1996 Ford Taurus

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 12/31/2000· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON THE FRONT PANEL LIGHTS UP WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON. THE "OD" OR OVERDRIVE BLINKS WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN AT/OR ABOVE 60MPH. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WE PAYED 80 DOLLARS FOR A CHECK-UP (FORD DEALER LOCATED ON 46-12 NORTHERN BLVD,, ASTORIA QUEENS, NY). THREE HOURS LATER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR HAD A MALFUNCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION. HENCE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE CHANGED AND THE COST WAS $2,300 DOLLARS. THEY NEEDED TO KNOW IMMEDIATELY! I REFUSED BECAUSE THE COST SEEMED TO HIGH AND I WASN'T COMPLETELY SURE IF THIS WAS REALLY THE PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC DEALING WITH TRANSMISSIONS ONLY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LIGHT TROUBLE. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM NOT EVEN BY USING THE COMPUTER. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER AGENCY (FRIEND OF MINE) WHO KNOWS ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS. HE SAID THAT HE HAD FIXED MANY TAURUSES BEFORE, BUT HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A PROBLEM. FINALLY, I DECIDED CALL FORD TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, WHICH I HAD ALREADY AT FIRST. I TOOK IT BACK TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER LOCATED AT THE OPPOSITE END OF NORTHERN BLVD. THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING AS THE LAST FORD DEALER. AFTER ALL THIS CONFUSION, I DECIDED TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AND I HAVE BEEN TO FLORIDA AND BACK ALREADY TWO TIMES FROM MY HOME (NEW YORK). I USE THE CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. I AM VERY UPSET AND CONFUSED ABOUT ALL OF THIS. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND I THINK I DESERVE AN EXPLANATION THE FORD COMPANY. I SENT IN THIS INFORMATION TO YOU PEOPLE (NHTSA) TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! -CARLOS. *AK

• 12/31/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURECrash

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/30/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT.

• 12/30/1997· VISIBILITY

  WINDOW SEAL FAILED.

• 12/30/1996· AIR BAGS

  NOTICED SMALL LEAK IN DRIVEWAY. TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES AT SIX MPH AND DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

• 12/29/2003· POWER TRAIN

  HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR 2 TIMES . *AK

• 12/29/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ENGINE WILL REV AT A HIGH RPM OR STALL FOR NO APPARENT REASON.*AK

• 12/29/1999· STRUCTURE

  DORR HANDLE ON DRIVERS SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO OPREN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE . SUDDENLY, FOR NO APPARANT REASON IT WORKED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE AND CORRECTED ITSELF. *AK

• 12/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FREEZE PLUG MALFUNCTIONED, AFTER IT WAS FIXED A SMELLOF COOLENT WAS IN CAR. IT THEN WENT AWAY, DEC 1999 ALL FIVE FREEZE PLUGS MALFUNCTIONED AT 57000. I WAS INFORMED ADVISORY WENT TO ALL OWNERS. DID NOT RECEIVE ADVISORY NOW IT IS TOO LATE TO FIX. *AK

• 12/29/1998· POWER TRAIN

  AFTER TRANSMISSION FAILURE (5) WEEKS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR JACKSON FORD IMMEDIATELY CLAIMED FORD HAD NO LIABILTY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET WE DISCOVERED THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM CONCERNING THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AND ARE STARTING TO INVESTIGATE OUR OPTIONS. PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

• 12/29/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FORD IS NOT PROVIDING ANY INFORMATION ON COOLANT RUST DENYING RUST AT ALL. HAVE REPLACED RESEVOIR FOR ANTIFREEZE DUE TO A PREVIOUS RECALL... HEATER COIL HAS GONE OUT DUE TO CORROSION THAT FORD IS DENYING EVEN EXSISTS.

• 12/29/1998· TIRES

  ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WEARING OUT EXCESSIVELY. DEALER HAS NOT REPLACED ANY OF THE TIRES. HAD THEM BALANCED & ROTATED. WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER FOR REPLACEMENT. NOTHING DEALERSHIP CAN DO. *AK

• 12/28/2000· TIRES

  TREAD CAME OFF TIRE (FIRESTONE BRIDGESTONE P205 65RX158420). NLM

• 12/28/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

• 12/28/1998· STEERING

  NO STEERING AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT SUBREGATE FORD UNLESS THERE HAS BEEN PRIOR CRASHES. THE COMPANY I HAVE IT AT NOW DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. I HAD NO STEERING. PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS.

