1996 Ford Taurus Transmission Problems

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED MINOR SHIFTING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY SHIFT INTO PARK. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT FAILED TO MOVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO PARK AND THE CONTACT'S FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ROLL BACKWARDS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF FIRST GEAR VERY HARD, AND THE ENGINE REVS UP TO 3,000 RPMS. A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WAS PERFORMED, WHICH STOPPED THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 96V086000 AND 96V166000 (POWERTRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)) WERE REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000.

NHTSA ID

10233520

Incident

Jun 14, 2008

Mileage

113,000 mi

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE I WAS GOING TO WORK OUT OF TOWN. CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. I MISSED A DAY OF WORK . HAD TO RENT A CAR. I HIT A DITCH AND HAD 2 FLATS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231074

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

MY 96 FORD TAURUS GL HAS THE FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, RADIO GOES OUT, SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES AND CLICKS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL, POWER WINDOWS FAIL, FINALLY POWER STEERING LOCKS UP,AND WHEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP, CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS. IF PUT IN PARK EVERYTHING GOES BACK WORKING AS NORMAL. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY SAY IT'S THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THAT SEVERAL 96 TAURUS' THEY HAVE WORKED ON HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM....I AM WONDERING WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL PART IF THAT IS THE CASE...SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG! *NM

NHTSA ID

10183922

Incident

Feb 15, 2007

Mileage

155,752 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10175342

Incident

Dec 4, 2006

Mileage

100,600 mi

I HAVE A 1996 TAURUS GL. THE CAR LEAKS OIL, AND THEN IT LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE PAN. THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS THE OIL LEAK. I SPENT 500 TO GET IT FIXED AND THE DARN THING STOPPED LEAKING AND NOW IT LEAKS AGAIN. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A 1997 AND HER CAR LEAKS ALSO. WHY DID FORD MAKE A PRODUCT THAT LEAKS LIKE A SIV. *NM

NHTSA ID

10161388

Incident

Jun 29, 2006

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

NHTSA ID

10150702

Incident

Feb 15, 2006

Mileage

107,050 mi

THE INTERNET SAYS MY 1996 TAURUS HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR A PARK PAWL PROBLEM.THE NHTSA SAYS THAT 400,000 1996 TAURUS CARS ARE EFFECTED.MY CAR WON'T STAY IN PARK,SO I CALLED 2 LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS AND THEY GAVE THE RUNAROUND STATING THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED.PLEASE ADVISE.MY VIN# IS 1FALP 52U8T A1018 63 I WANT FORD TO AUTHORIZE THIS REPAIR.THANK YOU. STEPHEN BLANK 407 HAMILTON AVE. LINWOOD,N.J. 08221-1516 609 926-9277

NHTSA ID

10129202

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

Mileage

63,000 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ROLLED WHILE PARKED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS MADE ONE MONTH TO EARLY AND THAT HER VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE RECALL WAS FOR A PARK PIN WHICH WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES ROLLED WHILE PARKED ON LEVEL GROUND, BUT MOSTLY ROLLED WHILE ON HILLS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO START THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT SHE MAY FORGET TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND LEAVE HER VEHICLE. SHE ACTUALLY HAS HAD TO CHASE AFTER THE VEHICLE TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED GOING INTO PARK SUDDENLY AND SHE'D HAVE TO TAKE IT IN AND OUT OF GEARS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10120020

Incident

Jul 10, 2004

1996 FORD TAURUS PURCHASED BY MY FAMILY IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1996 FROM HEWLETT-PACKARD FLEET VEHICLES. WE'VE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE PARKING GEAR (CAR ROLLS WHEN IN PARK) SINCE WE GOT THE CAR. I FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN 3 "PARKING PAWL" RECALLS ON THE FORD TAURUS IN 1996--ALL OCCURRING PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE OF THE CAR. NOW, FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THE RECALLS DON'T APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. SEEMS SUSPICIOUS SINCE I AM EXPERIENCING THE VERY PROBLEM THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE 3 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALLS LISTED AT THE NHTSA WEB SITE. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?*AK

