1996 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
489 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
95,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 489 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 82 | 16.8% |
| Braking behavior | 61 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 38 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 36 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 80 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 48 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 44 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 40 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 16 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 15 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 80; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 48; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 44; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 40; Unknown Or Other: 23; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 16; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 13
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 396 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 44 |
| 2000 | 129 |
| 2001 | 111 |
| 2002 | 53 |
| 2003 | 43 |
| 2004 | 41 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 3; 1996: 44; 2000: 129; 2001: 111; 2002: 53; 2003: 43; 2004: 41; 2005: 19; 2006: 9; 2007: 4; 2008: 13; 2009: 5; 2010: 6; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 82 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 61 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 38 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000720 · 2003-01-04 (January 4, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS--86,000 MILES GETTING TRANS REBUILT
Owner-reported narrative. 84,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003022 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR (ALSO CALLED PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH) SHORTS INTERNALLY AND CAUSES THE VARIABLY ASSISTED STEERING TO MALFUNCTION (STOP ASSISTING ENTIRELY). DATE OF INCIDENT MAY NOT BE EXACT. WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEED INTO AN ALLEY POWER STEERING FAILED MOMENTARILY CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO JUMP THE OPPOSITE CURB ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND DAMAGE WHEEL COVER. TSB # 96255 MAY DESCRIBE PROBLEM, BUT I'M NOT SURE. FORD DEALERSHIP PULLED UP A REPORT ON THIS FOR ME. REPORT STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR MAY SHORT INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024397 · 2003-06-19 (June 19, 2003)
NHTSA# 96-V-086-000: 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. *AK CONSEQUENCE THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSIO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032578 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING LEAK. HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032578 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001765 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE STALLING PROBLEMS. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT NO MORE THAN 10 TO 15 MPH. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURER,L AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SO FAR. TS...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070128 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THIS CAR CONTINUALLY STALLS OUT , THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, THE ENGINE REPAIR LIGHT COMES ON, THE UNDERNEATH SUSPENSION SQUEEKS AND GROANS, THE BRAKES SQUEAK, THE WHEEL DOESN'T TURN WHEN THE CAR STALLS OUT. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN I AM TURNING A CORNER, THE CAR STALLS OUT AND THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. NOW THE COMPUTOR SYSTEMS ARE NOT WORKING THE AIR CONDITIONING. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE RADIO AND THE AIR CONDITIONING TO START UP. THESE THINGS HAPPEN BUT NO ONE CAN FIND A PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041931 · 2003-09-29 (September 29, 2003)
THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BLINKS ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN IT DOES THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. WHEN THIS OCCURS CONSUMER LOSES CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081989 · 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP, AND SIT FOR A FEW SECONDS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT STEERING WHEEL WOULD UNLOCK. *AK THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MOST TIMES WHEN IT RAINS AND THE VEHICLE GOES THROUGH WATER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091819 · 2004-09-10 (September 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725271 · 2000-07-11 (July 11, 2000)
ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WE WERE DRIVING AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 45, CAM SENSOR, CAMSHAFT, DIED ROUGH IDLE, EGR SENSOR BAD, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT, DIES AT STOPS AND SLOW DOWNS, FUEL PUMP DOESNT HOLD PRESSURE, LONG CRANK TIME NO TURN OVER TILL ABOUT A MINUTE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725271 at NHTSA ↗