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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 →

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

Electrical System complaints

57 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ENGINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STALLED/ JUST STOPPED WORKING.CONSUMER STEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DAY BEFORE THIS FAILURE, THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE STALL. THE DEALER SAYS THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS THE …

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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ENGINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STALLED/ JUST STOPPED WORKING.CONSUMER STEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSE THE PROBLEM.*AK THE DAY BEFORE THIS FAILURE, THE HEATING SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE STALL. THE DEALER SAYS THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE, AND THAT THE ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #874101

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000
Electrical System

N O SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735445

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Electrical System

AFTER THE TAURUS HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 30 MIN, YOU WILL LOSE POWER STERING AND THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHILE TAURUS IS RUNNING AND THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL P/S WORKS! SELECT REVERSE OR DRIVE YOU LOSE P/S, DASH BOARD ALARMS SEATBELT AND ABS BRAKES, THE RADIO MUTES,SELECT PARK OR…

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AFTER THE TAURUS HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 30 MIN, YOU WILL LOSE POWER STERING AND THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHILE TAURUS IS RUNNING AND THE GEAR SELECTOR IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL P/S WORKS! SELECT REVERSE OR DRIVE YOU LOSE P/S, DASH BOARD ALARMS SEATBELT AND ABS BRAKES, THE RADIO MUTES,SELECT PARK OR NEUTRAL EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #734762

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2000
Electrical System

"DOOR AJAR" INDICATOR COMES ON WON'T GO OFF, OR INTERIOR ILLIMINATING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN DOOR IS OPENED AND NEVER GO OFF, HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE TO SAVE BATTERY, BUT CANNOT OPERATE WINDOWS

NHTSA ODI #734281

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN 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

NHTSA ODI #872968

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2000
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #734007

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Electrical System

DURING WARM/HOT WEATHER THE ENGINE WILL DIE WITH NO WARNING. IT HAPPENS WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN. I HAVE TRIED PUTTING PREMIUM FUEL AND INJECTOR CLEANER TO SEE IF THIS WOULD HELP THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DOESN'T. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT.

NHTSA ODI #729849

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO A LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, A PROBLEM WITH BATTERY DRAINING OUT, AND HEADLIGHTS COME OFF AND ON. CONSUMER HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #868920

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherFire

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH, VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ENGINE QUIT. CONSUMER HAD TO GET TO SHOULDER BY USING HAZARD LIGHTS. WHILE CONSUMER WAS ON SHOULDER ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER SAYS TEMPARATURE GAUGE WENT TO 3 QUARTERS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868343

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2000
Electrical System

THE NEW AUTO BATTERIES LACK THE AMPERE HOUR RATING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO RECHARGE PROPERLY. YH

NHTSA ODI #553158

Official recalls

6

98V067000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.