1996 Ford Taurus: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 825 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (22% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 825 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving at 15 mph, there was a loud noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the motor carriage had corroded and stated that the vehicle needed a new under frame. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 1 mph, the vehicle accelerated violently and crashed into a pole without any warning. The contact sustained chest and head injuries and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Updated 3/13/13 *cn updated 03/19/13 updated 03/20/13*lj the consumer stated the brakes didn't work, and she hit several curbs and two tires burst on the passenger side. She hit a lamp post and some shrubs, as well as an atm machine. Updated 04/10/13”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jan 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle was involved in a crash and the seat belt failed to retract. The contact, who was seating in the front passenger seat, hit her head on the windshield. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileage was 70,890.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Nov 2012
Show 7 more owner reports
“My son was driving the vehicle when the brakes completely failed. Brake lines to the rear of the car ruptured and drained system of brake fluid and car had no brakes at all. It rolled into an intersection and thankfully he wasn't hurt. Apparently this is fairly common with older cars. Both lines being replaced. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jul 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford taurus. The contact stated that water was leaking into the passenger side floorboard from an unknown entry source. The dealer advised the contact that due to the age of the vehicle, the failure was common. The dealer advised having the molding and sealant for the windshield replaced. The manufacturer took a complaint on the contacts behalf and offered no further assistance since there were no related recalls for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 78,456 and the failure mileage was 78,426.”Owner report · Visibility · Apr 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford taurus. The contact was driving approximately 30 mph when the vehicle was involved in a crash. During the crash all of the air bags deployed but during deployment, the passenger side air bag detached from the dashboard. A police report was filed but no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a parking lot where the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 150,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2011
“My 1996 ford taurus gl stalled due to a failed camshaft synchronizer that broke. It only has 106,500 miles on it. I understand the 1997's have a recall - why aren't the 1996 taurus included ?? These should be part of the recall. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 2010
“1996 ford taurus, driver felt vehicle shake, pulled to the right berm and right tire fell off the vehicle. *bf according to the police report, there were five broken tire spokes along with a scraped brake rotor from contact with the roadway. (ohio traffic crash report # 10-0385-91) *jb updated 09/13/10*bf”Owner report · Wheels · Jul 2010
“On my 1996 ford taurus the subframe is completely rusted out. With only 90,000 miles and stored inside I have never seen a frame rusted out this bad. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2010
“Douglas tire on 1996 ford taurus "came apart" on I-10, no apparent puncture or other signs of hitting an object on the highway. *tr”Owner report · Tires · May 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 69 of these complaints and injuries in 69 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
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.
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 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.
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.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THOSE REGULATORS PRODUCED DURING THE SUSPECT TIME PERIOD WILL BE REPLACED.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
How other years compare
Check your exact Taurus by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Ford Taurus reliable?
NHTSA has 825 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 1996 Ford Taurus. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Taurus problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 95,000 miles or less.
Does the 1996 Ford Taurus have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl). Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.