1996 Ford TAURUS SHO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
93,642 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 24 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv) | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 8; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000175 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
CAM FAILURE 1996 TAURUS SHO AT 99K MILES
Owner-reported narrative. 99,361 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000402 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
CAM SHAFT FAILURE. CAM GEAR SEPARATED FROM CAM SHAFT, CAUSING CATASTROFIC ENGINE FAILURE. TS *DT
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000766 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
MY AUTOMOTIVE IS MAKING A NOISE FROM MY VALVETRAIN AREA THAT MY MECHANIC INDICATES IS A POTENTIAL CAMSHAFT (AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE) PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE FIXED BEFORE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 93,642 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007742 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
CAMSHAFTS IN THE 1996-1999 TAURUS SHO. I HAVE HAD A FAILURE LIKE MANY OTHERS, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 250 FAILURES OF THIS TYPE, MINE WAS FAILURE NUMBER 221. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ENGINE SEIZED CAUSING THE CAR TO DART TO THE RIGHT, IF THERE WAS A VEHICLE THERE, WE WOULD HAVE COLLIDED. $8500.00 IN DAMAGE, FORD WILL NOT COVER ANY OF IT, THIS IS A QUOTE FROM A FORD REP. "METAL WEARS" BUT AT THE RATE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IS ALARMING, 18 CARS SO FAR SINCE 02-01-2002. AT ABOUT $8000.00 EACH CAR IS $144,000.00 DAMAGES FEBUARY ALONE, FOR ALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,175 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013782 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THE FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFTS IN A DUAL OVER HEAD CAMSHAFT ENGINES CAN CAUSE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAMSHAFTS (PER DEALER) ARE FAILING AND I FEAR THAT THEY WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY PASSENGERS OR MYSELF. THE DETROIT FREE PRESS HAS PUBLISHED A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE FAILURE OF CAMSHAFTS IN TAURUS SHO ENGINES SINCE 1996. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A RECALL ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY BEGAN REPLACING CAMSHAFTS ON VEHICLES WITH AS LITTLE AS 30,000 MILES FOR THE FAILURE OF THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016508 · 2003-04-25 (April 25, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK APRIL 17,2003 ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND MY 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO JUST QUIT RUNNING . I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED AND BENT ALL THE VALVES (32) IN THE ENGINE. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX THEY GAVE ME A FIGURE THAT I COULD NOT BELIEVE. WITH LABOR AND PARTS APPROXIMATELY $9000.00. I ONLY HAVE 61,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 61,485 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029094 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
THE CAMSHAFT IN MY CAR FAILED AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. IT WAS A 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO. IT CAUSED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS AROUND A CORNER AND I WAS ALMOST INVOLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO MANY SHO OWNERS. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE RUNNING ME $5000 DOLLARS. THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT IT COULD HAVE DONE TO MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP THIS NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. SOME MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS ME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031029 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD TAURUS IN 1998(FEBRUARY). IN THE SUMMER OF 1998 I BEGAN DEVELOPING COOLING PROBLEMS. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH RUSTY RADIATOR WATER, HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE, AND AM NOW TOLD I POSSIBLY NEED A NEW MOTOR. I AM TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COOLING SYSTEM OF THESE CARS IN OR ABOUT 1999, THAT HAS SINCE EXPIRED. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031029 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.