1996 FORD TAURUS

1132 complaints filed with NHTSA.

1132
Complaints
82
Crashes
18
Fires
73
Injuries
1
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION135
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE70
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE62
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM61
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM35
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL31
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP28
UNKNOWN OR OTHER27
SUSPENSION:FRONT24
STEERING:RACK AND PINION22
STEERING22
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR19
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION18
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS16

Recent Complaints

20130124CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A POLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST AND HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 3/13/13 *CN UPDATED 03/19/13 UPDATED 03/20/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, AND SHE HIT SEVERAL CURBS AND TWO TI

Mileage: 263,984

20121130CrashSEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, HIT HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,890.

Mileage: 70,890

20110304CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DURING THE CRASH ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT DURING DEPLOYMENT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DETACHED FROM THE DASHBOARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PARKING LOT WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20081208ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 160,000

20080212SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM WORK, WHEN HER TIRE EXPLODED. SHE CALLED CRYING AND VERY SHOOK UP. WHEN I ARRIVED THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WAS ON THE GROUND. APPARENTLY THE COIL SPRING SHOT OFF THE STRUT ASSY AND PUNCTURED THE INNER SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY SHE WASN'T DRIVING TOO FAST AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL INCIDENT! UPON LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SITUATION, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PRO

Mileage: 180,643

20061206CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND ALMOST ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE HIT A CULVERT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION. THE DRIVER AND INFANT PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL #96V176000 REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 100,600

20061016CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HITTING A GUARD RAIL WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR PAINT DAMAGE. AFTER BEING DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED A STABILIZER BAR.

Mileage: 190,804

20060221CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WOULD NOT GO TO FOURTH GEAR WHILE EXCHANGING LANES WAS HIT IN THE REAR. *JB

Mileage: 107,050

20050224CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

(1)THROTTLE WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR AND AUTO COULD NOT BE STOPPED (2)AUTO ACCIDENT SALEM POLICE REPORT #03-19963 NEAR FATAL INJURIES (3)NO REPAIR DONE. *NM

Mileage: 100,362

20050109CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC, MY 96 FORD TAURUS BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO APPR. 40-50 M.P.H I LEFT RUBBER, THANKFULLY I DID HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHICH HELPED TO SOME DEGREE. ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER SOMETHING SIMILAR HAD HAPPENED BUT AT FAR LESS A SPEED APPR. 5 MPH. *AK

Mileage: 127,000

20041203CrashFatalPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WITH VEHICLE IN PARK, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER WAS FOUND FATALLY CRUSHED BENEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ROCKER PANEL AND TIRE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE POLICE CONCLUDED THAT THE CONSUMER PARKED ON A PAVED DRIVEWAY ON A UPHILL INCLINE. *JB

Mileage: 91,879

20040915CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER DRIVER. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY, BUT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

20040730CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

Mileage: 90,000

20030818CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS REAR ENDED IN A FIVE CAR ACCIDENT,I HAD THE MIDDLE CAR . I WAS SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR WHICH IN TURN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I KNOW THAT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE BAGS BECAUSE THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS IN HIS TRUNK. I CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO HIS CAR. THE POLICE WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE MY CAR BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

Mileage: 80,123

20030624ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DEFECTIVE FREEZE PLUGS IN 1996 FORD 3.0 VULCAN ENGINE IN TAURUS SEDAN. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FREEZE PLUGS CORRODED THROUGH LETTING HOT ENGINE COOLANT SPILL ON TO MY HANDS CAUSING BURNS. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS THE CAR OWNER. COST OF REPAIR VEHICLE WAS OVER $500 THE ENGINE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REMOVED AND ALL FREEZE PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THIS COST SHOULD HAVE BEEN BORN BY FORD MOTOR CO. BUT WAS AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR ME. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

20030519CrashSEATS

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH REAR ENDED THE CONSUMER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED AN INJURED BACK. *NLM

20030224CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB

20030206CrashAIR BAGS

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

20030120CrashSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 98,000

20030120CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

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

Mileage: 98,000