1996 Ford Taurus Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 45about this part
- Share
- 5%of 825 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,062miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 45 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Ford Taurus, 5% of the 825 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,062 miles. 32 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Was rear ended in a five car accident,I had the middle car . I was slammed into the back of another car which in turn hit the vehicle in front of him. My air bags did not deploy, I know that I hit the car in front of me hard enough to deploy the bags because the front of my car was in his trunk. I caused major damage to his car. The police would not let me have my car because my airbags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10033012, filed 2003-08, 80,123 miles“1996 Ford Taurus sitting in the church parking lot and the air bags deployed. No one was in the car except our small dog. Considerable damage to the car including broken windshield. Ford motor company tells me that they have no liability.”
NHTSA complaint #10174046, filed 2006-11, 100,000 miles“Airbag warning light came on for 2 days. Went out before scheduled service at dealer. No diagnostic code was returned. Dealer advised to return car immediately if light went on again. Approximately a week later light went on again, car was returned to dealer with light on and an unknown code was returned by diagnostic unit. Approx 3 weeks later, without warning, passenger side front airbag deployed spontaneously. …”
NHTSA complaint #10137461, filed 2005-09, 78,000 miles“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 complaint #10386441, filed 2011-03, 150,000 miles“When the consumer applied the brakes, the pedal went to the floor. The consumer collided with another driver. Both frontal air bags did deploy, but the air bags deployed in the upright position and hit the windshield and caused the windshield to shatter. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. Please fill in additional information.”
NHTSA complaint #10092342, filed 2004-10Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 6% |
| 2017 | 2 | 5% |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% |
| 2015 | 5 | 2% |
| 2014 | 5 | 2% |
| 2013 | 11 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 4% |
| 2011 | 8 | 4% |
| 2010 | 11 | 5% |
| 2009 | 6 | 9% |
| 2008 | 15 | 9% |
| 2007 | 7 | 5% |
| 2006 | 21 | 7% |
| 2005 | 27 | 3% |
| 2004 | 21 | 6% |
| 2003 | 46 | 4% |
| 2002 | 47 | 3% |
| 2001 | 66 | 6% |
| 2000 | 88 | 7% |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% |
| 1998 | 39 | 7% |
| 1997 | 42 | 5% |
| 1996 | 45 | 5% |
| 1995 | 55 | 5% |
| 1994 | 38 | 4% |
| 1993 | 54 | 3% |
| 1992 | 49 | 7% |
| 1991 | 55 | 8% |
| 1990 | 41 | 11% |
| 1989 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 1996 Ford Taurus
214 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
182 complaintsSteering
101 complaintsBrakes
71 complaintsSuspension
60 complaintsElectrical system
57 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
55 complaintsVehicle speed control
42 complaintsBody and structure
40 complaintsTires
28 complaintsExterior lighting
27 complaintsOther or unknown
27 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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