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 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 1999
Steering
THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAS NOT ACTUALLY FAILED. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN A LARGE GROANING NOISE IS MADE WHEN TRUNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. FORD HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVIC BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM STARTING BACK IN 1996 AND WANT TO CHARGE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONE…
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THE POWER STEERING UNIT HAS NOT ACTUALLY FAILED. WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN A LARGE GROANING NOISE IS MADE WHEN TRUNING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. FORD HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS SERVIC BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM STARTING BACK IN 1996 AND WANT TO CHARGE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT SINCE THIS DEALS WITH THE STEERING UNIT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED AND THEY SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ON ALL THEIR VEHICLES AT NO COST TO THE OWNERES.
NHTSA ODI #705606
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1999
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705450
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1999
Electrical System
CAR ONLY STALLS IN THE SPRING TIME WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES FROM COLD WEATHER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705270
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1999
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS DOWN SHIFTING ON IT'S OWN AND RPM'S GO UP, ENGINE SOUNDS AS IF YOU ARE PUTTNG IT IN NEUTRAL, BUT CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS SLOW DOWN. OVERDRIVE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING. CHANGE TRANSMISSION FILTER LAST YEAR, CHECKED FLUID LEVELS THEY ARE FULL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705217
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, TURNING INTO A PUDDLE, AND ENGINE STOPPED/ ALL POWER WAS LOST. SHORTLY, IT RETURNED AUTOMATICALLY, AND CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE BELT. THERE WAS A MEMORANDUM WHEREAS CONSUMER HAD PROBLEM BEING TAKEN CARE OFF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836365
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS IDLING NEAR GARAGE. HAD OPENED DOOR WHEN VEHICLE LEAPED FORWARD. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & NOTHING FOUND BY MECHANIC. THE 2ND TIME, EVERYTHING WAS IN GEAR (PARKED) & OWNER IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN IT LEAPED FORWARD & BROKE GARAGE DOOR. VEHICLE PUSHED OWNER THROUGH THE DOOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835667
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1999
Steering
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND RETURNING, VEHICLE MAKES NOISES AND VIBRATES. DEALER SAYS STEERING FILTER HOSE AND POWER STEERING GEAR SHORT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #835491
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
BOLTS ON OIL PAN GASKET WERE TORQUED IMPROPERLY CAUSING RUBBER SEAL TO FAILED AND OIL TO POUR FROM THE OIL PAN RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL.
NHTSA ODI #544260
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT 50 MPH WITH 2 VEHICLES. FIRST VEHICLE HIT IN REAR ALMOST HEAD ON WITH MAJOR DAMAGE TO DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT/MIDDLE, PROCEEDED TO HIT SECOND VEHICLE IN SAME PLACE. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON EITHER IMPACT. MY VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE HAULT AFTER HITTING SECOND VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #703823
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 1999
Steering
MY PROBLEM IS NOT BEEN DETERMINED A SAFETY DEFECT AS YET BUT COULD POSSIBLY BE ONE EVENTUALLY. THE STEERING MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. I HAVE REVIEWED YOUR DATABASE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND OTHER INSTANCES OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR HANDLES AND HAVE ALSO TO THIS D…
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MY PROBLEM IS NOT BEEN DETERMINED A SAFETY DEFECT AS YET BUT COULD POSSIBLY BE ONE EVENTUALLY. THE STEERING MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT. I HAVE REVIEWED YOUR DATABASE ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND HAVE FOUND OTHER INSTANCES OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR HANDLES AND HAVE ALSO TO THIS DATE HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED. I REALIZE THIS IS A FORUM FOR REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS BUT I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER MEANS
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
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