1996 Ford Taurus Equipment Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 3%of 825 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 110,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the equipment of the 1996 Ford Taurus, 3% of the 825 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 110,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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!”
NHTSA complaint #10183922, filed 2007-03, 155,752 miles“Eng size 3.0 transmission type ax4s or axode , transmission just stop pulling forward, had car since oct. 1998 bought used alway had problem with jerking when changing to first or second gear from day one when I bought car . Told the dealer about the jerking when changing gear he said the the way the car was made. Car is in shop now for transmission work. They said it must be the computer , couldnt find nothing wrong with the transmission. I think a recall should have been made on 1996 Taurus . I am tired of spending money on this car. I know Ford know about this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10069491, filed 2004-01, 120,000 miles“I used my original jack to lift the vehicle to change the front, left tire. While lowering the vehicle, the jack suddenly gave out with the sound of stripping threads, and the car slammed to the ground. Fortunately, no part of my body was under the car, and the tire was in place. Identifying information on the faulty jack: where the crank meets the bolt: 5j 29 2 at the opposite end of the bolt: 00492 at the base of the jack: 2549 note: I was doing this in my garage, on a flat, concrete surface. The jack remained on its base the entire time - it did not tip over.”
NHTSA complaint #10014031, filed 2003-04, 89,466 miles“My compressor for my AC is not working any more. I am trying to find out if this is a common problem with my model of car, and if there is any way to have Ford cover for the repair. My car is only a 1996 with reasonable mileage and the AC should not break down already. Can you help me? Or guide me to someone who could?”
NHTSA complaint #713541, filed 1999-10Related service bulletins
- 10013060Oct 14, 2002Climate control a/c service tech tips.
Equipment: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | 0% |
| 2010 | 3 | 1% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% |
| 2005 | 4 | 1% |
| 2004 | 3 | 1% |
| 2003 | 31 | 3% |
| 2002 | 26 | 2% |
| 2001 | 9 | 1% |
| 2000 | 7 | 1% |
| 1999 | 15 | 2% |
| 1998 | 9 | 2% |
| 1997 | 24 | 3% |
| 1996 | 22 | 3% |
| 1995 | 20 | 2% |
| 1994 | 15 | 2% |
| 1993 | 37 | 2% |
| 1992 | 19 | 3% |
| 1991 | 20 | 3% |
| 1990 | 12 | 3% |
| 1989 | 9 | 2% |
| 1988 | 7 | 2% |
| 1987 | 6 | 2% |
| 1986 | 1 | 1% |
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 complaintsAir bags
45 complaintsVehicle speed control
42 complaintsBody and structure
40 complaintsTires
28 complaintsExterior lighting
27 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford Taurus
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology