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1996 Ford TaurusProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 825 owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Taurus, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 6 safety recalls.

33
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.1× the Taurus median · #9 of 34 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Free fix at dealersOwner complaints825126 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 30, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1996 Ford Taurus has problems

825 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling21410
Power train1824
Steering1016
Service brakes, hydraulic665
Suspension603
Electrical system577
Visibility551
Air bags4532
Vehicle speed control429
14 other systems19418

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

1996 Ford Taurus recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 96V-176 · Sep 18, 1996 · 340,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

Recall 96V-166 · Sep 5, 1996 · 40,000 vehicles

Risk. UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Recall 96V-151 · Aug 12, 1996 · 4,700 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 96V-086 · May 14, 1996 · 100,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Brake fluid low warning: lamp

Recall 96V-016 · Jan 25, 1996 · 76,500 vehicles

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

14 owners mentioned a cost

$1,640median

Middle half: $864 – $4,475

Power train

10 owners mentioned a cost

$1,851median

Middle half: $1,450 – $2,293

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1996 vs. every other Taurus year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Taurus median. How we score

'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1996 Ford Taurus safety ratings

1996 Ford Taurus 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Taurus owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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
Complaint 10366660 · Nov 18, 2010 · 106,500 miles
COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE OF ALL TYPES ALL PART PRONE TO EXTREME CHEMICAL CORROSION VERY AGGRAVATING PROBLEM AND NOW THE COOLANT BYPASS HOSE HAS FAILED WITH THE SAME CORROSIVE SYMPTOMS AS THE OTHER COMPONENTS. *TR
Complaint 10251024 · Dec 8, 2008 · 160,000 miles
BOUGHT MY 1996 TAURUS IN JAN 1999 FROM A DEALER. NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ENGINE & COOLING SYSTEM THAT WAS ISSUED IN 1999. I HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT,HOSES (WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM) DUE TO RUST AN SLUDGE IN SYSTEM. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH FOR 12 MILES ENGINE…
Complaint 10233726 · Jul 10, 2008 · 213,000 miles

Own a 1996 Taurus?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.