1996 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls

PREVIOUSLY TO THIS ON 1/99, RECALL 98B23 WAS COMPLETED DEALING WITH THE RUSTY, CORROSIVE COOLANT CONDITION WHICH DEVELOPS IN THE 1996 TAURUS. NOW THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS DEVELOPED NUMEROUS STRESS CRACKS CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO POUR OUT. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIOIN IT APPEARS THE RADIATOR HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A LEAK.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,227 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000705 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION SLIPS--86,000 MILES GETTING TRANS REBUILT

Owner-reported narrative. 84,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000720 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

3 TIRES BLEW OUT AFTER I BOUGHT CAR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003399 at NHTSA ↗

50 MPH CRASH HIT A MAILBOX AND TWO SIX INCH LOCUST TREES. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH OF THE SENSORS WERE PUSHED INTO THE RADIATOR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005394 at NHTSA ↗

GENERAL G4S 20565R15 DOTACUR442990, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE THREE REMAINING TIRES HAVE FLAT SPOTS ALL AROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006284 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD GASKET WAS NEVER ANY GOOD. I HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $2500.00 ON REPAIR COST AND SURVIVED TWO WINTERS WITHOUT HEAT IN THE VEHICLE. FORD COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND DID NOTHING. *NLM *SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734332

Owner-reported narrative. 80,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007032 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1996-01-25 (January 25, 1996)

THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.

Reported: 1996-05-14 (May 14, 1996)

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.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.

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.

Reported: 1996-08-12 (August 12, 1996)

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.

Consequence: 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 CLEANER ASSEMBLY OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. FUEL RELEASE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THOSE REGULATORS PRODUCED DURING THE SUSPECT TIME PERIOD WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1996-09-05 (September 5, 1996)

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.

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.

Reported: 1996-09-18 (September 18, 1996)

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.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER 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.

Reported: 1998-03-25 (March 25, 1998)

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.

Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.