TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANNY BUCKS. I WAS TOLD BY TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FAULTY FORWARD PISTON AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $1800.00 DOLLARS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 71K MILES. AFTER READING ALL THESE HORROR STORIES, I …
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TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANNY BUCKS. I WAS TOLD BY TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FAULTY FORWARD PISTON AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $1800.00 DOLLARS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 71K MILES. AFTER READING ALL THESE HORROR STORIES, I THINK FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL!!
NHTSA ODI #10030969
85,881 miles · Jun 27, 2003
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #10021927
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2003
Power Train
NHTSA# 96-V-086-000: 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 S…
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NHTSA# 96-V-086-000: 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. *AK 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. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA ODI #10024397
98,000 miles · Apr 28, 2003
Power TrainSuspensionVehicle Speed Control
PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN NOV. 2001. IT ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CRUISE GOING DOWN HILL. THE GAS PEDAL OFTEN GETS HUNG UP WHICH LEAVES ME TAPPING IT MY FOOT TO GET IT TO GO, SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. IT ALSO HANGS UP IN PASSING GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME. AND ALSO HOW DO…
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PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN NOV. 2001. IT ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CRUISE GOING DOWN HILL. THE GAS PEDAL OFTEN GETS HUNG UP WHICH LEAVES ME TAPPING IT MY FOOT TO GET IT TO GO, SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. IT ALSO HANGS UP IN PASSING GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME. AND ALSO HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE TO CHECK TO SEE IF ALL THE RECALLS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT U BUY. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10016661
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I BOUGHT A FORD TAURUS 1996 FROM VENUNS FORD IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST AND SHIFTING ITS GEARS. THE MOTOR WAS RUMBLING AND SHAKING. I HAD TO REPAIR THE AXLES OF THE CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK EVERY MONTH BECAUS…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I BOUGHT A FORD TAURUS 1996 FROM VENUNS FORD IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST AND SHIFTING ITS GEARS. THE MOTOR WAS RUMBLING AND SHAKING. I HAD TO REPAIR THE AXLES OF THE CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK EVERY MONTH BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE. THE WATER PUMP OVER HEATED AND THE GAS PEDAL IS STILL STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST TODAY. ALSO THE DEALER IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE WARRANTY SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I ASKED THE DEALER TO TAKE A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION BUT THEY REFUSED. I ASKED FOR AN EVEN EXCHANGE FOR A DIFFERENT CAR BUT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THIS CAR AND THE OTHER IF I GOT ONE. URGENTLY RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016262
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2003
Power Train
WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED INTO GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM HIGH SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ABRUPTLY. *JB PH
NHTSA ODI #10015421
49,527 miles · Mar 15, 2003
Power Train
MY FORD TAURUS HAS LESS THAT 50,000 MILES ON IT AND I TREAT IT LIKE A BABY. BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT SERVICED DO TO THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMING ON. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER, PERFORMED MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, CHANGED THE ENGINE COOLANT AND REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE…
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MY FORD TAURUS HAS LESS THAT 50,000 MILES ON IT AND I TREAT IT LIKE A BABY. BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT SERVICED DO TO THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMING ON. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER, PERFORMED MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, CHANGED THE ENGINE COOLANT AND REPROGRAMMED THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AS PER TSB 97-8-6. I ALSO HAD THEM ROTATE THE TIRES. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AS FAR AS RUNNING (EXCEPT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WAS ON). AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WAS HAVING A HARD TIME "GRIPPING THE ROAD". CALLED FORD DEALER. TOOK IN AGAIN. THEY INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS NO HELP THERE. THIS CAR WAS ORIGINALLY A LEASED CAR AND WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY US IT HAD LOW MILEAGE. NOT A HAPPY CAMPER! *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10010512
91,879 miles · Feb 19, 2003
Power TrainCrash
WITH VEHICLE IN PARK, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER WAS FOUND FATALLY CRUSHED BENEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ROCKER PANEL AND TIRE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE POLICE CONCLUDED THAT THE CONSUMER PARKED ON A PAVED DRIVEWAY ON A UPHILL INCLINE. *…
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WITH VEHICLE IN PARK, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER WAS FOUND FATALLY CRUSHED BENEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ROCKER PANEL AND TIRE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE POLICE CONCLUDED THAT THE CONSUMER PARKED ON A PAVED DRIVEWAY ON A UPHILL INCLINE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10008679
98,000 miles · Jan 20, 2003
Power TrainSteeringCrash
THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR (ALSO CALLED PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH) SHORTS INTERNALLY AND CAUSES THE VARIABLY ASSISTED STEERING TO MALFUNCTION (STOP ASSISTING ENTIRELY). DATE OF INCIDENT MAY NOT BE EXACT. WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEED INTO AN ALLEY POWER STEERING FAILED MOMENTARILY CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO JUMP THE OPPOSI…
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THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR (ALSO CALLED PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH) SHORTS INTERNALLY AND CAUSES THE VARIABLY ASSISTED STEERING TO MALFUNCTION (STOP ASSISTING ENTIRELY). DATE OF INCIDENT MAY NOT BE EXACT. WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEED INTO AN ALLEY POWER STEERING FAILED MOMENTARILY CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO JUMP THE OPPOSITE CURB ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND DAMAGE WHEEL COVER. TSB # 96255 MAY DESCRIBE PROBLEM, BUT I'M NOT SURE. FORD DEALERSHIP PULLED UP A REPORT ON THIS FOR ME. REPORT STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR MAY SHORT INTERNALLY AND CAUSE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST TO BE REDUCED (ELIMINATED), POWER WINDOWS TO FAIL, AND STEREO TO TEMPORARILY FAIL. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SPORADIC, BUT SINCE THE STEERING IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED THIS PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. I FEEL THAT I WAS LUCKY AS THERE WAS NOBODY/NOTHING TO HIT AND THAT ALL I HAD DAMAGED WAS A WHEEL COVER.
NHTSA ODI #10003022
84,200 miles · Jan 4, 2003
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SLIPS--86,000 MILES GETTING TRANS REBUILT
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