IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THROUGH WET PUDDLE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION. *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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
214 reportsCAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALL ON COOLING SYSTEM ON NOVEMBER 11, 1998. FAILURE IN COOLING SYSTEM ON DECEMBER 27, 1998. HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. ALSO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
FORD IS NOT PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION ON COOLANT RUST DENYING RUST AT ALL. HAVE REPLACED RESEVOIR FOR ANTIFREEZE DUE TO A PREVIOUS RECALL... HEATER COIL HAS GONE OUT DUE TO CORROSION THAT FORD IS DENYING EVEN EXSISTS.
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND WATER PUMP ALL REPLACED IN FIRST 66K. THIS CAR HAS BEEN VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. I AM FORCED TO PURCHASE MY NEXT CAR FROM JAPAN OR EUROPE. SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. *AK
TWO TO THREE GALLONS OF WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK APPARENTLY DUE TO A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE INVOLVING THE COLLAPSE OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY BLEW OFF MY COMPLAINT, AND THE REPAIR DEALERSHIP (FRIENDLY FORD/NORTH MIAMI BEACH) SAID THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN R…
Read full complaint
TWO TO THREE GALLONS OF WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK APPARENTLY DUE TO A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE INVOLVING THE COLLAPSE OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY BLEW OFF MY COMPLAINT, AND THE REPAIR DEALERSHIP (FRIENDLY FORD/NORTH MIAMI BEACH) SAID THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN RAINING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE ENGINE FOR RAINY DAYS. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR (DEEL FORD/CORAL GABLES) WHICH AT FIRST SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OF CERTAIN 1996 FORD TAURUS FOR PRECISELY THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN THEY CHECKED MY VIN, THEY CLAIMED IT FELL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THAT RECALL, AND THEY REFUSED TO FURNISH AN EXPLAINATION. SUBSEQUENTLY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE HAD ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADED THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR BILLS HAVE BEEN ENORMOUS. WE FIND IT INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM WAS NOT DEFECTIVE SINCE THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLAINATION IN OUR VIEW FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF TWO TO THREE GALLONS OF WATER IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. SINCE THIS IS A MASS PRODUCED VEHICLE, IF THIS HAPPENED TO US IT HAS PROBABLY HAPPEN TO OTHERS.
VEHICLE STALLING CONTINUALLY DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT OF THE GAS TANK, MODIFIED FUEL LINES AND EMISSION CANISTER (ALL COMPONENTS NEED TO BE REPLACED). SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED.
COOLING SYSTEM LEAKS ANTI-FREEZE AND OVERHEATS.
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.