• 12/28/1998· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 50,600 MILES DUE TO A FAULTY FORWARD PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT VEHICLE OWNER'S EXPENSE. TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD OR HAD NOT PULLED AN EXCESS LOAD. WOULD LIKE INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF MORE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO SEE IF A RECALL IS NECESSARY. SUSPENSION: POPPING SOUND IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING. ROUGH RIDING. DEALER SAID NEEDS SUBFRAME BUSHINGS AND STRUTS (47331 MILES).

• 12/27/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  CAM SHAFT FAILURE. CAM GEAR SEPARATED FROM CAM SHAFT, CAUSING CATASTROFIC ENGINE FAILURE. TS *DT

• 12/26/2001· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AND BECOME TANGLED IN RECOIL MECHANISM SUCH THAT THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE USED. *AKY

• 12/24/1996· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 12/23/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE BRAKES ARE MAKING A LOUD NOISE, AND BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. REPLACED BRAKES. *AK

• 12/22/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS $16,000. *AK

• 12/22/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. CONSUMER DISCONNECTED THE COIL WIRE AND SOME FUSES TO GET THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. DEALER DETERMINED THAT IGNITION ACTUATOR SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 12/22/1998· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. ALSO, AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR STAYS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/22/1998· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. WHENEVER IT IS AT A STOP GEAR SHIFTER HAS TO BE MOVED BACK AND FORTH BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

• 12/21/2006· AIR BAGS

  TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 12/19//06 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 309, AT ABOUT 5O MPH ON A CLEAR NIGHT WITH GOOD ROAD CONDITION. THE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. HE WAS CONFUSED FOR A MINUTE AND THEN HE PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM AIR BAG BUT NO FIRE. THE CONTACT DID CALL POLICE AND DOES HAVE A REPORT. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE HAS TRIED SPEAKING WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE MANUFACTURE, AND HAS RECEIVE NO RESOLUTION. INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD HIM THAT THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER.

• 12/21/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR STALLL WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT. OTHER TAURUS OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS NOT INTERESTED.

• 12/21/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE VEHICLE HAS HISTORY OF TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS. THE DEALER HAS FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND A RECALL FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. STEAM THEN BEGAN TO BILLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THE HEADS WERE CRACKED AND THE ENGINE WAS FULL OF WATER. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BY PHONE ONLY TO BE TOLD THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRENTY AND FORD HAS NO OBLIGATION TO TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE DAMAGES. LETTERS WRITTEN TO FORD HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. *AK

• 12/20/2009· SUSPENSION

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

• 12/20/2000· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CABLE APPEARS TO BE APPOXIMATELY TOO LONG UNDER DASH CAUSING SHARP BEND AS IT GOES THROUGH FIREWALL AND EXCESSIVE BINDING, AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF CABLE WHICH CAUSES CAR TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR. *AK

• 12/19/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MOTOR MOUNT HAS BROKEN, SAFETY ISSUE?*AK

• 12/18/2005· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  I PURCHASED MY '96 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN '99. I HAD IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. THE LIGHT WAS CHECKED AND I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THE SYSTEM WAS RESET. MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHT POPPED ON AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR (BY FORD MOTORS). 6 MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS ANOTHER SENSOR. MONTHS AFTER THAT WAS REPAIRED THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AGAIN AND UP UNTIL THIS DAY (12-17-05) I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AN OXYGEN SENSOR. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING WITH A JERK WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND TAKING OFF WITH A JERK--- AFTER 8 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE CAR. ITS WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BUT AFTER THE REPAIR--THE CAR CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME THING. THE PROBLEM STILL HUNTS ME. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETS OUT OF CONTROL. MY DRIVER DOOR LOCK LATCH WILL POP UP AS IF THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION--LEAVING ME TO MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK DOWN WHEN GETTING OUT THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTROL MOVES MALFUNCTIONS BY GOING FROM FAST TO SLOW AND FAST AGAIN WITH OUT ME CHANGING THE SPEED. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SITUATION TO FORD MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON MY CAR AND MY PROBLEMS WERE NOT RESOLVED. *JB

