1996 Ford Taurus SHO Problems
- Complaints
- 24filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 93,642miles, 15 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 3.4L 8-cyl FWD · 15 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 20 complaints (83% of the total), followed by other or unknown (3) and transmission and drivetrain (2). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 7% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 93,642 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling20 83%
- Other or unknown3 13%
- Air bags1 4.2%
- Electrical system1 4.2%
- Tires1 4.2%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10228062, filed 2008-05, 80,127 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “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 complaint #10128688, filed 2005-07, 122,407 milesAir bags: “- 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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10176732, filed 2006-12, 53,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
7% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 80,000 and 107,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1996 Ford Taurus SHO version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus SHO FWD | 3.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 24 | 18 | $4,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO.
Other model years of the Ford Taurus SHO
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 21 | 78,228 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1998 | 10 | 82,878 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 30 | 86,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 24 | 93,642 | 0 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1995 | 9 | 114,575 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 11 | 110,000 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
| 1993 | 14 | 107,314 | 2 | — | 19 | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Taurus SHO model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO have?
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 20 complaints (83% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 3.
Has the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO get?
The EPA rates the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO (Taurus SHO, 3.4L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO reported?
Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 93,642 miles and the middle half falls between 80,000 and 107,000 miles; 7% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.