IllustrationI AM CURIOUS IF OTHER FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS HAVE FAILED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE.
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 FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE IT WAS BEYOND THEIR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF CRACKS, AND HAD TO HAVE STARTED BEFORE 36,000 MI. THIS WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION I PUT INTO A FORD CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED . I TRIED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A …
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. FORD WAS NOTIFIED AND DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE IT WAS BEYOND THEIR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FULL OF CRACKS, AND HAD TO HAVE STARTED BEFORE 36,000 MI. THIS WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION I PUT INTO A FORD CAR AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED . I TRIED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH A FORD SERVICE CENTER, BUT THEY WERE TOO BUSY. I TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT STATION . THEY HAD 4 OTHER TAURUS' THERE FOR TRANSMISSIONS, ALL FAIRLY NEW CARS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MY COMPRESSOR FOR MY AC IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL OF CAR, AND IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO HAVE FORD COVER FOR THE REPAIR. MY CAR IS ONLY A 1996 WITH REASONABLE MILEAGE AND THE AC SHOULD NOT BREAK DOWN ALREADY. CAN YOU HELP ME? OR GUIDE ME TO SOMEONE WHO COULD?
FREEZE PLUGS BURST, CAUSING ENGINE TO DIE. ALSO, BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK
THE POWER STEERING FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. FLUID IS COMING FROM TUBBING THAT'S RUBBING AGAINST THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. THIS HAD CAUSED A PIN HOLE IN TUBE. ALSO, STEERING WAS MAKING GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNED. HAVE NOT BEEN TO DEALER YET.
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
TRANSMSSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH. NO SIGN GIVEN DURING MALFUNCTION. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 62,990 MILES. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK *ML
ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE TO THE SHAKING. VERY VIOLENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE GARAGE (NOT THE FORD DEALERSHIP), THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED A $12.00 PRT AND IT WAS ON THE OUTER PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. A WEEK LATER THE PART HAD STILL NOT COME IN, IT WAS ON BACK ORDER THROUGH FOR…
Read full complaint
THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE GARAGE (NOT THE FORD DEALERSHIP), THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED A $12.00 PRT AND IT WAS ON THE OUTER PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. A WEEK LATER THE PART HAD STILL NOT COME IN, IT WAS ON BACK ORDER THROUGH FORD AND IT TOOK 10 DAYS TO GET HERE, WHEN THE GARAGE WENT TO DO THE WORK, IT SHOWED THAT IT WAS QUITE FAR INTO THE TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENTED WARRANTEE, IT IS NOT COVERED. BUT THIS CAR HAS ONLY 59.000 MILES.
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.