COMING OFF A GREEN LIGHT, AT ABOUT 15 MPH, TRANSMISSION FLUID BEGAN TO LEAK AND THE RPM'S REVVED WITH NO FURTHER ACCELERATION. AFTER HAVING VEHICLE TOWED TO AAMCO, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT SEAL HAD A MAJOR LEAK AND FAILED ALONG WITH THE STADOR AND TRANSMISSION. I ASKED HAYWARD FORD FOR RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE ISSUES AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY. I ALSO CALLED THE FORD COROPORATE OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE THE FORD ENGINEERS WOULD BE FORWARDED THE MESSAGE, BUT WOULDN'T BE GIVING ME A CALL NOR THE INFORMATION I NEEDED.
TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MAKE A STRANGE SOUNDS (WHIRLING). PROBLEM ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE A WHEEL BEARING BUT ENDED UP NEEDING A TRANSMISSION COSTING ME $3100. DEALER (SLOAN FORD IN DOWNINGTOWN) WAS INCOMPETENT. I ENDED UP REPLACING TRANSMISSION AGAIN IN MAY OF THE SAME YEAR. GOT NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD. ENGINE WAS REPLAC…
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MAKE A STRANGE SOUNDS (WHIRLING). PROBLEM ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE A WHEEL BEARING BUT ENDED UP NEEDING A TRANSMISSION COSTING ME $3100. DEALER (SLOAN FORD IN DOWNINGTOWN) WAS INCOMPETENT. I ENDED UP REPLACING TRANSMISSION AGAIN IN MAY OF THE SAME YEAR. GOT NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD. ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 30000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION AT 54000MILES. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL ON 1996 TRANSMISSIONS (I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL) I AM VERY CURIOUS IF THIS COULD BE THE REASON FOR THE TRANSMISSION'S SHORT LIFE. *AK
MASSIVE TREAD SEPARATION AFTER ONLY 11,000MILES OF NORMAL ROAD USE. CONTINENTAL-GENERAL CONTACTED RESPONSE WAS "TOUGH LUCK."*AK (TIRESIZE: P20565RS15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P20565RS15 )
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
FREEZE PLUGS FAILED AT 65MPH; THERMOSTAT SHOWED NORMAL; ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONLY WHEN ENGINE DIED; REQUIRED HEAD GASKET JOB...
ENGINE INTERMITENTLY ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN. ENGINE SPEED OF 2500 RPM'S AT IDLE AND UNDER LOAD OBSERVED. *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.