1996 Ford Taurus Sho Owner Complaints

96 TAURUS SHO V8 3.4L CAMSHAFT FAILURE. I HAVE KEPT MY CAR IN PERFECT SHAPE WITH TUNE UP AND ALL. IT IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS NO RUST. I HAVE NICE EXHAUST SYSTEM PUT ON BY A MECHANIC AND ALSO A COLD AIR INTAKE PUT ON AND A NEW TRANS IN JULY NOW WITH ONLY 3000 MILES ON IT.. I HEARD TICKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OUT OF NO WHERE. I DON'T BEAT ON MY CAR AND HAVE READ THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER EITHER WAY IF YOU BEAT ON IT OR NOT THE CAM FAILURE CAN STILL HAPPEN. SO I HEARD THE TICKING SO I DROVE IT HOME FROM WORK TO PARK IT BECAUSE I FIGURED IT WAS THE CAMS. SO I WAS GOING TO GET IT WELDED THE NEXT DAY AND 5 MIN FROM MY HOUSE THE CAR SHUT OFF AND SO I PULLED THE VALVE COVERS AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS THE BACK CAM NEAR THE FIRE WALL THAT HAD SLIPPED. I DON'T THINK ITS RIGHT THAT ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN SUCH GREAT CONDITION. ALSO DON'T THINK ITS RIGHT THAT US CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS BECAUSE FORD DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOW IM OUT OF A CAR. I WANT ACTION DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362481

Incident

Oct 24, 2010

Mileage

107,000 mi

ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF CAMSHAFT GEAR SPINNING ON CAM. DURING NORMAL DRIVING ENGINE STOPPED IN ROADWAY,REQUIRING TOW OFF ROADWAY TO REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE AUTO IS A 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO 3.4 V8 .AFTER STUDYING THIS PROBLEM I FIND THIS CAM FAILURE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO MANY AND COULD BE PREVENTED BY WELDING THE CAM SPROCKET TO THE CAMSHAFT. THE REPAIR TO THIS ENGINE IS VERY EXPENSIVE,AND I THOUGHT NHSTA SHOULD BE AWARE OF MY FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239116

Incident

Aug 18, 2008

Mileage

111,949 mi

I HAVE A1996 FORD TAURUS SHO V-8,IT JUST TURNED 80,000 MILES AND HAS HAD ALL REGULAR SERVICE AND NOW THE CAMSHAFT GEAR HAS FAILED ON THE CAMSHAFT AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE!I WORK AT A FORD DEALER AND SEE THIS ENGINE FAILURE OFTEN. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THE V-8 SHO ENGINE AROUND 75,000-85,000 MILES AND SOMETIMES THERE IS A TICKING NOISE THAT IS CONSIDERED A WARNING SIGN TOO GET REPAIRS BUT THERE WAS NOT ANY WARNING FROM MY ENGINE. I HAVE DONE ALL KINDS OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE LAWSUITS AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND BLOGS DEVOTED TO THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT I DON,T HAVE ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTANCE ON THESE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT ARE DEFINITELY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AND I HAVE 18 FORD TECHNICIANS THAT ARE FACTORY TRAINED TOO BACK THIS UP!I DID NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE NEW SO I CAN,T SAY IT WAS NEVER ABUSED BUT AFTER PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLING THE ENGINE SO FAR IT IS CLEAR THAT IT WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR (IT LOOKS BRAND NEW INSIDE)THERE IS ZERO SLUDGE AND CAMS AND FOLLOWERS ARE SPOTLESS. I WILL NEED TO PULL THE REAR HEAD AND SEND TO MACHINE SHOP FOR EXHAUST VALVE REPLACEMENT AND DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH DAMAGE MAYBE GUIDES AS WELL. I AM VERY CURIOUS AS TOO HOW MANY OF THESE ENGINE FAILURES ARE ALWAYS ONLY THE REAR HEAD EXHAUST CAMSHAFT BECAUSE SO FAR ALL I HAVE SEEN IS THE REAR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT GEAR FAILURE AND THAT IS A F- IN MY GRADE BOOK! *TR

NHTSA ID

10228062

Incident

Feb 19, 2008

Mileage

80,127 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10176732

Incident

Dec 19, 2006

Mileage

53,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10145536

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

TRANMISSION DOES NOT WORK GOOD IT HAS AHARD BUMP WHEN TAKEING OFF HAD IT REDONE BUT HAD THE SME PROBLEM AND PUT TWO SPEED SENORS IN IT SAME THING ITALKED TO SOME MOREPEOPLE THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10128688

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

122,407 mi

I HAD TO DRIVE TO CHICAGO AND SPEND OVER $500 TO HAVE MY CAMS WELDED TO PREVENT THE COMMON ENGINE FAILURE THAT IS DOCUMENTED HERE AND OTHER SOURCES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100210

Incident

Sep 25, 2004

ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS $16,000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050970

Incident

Dec 22, 2003

Mileage

108,000 mi

ENGINE ABRUPTLY SHUT DOWN AT 30-40 MPH. VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED, BUT ENGINE STALLED WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS AFTER SHIFTING OUT OF PARK GEAR. INSPECTION BY THE DEALER NEXT AFTERNOON POINTS TO DAMAGED CRANK SHAFT AS THE CAUSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10049273

Incident

Dec 3, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10031029

Incident

Aug 2, 2003

Mileage

35,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10029094

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10016508

Incident

Apr 17, 2003

Mileage

61,485 mi

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 CAMSHAFT SPROCKETS TO THE CAMSHAFTS. AFTER SPENDING NEARLY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS ON REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE IT CAME BACK WITH A NOISE WHICH THE DEALER HAS IDENTIFIED AS CAMSHAFT FAILURE. THE COSTS OF REPAIR WERE ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN TWO AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO PLANS FOR A RECALL AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT RETURNING MY CALLS. WHAT COURSE OF ACTION CAN I PURSUE IN THIS MATTER? *JB

NHTSA ID

10013782

Incident

Mar 14, 2003

Mileage

86,799 mi

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 250 CARS, IT IS $2,000,000.00 IN DAMAGES (ESTIMATED). THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE CAMSHAFT, AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.

