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 · Feb 5, 1999
Steering
EXPERIENCED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT. DIAGNOSED AS A SHORT RACK AND POWER STEERING RETURN PROBLEM. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM "DOESN'T OCCUR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS," AND COULDN'T PROVIDE A REASON FOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND I SHOULD BE REFUNDE…
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EXPERIENCED GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT. DIAGNOSED AS A SHORT RACK AND POWER STEERING RETURN PROBLEM. SERVICE TECH STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM "DOESN'T OCCUR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS," AND COULDN'T PROVIDE A REASON FOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND I SHOULD BE REFUNDED MY COSTS FOR THE REPAIR. THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF RECALL ACTION BECAUSE THE PROBLEM, FROM WHAT I AM READING FROM OTHERS, IS TOO SYSTEMIC TO BE A COINCIDENCE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #702969
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1999
Power Train
AT 61,000 MILES A MALFUNCTION HAS OCURRED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, TO GO INTO NEUTRAL EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. ALSO, AFTER STEPPING ON THE ACCELRATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP, AND PROCEED IN DRIVE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OWNER DID NOT CHANGE THE TRANS…
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AT 61,000 MILES A MALFUNCTION HAS OCURRED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, TO GO INTO NEUTRAL EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. ALSO, AFTER STEPPING ON THE ACCELRATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP, AND PROCEED IN DRIVE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OWNER DID NOT CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, OWNER LATER DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE SOME RECALLS FOR DIFFERENT VIN#S. *AK.ET.
NHTSA ODI #834479
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1999
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834444
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages
DOORS WON'T OPEN. HAVE TO GET IN REAR AND OPEN FROM INSIDE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #702910
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1999
Visibility
DURING A VERY HEAVY RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. SPONTANEOUSLY THE WIPERS WILL START UP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #834256
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
IDLE AIR CONTROL OR AUXILIARYAIR CONTROL IS USED TO CONTROL RPMS OR TO ADJUST FOR A VARITY OF LOAD INTRODUCED FOR AIR CONDITIONS ,ELECTRICAL CHARGING AND NUMEROUS OTHER AUTO GOODIES.THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL FAILED AND KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN NY WIFE WENT TO STOP THE CAR KEPT PUSHING AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. I REACHED…
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IDLE AIR CONTROL OR AUXILIARYAIR CONTROL IS USED TO CONTROL RPMS OR TO ADJUST FOR A VARITY OF LOAD INTRODUCED FOR AIR CONDITIONS ,ELECTRICAL CHARGING AND NUMEROUS OTHER AUTO GOODIES.THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL FAILED AND KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING WHEN NY WIFE WENT TO STOP THE CAR KEPT PUSHING AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. I REACHED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL .THIS ACTION PERMITTED HER TO STOP THE CAR ,BUT WITH HIGH RPMS ON THE TACHOMETER. GOD ONLY KNOWNS IF I HAD NOT BEEN THERE SHE MAY HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #702605
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH WET PUDDLE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837991
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR RECALL ON COOLING SYSTEM ON NOVEMBER 11, 1998. FAILURE IN COOLING SYSTEM ON DECEMBER 27, 1998. HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN VIN NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #702347
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED. ALSO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.
NHTSA ODI #781786
Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1998
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT.
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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