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 reports
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2000
Steering
THERE IS A TERRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THE FORD MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH TAURUS'S. HE SAID FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THE MODEL. OUR THREE YEAR-WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER. THERE WAS A SMALL PROBLEM BEFORE BUT NOW IT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $700. WHY SHOU…
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THERE IS A TERRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. THE FORD MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH TAURUS'S. HE SAID FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THE MODEL. OUR THREE YEAR-WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER. THERE WAS A SMALL PROBLEM BEFORE BUT NOW IT IS QUITE NOTICEABLE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $700. WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER PAY IF THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM MADE BY FORD? OUR CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED-- ALWAYS A 3,000 MILE OIL CHANGE. I HAVE CHECKED ON INTERNET UNDER FORD TAURUS COMPLAINTS AND THERE ARE MANY DISSATISFIED TAURUS CUSTOMERS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY RACK AND PINION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722638
Mileage unknown · May 9, 2000
Power Train
WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL. DEALER STATED THAT CABLE WAS BROKEN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861642
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY. WHEN PULLING OFF FROM STOP SIGN VEHICLE APPEARS TO CHANGE GEARS, BUT THEN GOES INTO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT DEALER HAS NO REMEDY FOR PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861573
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722376
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSON TROUBLE: BUZZING COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. VECHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS 7 TIMES FOR REPEATED SAME PROBLEM. SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALERS IS GOING BACK TO FORD. DEALER FEELS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN THIS BE WITH A CAR UNDER 21,000 MILES??I HAVE ALSO H…
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TRANSMISSON TROUBLE: BUZZING COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. VECHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS 7 TIMES FOR REPEATED SAME PROBLEM. SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALERS IS GOING BACK TO FORD. DEALER FEELS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN THIS BE WITH A CAR UNDER 21,000 MILES??I HAVE ALSO HAD REPEATED PROBLEM WITH DISCOLORED FLUIDS DUE TO A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSURED AND A COOLING KIT WAS INSTALLED. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO MOTOR PLEASE ADVISE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER ON THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #722368
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2000
SteeringSuspension
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN. DEALER STATES THAT NOISE IS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #861138
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE STARTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860875
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2000
Power Train
FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MINE AND NOT THEIRS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721726
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2000
Visibility
WHEN TURNING ON DEFROSTER ,ALL FRONT WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD WILL FOG UP LASTING ABOUT 2- 3 MINTUES CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THIS IS A NORMAL DUE TO PLASTIC COMPONENTS IN VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860481
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2000
Power Train
WHILE CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. OWNER PAID FOR REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT. *AK *ML
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1996 Ford Taurus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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