1996 Ford Taurus

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1996 Ford Taurus
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford Taurus Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1981: 2 complaints 1981 1983: 1 complaints 1984: 4 complaints 1985: 2 complaints 1986: 101 complaints 1987: 255 complaints 1987 1988: 333 complaints 1989: 562 complaints 1990: 381 complaints 1991: 649 complaints 1992: 681 complaints 1992 1993: 1557 complaints 1994: 923 complaints 1995: 1205 complaints 1996: 825 complaints 1996 1997: 770 complaints 1997 1998: 545 complaints 1999: 874 complaints 2000: 1195 complaints 2001: 1037 complaints 2002: 1426 complaints 2002 2003: 1223 complaints 2004: 375 complaints 2005: 774 complaints 2006: 318 complaints 2007: 149 complaints 2007 2008: 175 complaints 2009: 64 complaints 2010: 202 complaints 2011: 187 complaints 2012: 78 complaints 2012 2013: 579 complaints 2014: 227 complaints 2015: 253 complaints 2016: 75 complaints 2017: 43 complaints 2017 2018: 45 complaints 2019: 11 complaints 2019
1996: 825 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19812
19831
19844
19852
1986101
1987255
1988333
1989562
1990381
1991649
1992681
19931557
1994923
19951205
1996825
1997770
1998545
1999874
20001195
20011037
20021426
20031223
2004375
2005774
2006318
2007149
2008175
200964
2010202
2011187
201278
2013579
2014227
2015253
201675
201743
201845
201911

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 16%

16% of complaints: power train — 133 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 8%

8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 69 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 7%

7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 61 distinct reports on file.

INJURY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 7%

7% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 58 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
STEERING 4%

4% of complaints: steering — 35 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030120

SAFETY TIMELINE

1996 — complaint volume: 825
R 19960221 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

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

Campaign 96V016000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19960717 — power train

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 U

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 PARKI

Campaign 96V086000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19960923 — power train

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 SHO

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

Campaign 96V166000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19961002 — fuel system, gasoline

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.

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

Campaign 96V151000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19961009 — power train

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 LEV

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.

Campaign 96V176000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19980617 — fuel system, gasoline

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 FU

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.

Campaign 98V067000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Ford Taurus — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for power train issues (133 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (69 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (61 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 96V016000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V086000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V166000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V151000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V176000 (power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 98V067000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2017 ▲ 2018 ▲ 2009

WORST YEARS

■ 1993 ■ 2002 ■ 2003

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Ford Taurus reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Ford Taurus is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford Taurus?

The most-reported component is power train:automatic transmission, accounting for 16% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Ford Taurus have?

8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.