1996 Ford Taurus SHO Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 83%of 24 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,220miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO, 83% of the 24 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,220 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10239116, filed 2008-08, 111,949 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10016508, filed 2003-04, 61,485 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10031029, filed 2003-08, 35,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10029094, filed 2003-07, 80,000 milesEngine cooling: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology