IllustrationFROST PLUG EXPERIENCED PREMATURE WEAR PER DEALERSHIP.*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 reportsTRANSMISSION 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!!
MY 1996 FORD CAR CAME WITH GENERAL AMERI G4S P20565R15 TIRES. BY NOW THREE OF THE FOUR HAVE FAILED DUE TO BELT/TREAD SEPARATION. MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 40000 AND 50000 MILES. REMAINING TREAD ON HIGHEST MILEAGE TIRE WAS .207". THEY HAVE NEVER RAN UNDERINFATED OR OVER LOADED. THE SERIAL # IS ACUR442515.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK *TS *JB
WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVE WAY, THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT TIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM PH *JB
DEFECTIVE FREEZE PLUGS IN 1996 FORD 3.0 VULCAN ENGINE IN TAURUS SEDAN. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FREEZE PLUGS CORRODED THROUGH LETTING HOT ENGINE COOLANT SPILL ON TO MY HANDS CAUSING BURNS. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS THE CAR OWNER. COST OF REPAIR VEHICLE WAS OVER $500 THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE…
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DEFECTIVE FREEZE PLUGS IN 1996 FORD 3.0 VULCAN ENGINE IN TAURUS SEDAN. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FREEZE PLUGS CORRODED THROUGH LETTING HOT ENGINE COOLANT SPILL ON TO MY HANDS CAUSING BURNS. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS THE CAR OWNER. COST OF REPAIR VEHICLE WAS OVER $500 THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REMOVED AND ALL FREEZE PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THIS COST SHOULD HAVE BEEN BORN BY FORD MOTOR CO. BUT WAS AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR ME. *JB
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.
I HAVE A 96 FORD TAURUS (VIN [XXX]) I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, THE MOST RECENT TIMES BEING 6 MONTHS APART. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR (LABOR IS 675.00) I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS AND NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN P…
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I HAVE A 96 FORD TAURUS (VIN [XXX]) I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, THE MOST RECENT TIMES BEING 6 MONTHS APART. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR (LABOR IS 675.00) I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS AND NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER CORE AND A TSB HAD BEEN RELEASED ABOUT IT. I THINK FORD SHOULD HAVE TO REFUND ME THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON HAVING IT FIXED AND HAVE IT FIXED ACCORDING TO THE TSB ALSO! I HAVE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND ALL OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF TSB OUT ABOUT THEM, WHY IS FORD NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THESE KNOWN PROBLEMS?? *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH REAR ENDED THE CONSUMER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED AN INJURED BACK. *NLM
THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JB
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.