NHTSA ID

10007742

Incident

Aug 18, 2002

Mileage

100,175 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10000766

Incident

Dec 31, 2002

Mileage

93,642 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10000402

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

Mileage

118,000 mi

CAM FAILURE 1996 TAURUS SHO AT 99K MILES

NHTSA ID

10000175

Incident

Jan 3, 2002

Mileage

99,361 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT THE POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. UPON LEAVING THE FREEWAY AND ROLLING TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT COULD ONLY ATTAIN SPEEDS OF 5MPH. DEALER CLAIMED THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT SPROCKET LINES WERE STRIPPED, THIS WAS A PRESSED ON ASSEMBLY. DT

NHTSA ID

770344

Incident

Nov 23, 2002

I AM WRITING YOU NOW, ONE YEAR AFTER THE FACT, BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED THERE OVER 100 MORE SHO OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY ENGINE SHUT OFF WITH ONLY A MINUTE OR TWO WARNING, LOST ALL POWER, AND I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (WITH MY TWO BABIES ON BOARD). I WAS LUCKILY ON A RURAL ROAD IN THE COUNTRY, IF I WERE ON A HIGHWAY, FREEWAY, OR MORE TRAVELED AREA, I KNOW I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THOSE OUT THERE WHO ARE DRIVING THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR. WE HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED FORD MANY TIMES, AND THEY ARE NOT LISTENING. PLEASE HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID

762821

Incident

May 12, 2001

MY 1996 FORD TAURUS SHO STARTED MAKING A CHATTER NOISE ON THE TOP END OF ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER IN ALBANY, NY. THE DEALER WAS ORANGE MOTORS. THEY CHARGED ME 100.00 TO DIAGNOS THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THE COST WAS GOING TO BE $12,000.00. SINCE I WAS IN SHOCK WITH THE PRICE, I LOOKED INTO THE PROBLEM MYSELF AND FOUND A WEBSITE V8SHO.COM. THEY DESCRIBED MY EXACT FAILRURE. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG ALL 1996,97,98,AND 99 SHO'S. THE ENGINE IS BUILT BY YAMAHA FOR FORD. THE PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE CAM SHAFT. THE TIMING GEAR SPROCKET IS PRESSED ONTO THE CAM AND CAN COME LOOSE AT ANY TIME. IF YOU HEAR THE AUDIBLE CHATTER FROM THE ENGINE, YOU MUST STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE GEAR WILL SLIP ON THE CAM AND THE ENGINE WILL SELF DESTRUCT BENDING VALVES AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW AN INDIVIDUAL MAINTAINS THE CAR. THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE AT ANYTIME. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM. THEY ISSUED SPECIAL SERVICE BULLITEN 15879 TO CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM. IN MY CASE THE FORD DEALER WHERE I TOOK THE SHO DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER. WHEN THIS IS CAUGHT IN THE BEGINNING STAGES YOU CAN WELD THE SPROKETS TO THE CAM. AFTER TAKING MY CAR APART MYSELF, I FOUND BOTH FRONT CAMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM. ONE MOVES LEFT AND RIGHT ON THE SPROKET AND THE OTHER IS LOOSE ON THE CAM.(READY TO SPIN COMPLETELY LOOSE AND KILL THE ENGINE. THE COST OS THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE THE CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS A LATENT DEFECT BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

762561

Incident

May 5, 2002

THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND AFTER AVOIDING TRAFFIC AND COASTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE SPLINES ON THE CAMSHAFT GEAR OF THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT ON THE REAR CYLINDER HEAD ARE STRIPPED AND THE SPLINES ON THE EXHAUST CAMSHAFT ARE IN POOR CONDITION. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR $4500 - $5000. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 68K MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

755315

Incident

Nov 23, 2001

CAMSHAFT SPROCKET FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

754972

Incident

Nov 27, 2001

CAM SHAFT FAILURE ON 3.4L V8 SHO ENGINE. VEHICLE HAD TICKING NOISE, THEN VEHICLE LOST POWER AND MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION, CAM IS STRIPPED AND WILL NEED REPLACEMENT. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OVER $4,000 USD OR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. I HAVE 47 DOCUMENTED CASES OF CAM SHAFT FAILURE IN 1996-1998 TAURUS SHO'S WILL MILEAGE BETWEEN 40,000 TO 100,000. MEDIAN MILEAGE IS 85,000. FORD MECHANICS SEEM TO THINK PROBLEM IS POOR DESIGN OF THE PART, AND THEY ARE DESTINED TO FAIL. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO RECALL DUE TO VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. THIS FAILURE CAN BE DANGEROUS AS MOST FAILURES ARE COMING WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVING, AND VEHICLE JUST SHUTS DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

754710

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HEARD A TICKING SOUND. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER REPLACED A BROKEN CAMSHAFT.*AK

NHTSA ID

899171

Incident

Nov 1, 2001