FORD TAURUS · model year

1996 FORD TAURUS

1132 NHTSA complaints, 82 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996FORDTAURUS carries 1132 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 82 crashes, 18 fires, 73 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 TAURUS is power train:automatic transmission with 135 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (70) and engine and engine cooling:engine (62). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 6 investigation files overlapping the 1996 TAURUS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1132
Complaints
82
Crashes
18
Fires
73
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

1132 filings

Crashes Reported

82 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION135
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE70
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE62
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM61
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM35
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL31
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP28
UNKNOWN OR OTHER27
SUSPENSION:FRONT24
STEERING:RACK AND PINION22
STEERING22
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR19
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION18
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS16

Recent Complaints

20160130ENGINE

I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR FOR 4,00 AND SOME CHANGE A BOUT A YEAR AGO TWO DAYS AFTER I BROUGHT IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND EVERY NOW AND THEN WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD CUT OFF I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE PLACE I BROUGHT IT FROM AND TOLD THEM THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE IT SO I GOT SOME ONE TO FOLLOW ME AND TAKE ME BACK HOME WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR IT WAS RUNNING BUT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THEN THE DEFROST DIDN'T WORK I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM. THAT'S WHEN THE AIR CONDICTIONER STOP WORKING I JUST QUIT COMPLAIN THE CAR RAN PRETTY SMOOTH ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON . I WENT TO START MY CAR ONE NIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T START SO I WENT AND BROUGHT SO HEET I THOGHT BECAUSE IT WAS COLD OUT SIDE IT IS WINTER I BEGIN HEAR A HISS LLIKE SOME AIR IS EXCAPING FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD BUT YO HEAR IT INSIDE THE CAR LIKE A LOT OF STATIC. IT TIME FOR ME TO GET A TUNEUP NOW THE CAR REALLY RUNS SLUGGISH AND TURNS O

20160130UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR FOR 4,00 AND SOME CHANGE A BOUT A YEAR AGO TWO DAYS AFTER I BROUGHT IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND EVERY NOW AND THEN WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD CUT OFF I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE PLACE I BROUGHT IT FROM AND TOLD THEM THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE IT SO I GOT SOME ONE TO FOLLOW ME AND TAKE ME BACK HOME WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR IT WAS RUNNING BUT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THEN THE DEFROST DIDN'T WORK I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM. THAT'S WHEN THE AIR CONDICTIONER STOP WORKING I JUST QUIT COMPLAIN THE CAR RAN PRETTY SMOOTH ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON . I WENT TO START MY CAR ONE NIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T START SO I WENT AND BROUGHT SO HEET I THOGHT BECAUSE IT WAS COLD OUT SIDE IT IS WINTER I BEGIN HEAR A HISS LLIKE SOME AIR IS EXCAPING FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD BUT YO HEAR IT INSIDE THE CAR LIKE A LOT OF STATIC. IT TIME FOR ME TO GET A TUNEUP NOW THE CAR REALLY RUNS SLUGGISH AND TURNS O

20150224STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 113,000

20130124CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 263,984

20121130CrashSEAT BELTS

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.

Mileage: 70,890

20120627ENGINE

THE MOTOR CRADLE IN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S 1996 TAURUS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE AS SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO PARTIALLY DROP MAKING STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 1995 TAURUS IN DEC. OF 1998. MY QUESTION IS IF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 1998 THEN WHY WOULD THE 1996 TAURUS NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CREDIBLE DOCUMENTATION THAT FORD SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR CRADLES IN THE 1996 TAURUS TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM PROMPTING THE 1998 RECALL. SHORT OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE FIXED BY FORD. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20120627STRUCTURE

THE MOTOR CRADLE IN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S 1996 TAURUS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE AS SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO PARTIALLY DROP MAKING STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 1995 TAURUS IN DEC. OF 1998. MY QUESTION IS IF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 1998 THEN WHY WOULD THE 1996 TAURUS NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CREDIBLE DOCUMENTATION THAT FORD SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR CRADLES IN THE 1996 TAURUS TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM PROMPTING THE 1998 RECALL. SHORT OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE FIXED BY FORD. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20110813SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

Mileage: 120,000

20110502VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

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.

Mileage: 78,426

20110304CrashAIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 150,000

20110110SUSPENSION:REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. HE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AXLE WAS CORRODED, SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT SEATS, STEERING CONTROL ARMS, DASHBOARD, AND TRANSAXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 202,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 195,000.

Mileage: 195,000

20101118ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

Mileage: 106,500

20100901WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

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

20100621POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

1996 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE PARK PAWL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PUT THE GEAR IN PARK, THE PARK PAWL DID NOT ENGAGE, WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH HER MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED HER A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 1996 FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. WHILE THE DEALER DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AX4N AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, SHE WAS ADVISED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

20100621POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1996 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE PARK PAWL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PUT THE GEAR IN PARK, THE PARK PAWL DID NOT ENGAGE, WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH HER MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED HER A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 1996 FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. WHILE THE DEALER DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AX4N AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, SHE WAS ADVISED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

20100526STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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

Mileage: 90,000

20100412STRUCTURE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AREA. THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

Mileage: 138,000

20100104STRUCTURE

THE FRAME IS CRACKED. *TR

20091220SUSPENSION:REAR

THE REAR SPRINGS OF MY 1996 FORD TAURUS GL HAVE BOTH BROKEN THROUGH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

20090515TIRES

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

Mileage: 67,944

Compare 1996FORDTAURUS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 FORD TAURUS have?
The 1996 FORD TAURUS has 1132 NHTSA complaints, 82 crashes, 18 fires, 73 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD TAURUS?
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD TAURUS is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 135 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1996 FORD TAURUS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.