IllustrationHEAD GASKET WAS NEVER ANY GOOD. I HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $2500.00 ON REPAIR COST AND SURVIVED TWO WINTERS WITHOUT HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. FORD COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND DID NOTHING. *NLM *SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734332
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 reportsWHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT, AND VEHICLE SLOWES DOWN A LITTLE IT WILL SHUT DOWN. ALSO, DASH LIGHTS COME ON, AND CAR IS DEAD. CONSUMER WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK
IN MAY OF 2000 IWAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON MD 695 WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I THEN LOST POWER MY CAR SHUT OFF AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER MY CAR WAS STALLED OUT I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO TOWSON FORD IN TOWSON MD THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY COOLING SYSTEM AFTER TELLING A FEW FRIENDS OF MY ORDEAL ONE TOLD ME OF A RECALL FOR THE COOLING S…
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IN MAY OF 2000 IWAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON MD 695 WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I THEN LOST POWER MY CAR SHUT OFF AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER MY CAR WAS STALLED OUT I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO TOWSON FORD IN TOWSON MD THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY COOLING SYSTEM AFTER TELLING A FEW FRIENDS OF MY ORDEAL ONE TOLD ME OF A RECALL FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM ON THE 96 TAURUS I THEN CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR CO IN MICH. WHERE I WAS TREATED VERY RUDLY OVER THE PHONE I CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR IWAS TOLD SEVERAL DIFFRENT TIMES THAT ONE WOULD CONTACT ME IT WASNT UNTIL I REFUSED TO HANG UP THE PHONE UNTIL I SPOKE TO A SUPERVISOR THAT I TALKED TO SOMEONE AFTER ALL THE TROUBLE I WENT THROUGH THEY TOLD ME FORD WAS NOT GOING TO HONOR MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL HELP WITH MY REPAIRS AFTER HAVING REPAIRS DONE MYSELF MY CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS IT STARTED TO LEAK COOLING FLUID AND OVERHEAT I IMEDIATLY HAD IT TAKEN BACK TO TOWSON FORD THEY THEN TOLD ME I NEEDED NEW HEAD CYLINDERS WHICH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER AFTER HAVING THESE THINGS DONE MY CAR STILL LOSES POWER MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT CRANK OVER I TOOK IT BACK TO TOWSON FORD THEY PUT IT ON THE ANYLIZING MACHINE THEY FOUND OTHER PROBLEMS BUT COULD NOT TELL ME WHY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON WHY IT WONT CRANKOVER OR WHY IM LOSING POWER WHEN IM DRIVING PLEASE HELP ME FIND A SOLUTION I
TIRE HAS BEGINNING BELT SEPARATION. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ACUR442175 TIRESIZE: P20565R15)
DOME LIGHT/DOOR ADJAR INDICATOR COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. AT NIGHT, DOME LIGHT DISTURBS DRIVER. WILL GO ON AND OFF AS YOU DRIVE. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX. IS GETTING WORSE, NOW IT TRIPS THE CAR ALARM AS DOOR ADJAR SETS IT OFF WHEN LOCKED WITH ALARM SET.*AK
HAD DRIVEN THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER & THE WATER GOT INSIDE THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. BELTS INSIDE GOT WET. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. HAD MADE SQUEALING NOISES WHEN IT WAS STALLING. AFTER A FEW SECONDS SQUEALING SOUND STOPPED. VEHICLE THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. DID NOT HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHEC…
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HAD DRIVEN THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER & THE WATER GOT INSIDE THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. BELTS INSIDE GOT WET. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. HAD MADE SQUEALING NOISES WHEN IT WAS STALLING. AFTER A FEW SECONDS SQUEALING SOUND STOPPED. VEHICLE THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. DID NOT HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.*AK
IN 1998 I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. IT HAD JUST OVER 12,000 MILES ON IT AND CAME EQUIPPED WITH GENERAL TIRES, SIZE P205/65R15.*AK (TIRESIZE: P205/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R15 )
ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE DEFECTIVE LINNING AROUND THE TIRES. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED AT THIS TIME. TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE, #420, P205/165R15. HE HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND FORD.*AK
VEHICLE WAS SOLD SUBSEQUENT TO THE INCIDENT. SCARED FOR THE CAR AND TIRE PERFORMANCE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/65R-1 )
HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM - DUE TO OPAQUE PLASTIC COVER.
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.