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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.

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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

Suspension complaints

60 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2005
Suspension

ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS - RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED BROKEN SPRING TO GO INTO RF TIRE CAUSING MASSIVE TIRE DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. FAILURE WAS AT LOW SPEED SO NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NEW COIL SPRING AND NEW TIRE WERE PURCHASED & INSTALLED. I'VE READ THAT TAURUSES OF OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS IMPORTANT ISS…

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ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS - RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED BROKEN SPRING TO GO INTO RF TIRE CAUSING MASSIVE TIRE DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. FAILURE WAS AT LOW SPEED SO NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NEW COIL SPRING AND NEW TIRE WERE PURCHASED & INSTALLED. I'VE READ THAT TAURUSES OF OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE BUT NOT FOR THE 1996 TAURUS. MECHANIC TOLD ME THESE FRONT COIL SPRINGS SHOULD NOT BRAKE AND A MECHANIC FRIEND INFORMED ME OF THIS NHTSA WEB SITE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL FOR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FAILURE AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE PAID FOR PRIOR REPAIRS. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10116729

888,000 miles · Mar 1, 2005
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE TIRE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10113207

81,000 miles · Jan 13, 2005
Suspension

I'VE NOTICED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT MY TAURUS. FIRST I NOTICED A RATTLE/VIBRATION IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I ALSO NOTICED A CLICK WHENEVER I TURNED MY WHEEL HARD EITHER WAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10106291

119,000 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH FRONT COIL SPRING RUPTURED, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106848

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2004
Suspension

RECALL CAMPAIGN ; A FRACTURED FRONT COIL SPRING CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO BLOWOUT. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 1999-2000 MODELS ONLY. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10108855

175,000 miles · Aug 31, 2004
Suspension

WHILE REVERSING CONSUMER FOUND A PIECE OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRING ON THE GROUND OF THE GARAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE AND THE COIL PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. RECALL 04V332000 WAS ISSUED BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10083561

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2004
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH,CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM WHEEL ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND SUDDENLY CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHOULDERS. CONSUMER WENT UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087244

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2004
Suspension

WHILE 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

NHTSA ODI #10081922

66,500 miles · Jun 14, 2004
Suspension

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

NHTSA ODI #10071639

94,350 miles · Jun 8, 2004
Suspension

FOUND THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN DURING A TIRE ROTATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075037

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.