NHTSA ID

10116220

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM FAILURES; INITALLY RAIDO GOES OUT, SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES AND CLICKS, INTERMITTENT WIPERS FAIL. FINALLY POWER STEERING LOCKS UP, CAUSING SAFETY CONCERNS. IF PUT IN PARK ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS RESUME OPERATION. TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR REPLACED, AUTOMOTIVE SHOP HAS SEEN 3 OTHER '96 TAURUS' WITH SAME ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113957

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. STARTED BY NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE. THEN AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT LEAVING ME COASTING INTO A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO SIGNS OR WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. IT ONLY HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098085

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092087

Incident

Aug 12, 2004

Mileage

77,000 mi

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. IT WAS CALLED SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF CLUTCH PLATES WHICH CAUSED THE PARK PIN PLATE NOT TO STAY IN POSITION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER THAT THE PIN DID NOT STAY ENGAGED IN THE PARK POSITION. HE WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT BECAUSE HE LIVED IN CANADA HE NEVER RECEIVED THR RECALL NOTICE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN CANADA. THE CONSUMER SPENT ABOUT $5000-6000 IN REPAIRS ON SOMETHING THAT WAS RECALLED AND NO ONE WANTED TO HELP HIM BECAUSE OF WHERE HE LIVED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10076013

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

Mileage

185,724 mi

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CLUTCH PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073564

Incident

May 12, 2004

CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE TO PARK, BUT VEHICLE WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. THIS WOULD CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER WHEN TRYING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059583

Incident

Feb 4, 2004

Mileage

141,000 mi

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CAR AND JUST AS I EXITED, THE CAR BEGAN JERKING UNCONTROLLABLY AS I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT. EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULD DO THIS. THE FOLLOWING DAY I COULDN'T EVEN GO TO WORK AND HAD ONE MECHANIC TELL ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND HE COULD REPAIR FOR $1600+(NOT INCL TAX). I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON WITH THE TAURUS'S AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1901.00 (TAX INCL). APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. FORD SHOULD REALLY ADDRESS THIS. THE PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY WAS:TORQUE CONVERTER, NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, OVERDRIVE PISTON, PUMP SHAFT, ETC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10058318

Incident

Feb 14, 2004

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057873

Incident

Dec 22, 2003

Mileage

99,970 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10051286

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

Mileage

37,000 mi

TRANSMISSION HAS HAD A VIBRATION AND TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS, I HAVE HEARD RUMORS THAT OTHER TAURUS OWNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 ADULT DRIVEN MILES ON IT AND THIS SEEMS OUT OF THE ORDINARY FOR AN AUTO WITH SO FEW MILES. *PH

NHTSA ID

10038878

Incident

Sep 14, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DUE TO A BROKEN TORQUE CONVERTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10038213

Incident

Sep 4, 2003

I OWN A 1996 FORD TARAUS GL. THE TRANSMISSION IN IT HAS FAILED TWICE. EACH TIME, IT SUDDENLY STOPPED PULLING, WITHOUT ANY WARNING OF A PENDING MALFUNCTION. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC, BUT, FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ITS FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ASKED THAT THEY INSPECT IT. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE REFUSED SUCH AN INSPECTION. IN AS MUCH AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A DESIGNED FLAW AND SAID FLAW WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE, I FEEL THAT AN INSPECTION COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO EITHER VERIFY OR RULE OUT ANY DESIGNED PROBLEMS. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE INSPECTION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE MOST ECONOMICAL APPROACH TO RESOLVING A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS TO OCCUR FIRST.I FEEL THAT SAFETY IS COMPROMISED WHEN A TRANSMISSION FAILS IN THE MANNER THAT THIS ONE DID; IN TRIFFIC AND WITHOUT ANY WARNNING OF PENDING MALFUNCTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032797

Incident

Jun 8, 2003

TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANNY BUCKS. I WAS TOLD BY TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FAULTY FORWARD PISTON AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $1800.00 DOLLARS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 71K MILES. AFTER READING ALL THESE HORROR STORIES, I THINK FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL!!

NHTSA ID

10030969

Incident

Aug 2, 2003