IllustrationWHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *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 DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD ALOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK
THE SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS WERE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD TAURUS FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER, BROCKPORT FORD, IN 1998. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN JULY OF 2000, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED A HIGH TEMPERATURE. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE CAR LEAKING COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR TO VISION FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE'S FREEZE PLUGS AS A COST OF $452. RECENTLY I …
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT A USED 1996 FORD TAURUS FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER, BROCKPORT FORD, IN 1998. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN JULY OF 2000, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED A HIGH TEMPERATURE. I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE CAR LEAKING COOLANT. I TOOK THE CAR TO VISION FORD AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE'S FREEZE PLUGS AS A COST OF $452. RECENTLY I HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM, ONLY THIS TIME IT THE REPAIRS COST ME $907. I QUESTIONED TWO FAILURES OF THIS TYPE ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR AND LOCATED NUMEROUS WEBSITES DEVOTED TO THIS SAME PROBLEM IN 1996 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED NUMEROUS THERMOSTATS AND NOW MY HEATER CORE IS GOING. THIS IS ALL DUE TO A MANUFACTURING/ ENGINEERING DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES THE ANTIFREEZE TO TURN ACIDIC AND ATTACK THE ENGINE PARTS. THERE WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY EXTENSION" ISSUED BY FORD FOR THIS KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT IT EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 1999. AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHICH I FEEL IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THERE SHOULD BE A MANDATED RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE FORD DEALER SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE APPLIED THE REPAIR KIT AS SHOULD THE DEALER WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR BOTH REPAIRS. A DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE AWARE OF COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MODELS AND SHOULD COMMUNICATE THIS WITH THE OWNERS. *LA
VEHICLE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED.*MR THE TIRES ONLY HAD 30000 MILES ON THEM. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD NEW STRUTS INSTALLED ALONG WITH HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED. *SC *JB
WHILE PARKED FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. *AK BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE UPPER BRACKET ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
FOUND THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN DURING A TIRE ROTATION. *AK
THE FRAME OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS HAS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE FRAME MOUNTS TO THE BODY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *MR
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE STATE INSPECTION REFUSED TO INSPECT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SUB FRAME CORRODED BEYOND REPAIR. *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.