• 12/18/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND WATER PUMP ALL REPLACED IN FIRST 66K. THIS CAR HAS BEEN VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. I AM FORCED TO PURCHASE MY NEXT CAR FROM JAPAN OR EUROPE. SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

• 12/17/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAM FAILURE 1996 TAURUS SHO AT 99K MILES

• 12/17/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  RUSTY WATER IN RADIATOR RESERVOIR. ALSO, VEHICLE SURGES AT ALL TIMES; TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WHEN GOING DOWN INCLINE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUNAWAY AND BRAKE VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH. *AK

• 12/16/2004· SUSPENSION

  RECALL CAMPAIGN ; A FRACTURED FRONT COIL SPRING CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO BLOWOUT. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 1999-2000 MODELS ONLY. *SC *JB

• 12/16/1999· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMCrash

  FIRST INCIDENT DRIVING UNDER WET ROADS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE RAN A PUDDLE OF WATER THE CAR STALLS BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, VERY LITTLE OR NO STEERING CAN BE DONE . *AK

• 12/16/1998· STEERING

  CONSUMER DIDN'T ENTRY SUMMARY.

• 12/15/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALTERNATOR FAILED.

• 12/14/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I EXPIRED A SUDDEN SPIKE IN TEMPERATURE ON MY 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY SORT OF CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. I HEARD ABOUT THE MANIFOLD ISSUE FROM A FELLOW EMPLOYEE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS FAULTY MANIFOLD WAS $978.00. I FEEL IF THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO UPDATE IT WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD THAN THEY KNEW THE PLASTIC ONES WERE FAULTY.*JB

• 12/14/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, VEHICLE STALLED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER, TIMING CHAIN BROKE DESTROYING THE CAMSHAFT, 8 VALVES, UPPER GASKET, HEAD BOLTS AND CAUSING THE CAM SPROKET TO FAIL. *TT

• 12/12/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON, FOLLOWED BY SHAKING AND VIBRATION. ALSO INTERMITTENT STALLING WOULD OCCUR WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND HAD SOME SEVERE REPAIRS DONE, PROBLEM CONCERNING ENGINE IS STILL OCCURRING, ALSO REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE COOLANT OVERFLOW BOTTLE CONTAINED A LEAK. *SLC

• 12/12/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER NOTICED A SLIGHT ODOR AFTER DRIVING, THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND THE CONTAINER WAS BROWN AND MUSHY SO THE FLUIDS WERE REPLACED, A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS MUSHY AND SMELLY AGAIN, A FORD REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, BUT IT HAD EXPIRED, THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL AND IS REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL WORK BE COMPLETE, FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR OR BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. *SLC

• 12/12/1996· SEAT BELTS

  DURING HEAVY BRAKING PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCK, UPON CONTINUATION OF DRIVING, BELT DOESN'T RELEASE, HAVE TO UNLATCH AND RELATACH TO ADJUST TENSIONIONER, SOMETIMES LATCH APPEARS TO BE LATCHED AND IT REALLY ISNT, DEALER HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2 POS. LATCH. *AK

• 12/11/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  REPETATIVE BROWN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *AK

• 12/10/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. *AK

• 12/08/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE OF ALL TYPES ALL PART PRONE TO EXTREME CHEMICAL CORROSION VERY AGGRAVATING PROBLEM AND NOW THE COOLANT BYPASS HOSE HAS FAILED WITH THE SAME CORROSIVE SYMPTOMS AS THE OTHER COMPONENTS. *TR

• 12/08/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. VEHICLE WAS FORCED ONTO A CURB, AND FLATTENED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BEFORE THE ENGINE CUT OFF . NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SUFFERED BACK PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *TC

• 12/08/1999· STEERING,AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO A SERVICE ROAD, MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND TIRE ROD BROKE, VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A CONCRETE POWER LINE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. CONTACTED THE LOCAL MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

• 12/08/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE FROM PARK WHILE ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE AND THE CAR TOOK OFF INTO A HOUSE. THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE (NOT THE DEALER MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION) A WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK