1996 Ford Taurus Owner Complaints

I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR FOR 4,00 AND SOME CHANGE A BOUT A YEAR AGO TWO DAYS AFTER I BROUGHT IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND EVERY NOW AND THEN WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD CUT OFF I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE PLACE I BROUGHT IT FROM AND TOLD THEM THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE IT SO I GOT SOME ONE TO FOLLOW ME AND TAKE ME BACK HOME WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR IT WAS RUNNING BUT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THEN THE DEFROST DIDN'T WORK I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM. THAT'S WHEN THE AIR CONDICTIONER STOP WORKING I JUST QUIT COMPLAIN THE CAR RAN PRETTY SMOOTH ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON . I WENT TO START MY CAR ONE NIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T START SO I WENT AND BROUGHT SO HEET I THOGHT BECAUSE IT WAS COLD OUT SIDE IT IS WINTER I BEGIN HEAR A HISS LLIKE SOME AIR IS EXCAPING FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD BUT YO HEAR IT INSIDE THE CAR LIKE A LOT OF STATIC. IT TIME FOR ME TO GET A TUNEUP NOW THE CAR REALLY RUNS SLUGGISH AND TURNS OFF MORE OFTEN AND YOU CAN'T TURN THE WHEELS SO THAT IS SPOOKY I HAD THE CHECK LIGHT CHECKED OUT AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY LEAN SENSOR TOO MUCH AIR IS GETTING INTO THE GASOLINE AND THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CATALYIC CONVERTER

NHTSA ID

10823233

Incident

Jan 25, 2016

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR CARRIAGE HAD CORRODED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW UNDER FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID

10690224

Incident

Feb 23, 2015

Mileage

113,000 mi

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 TIRES BURST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE HIT A LAMP POST AND SOME SHRUBS, AS WELL AS AN ATM MACHINE. UPDATED 04/10/13

NHTSA ID

10494584

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

263,984 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10486575

Incident

Nov 23, 2012

Mileage

70,890 mi

THE MOTOR CRADLE IN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S 1996 TAURUS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE AS SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO PARTIALLY DROP MAKING STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 1995 TAURUS IN DEC. OF 1998. MY QUESTION IS IF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL 1998 THEN WHY WOULD THE 1996 TAURUS NOT BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CREDIBLE DOCUMENTATION THAT FORD SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR CRADLES IN THE 1996 TAURUS TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM PROMPTING THE 1998 RECALL. SHORT OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE FIXED BY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463264

Incident

Jun 26, 2012

Mileage

95,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. BRAKE LINES TO THE REAR OF THE CAR RUPTURED AND DRAINED SYSTEM OF BRAKE FLUID AND CAR HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL. IT ROLLED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND THANKFULLY HE WASN'T HURT. APPARENTLY THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON WITH OLDER CARS. BOTH LINES BEING REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419301

Incident

Jul 30, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD FROM AN UNKNOWN ENTRY SOURCE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WAS COMMON. THE DEALER ADVISED HAVING THE MOLDING AND SEALANT FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACTS BEHALF AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,456 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,426.

NHTSA ID

10398597

Incident

Apr 2, 2011

Mileage

78,426 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10386441

Incident

Mar 3, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. HE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AXLE WAS CORRODED, SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT SEATS, STEERING CONTROL ARMS, DASHBOARD, AND TRANSAXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 202,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 195,000.

NHTSA ID

10375425

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

195,000 mi

MY 1996 FORD TAURUS GL STALLED DUE TO A FAILED CAMSHAFT SYNCHRONIZER THAT BROKE. IT ONLY HAS 106,500 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND THE 1997'S HAVE A RECALL - WHY AREN'T THE 1996 TAURUS INCLUDED ?? THESE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366660

Incident

Nov 12, 2010

Mileage

106,500 mi

1996 FORD TAURUS, DRIVER FELT VEHICLE SHAKE, PULLED TO THE RIGHT BERM AND RIGHT TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WERE FIVE BROKEN TIRE SPOKES ALONG WITH A SCRAPED BRAKE ROTOR FROM CONTACT WITH THE ROADWAY. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0385-91) *JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF

NHTSA ID

10354263

Incident

Jul 2, 2010

1996 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH THE PARK PAWL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PUT THE GEAR IN PARK, THE PARK PAWL DID NOT ENGAGE, WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL. THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH HER MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED HER A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED IN 1996 FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. WHILE THE DEALER DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AX4N AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, SHE WAS ADVISED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10336994

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

ON MY 1996 FORD TAURUS THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES AND STORED INSIDE I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FRAME RUSTED OUT THIS BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332405

Incident

Feb 22, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AREA. THE WATER WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10325099

Incident

Oct 24, 2008

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE FRAME IS CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298022

Incident

Jan 4, 2010

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

NHTSA ID

10296511

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

DOUGLAS TIRE ON 1996 FORD TAURUS "CAME APART" ON I-10, NO APPARENT PUNCTURE OR OTHER SIGNS OF HITTING AN OBJECT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268866

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

67,944 mi

1996 FORD TAURUS GL, 147,000 MILES. WHILE TRYING TO MOVE THE CAR THE FRONT LEFT COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY THIS WAS LOW SPEED, NO ONE HARMED. REQUIRES NEW SPRING AND TIRE AT A MINIMUM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261077

Incident

Mar 5, 2009

Mileage

147,000 mi

BRAKE LINE FAILURE. LOST BRAKES IN PARKING LOT. BRAKE LINE ROTTED THROUGH. REPAIRED BY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD CARS. IF THIS DOESN'T REQUIRE A RECALL AND REPAIR I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259414

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT CRANKS, BUT THE IGNITION DOES NOT TURN OVER UNTIL SHE DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT LEAST TEN TO TWELVE TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND BRAKE SWITCH INTERLOCK WERE THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO STUCK IN PARK AND WILL NOT MOVE. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, SHE HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/05/09. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10256081

Incident

Jan 18, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10251024

Incident

Nov 30, 2008

Mileage

160,000 mi

96' FORD TAURUS HAS A LEAK IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THIS LEAK CAUSES EITHER A SHORT IN THE BLOWER MOTOR OR THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. BLOWER MOTOR WORKS SOMETIMES OR DOESN'T, USUALLY AFTER IT RAINS AND THE CORRESPONDING LEAK CAUSES A SHORT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS UP NORTH WHEN THE DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD IS A NECESSITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248871

Incident

Nov 10, 2008

THE TRANSMISSION PARTIALLY SHIFTS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AND IS INCREASING IN OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239657

Incident

Jun 6, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A 96 FORD TAURUS THAT HAS A BROKEN FRONT SPRING (AND I OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT) AND IT CAUSED MY TIRE TO BLOW ON THE HIGHWAY. I ALMOST CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE INVOLVED A TRACTOR TRAILER, AND ALMOST SURELY MY DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237673

Incident

Aug 8, 2008

Mileage

158,423 mi

THE UNIROYAL TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE DEVELOPED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE JUST SITTING IN ITS COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236012

Incident

Jul 26, 2008

Mileage

122,000 mi