NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Ford Taurus. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TRANSMISSION RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS (96V-086). *AK
REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHEN TURNING RIGHT ONLY THERE IS A NOISE . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO LATCH PROBLEM. YH
GRINDING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING RIGHT. *DH
VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND CABLE BROKE AT ONLY 6 MONTH OLD. *AK
WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE A BURNING OF THE NOSES AND EYES. THE DEALER INSTALLED A DEODORIZER TO CLEAN OUT THE SYSTEM. *AK
POWER STEERING NOISE.
AIR LEAK FROM WINDSHIELD.
ANTI-FREEZE FUMES ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER IS ON.
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO A FUEL LEAK.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING MORE WEAR AND TEAR TO THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCDIENT. *AK
RIGHT WIPER ARM SLIPPED ON ITS SHAFT, LEFT WIPER TRAVELED OVER IT AND THE TWO BECAME LOCKED TOGETHER.
ENGINE STALLS.
DURING HOT WEATHER, ENGINE STALLS WHILE DECELERATORING. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS NOT TIGHTENED CAUSING SYSTEM TO SHORT OUT.
BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.
ACCELERATOR STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE. *AK
VEHICLE PUSHED BY WIND VELOCITY OF OTHER VEHICLES, CAUSING POOR STABILITY. *SD
BRAKE FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR SWITCH REPLACED.
RACK AND PINION AND POWER PUMP REPLACE, AND SMELL LIKE CHEMICAL BURNING OR PLASTIC
DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOWS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL/DIFFICULTY OBTAINING REPLACEMENT PARTS.
FRONT WINDSHIELD NOISY/RESEALED TOP WINDSHIELD. *AK
WHEN IT RAINS THE WATER FROM THE RAIN SHUTS DOWN ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER STEERING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER CAN NOT FIX. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT RAINS AND THE WATER HITS THE VEHICLE. *AK
CAR HESITATED OR STALLED COMPLETELY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STANDING POSITION, CAN NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM.
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.
POWER DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE.
REAR BUMPER FAILED.
GRINDING/VIBRATING NOISE FROM STEERING WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED RIGHT TURN DUE TO DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION STEERING. IN ADDITION, IN SOME WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHEN DEFROSTER IS ACTIVATED, WINDSHIELD FOGS UP, CAUSING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. *AK
BRAKES MAKE GROANING NOISE UPON RELEASING BRAKE PEDAL. *SD
1) VEHICLE ROLLED FROM PARKING SPACE 30 FEET UPON SLIGHT INCLINE, W/STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND GEAR SHIFT STILL IN PARK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED LOST EFFECTIVENESS AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR; ALSO, WHILE DRIVING MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. *AK
BENT PILLAR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH PREVENTED DOOR FROM CLOSING PROPERLY TWICE.
ABS BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON DUE TO COMPUTER SENSOR FAILURE, NEED REPLACING. *AK
RACK AND PINION NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED.
THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WHEN EVERYTHING IS OFF, BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR STAYS ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE PREVIOUS TIME THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, EMERGENY BRAKE UNAFFECTIVE THIS TIME. IT APPEARS TO BE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS EVEN THOUGH THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON.
CAR BOUNCES SLIGHTLY WHEN ACCELERATING. *DSH
THE BULB IN THE TRUNK CAUGHT SOME CLOTHING ON FIRE. TT
WINDSHIELD REFLECTS TOP OF DASHBOARD, INTERFERING WITH DRIVERS VISION.
AFTER HITTING A CAR HEAD ON THE REAR MIDDLE SEATBELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE, RELEASING THE CSS ON THE FLOOR. TT
VEHICLE DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. RESULTING IN POOR DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE ALL OTHR PROBLEMS. *AK
DOOR HANDLES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THEY OPEN DOOR SOMETIMES, AND OTHER TIMES IT DO NOT. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP. *AK
RACK AND PINION FAILED DUE TO OIL LEAK.
RUSTY WATER IN RADIATOR RESERVOIR. ALSO, VEHICLE SURGES AT ALL TIMES; TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WHEN GOING DOWN INCLINE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUNAWAY AND BRAKE VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH. *AK
DRIFTED TO THE LEFT WHILE MAKING A TURN THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A STRONG VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE KEEPS MOVING. THIS HAPPENS ON NORMAL ROAD CONDTIONS. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. *AK CONSUMER STATES SEAT BELTS LOCK UP BEFORE THEY ARE PUT ON. STEERING WHEEL CHURNS AS IT IS BEING TURNED, DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM. *SLC
TRANSMISSION SLIPS.
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE WHEN APLLIED BRAKES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED 30 MPH. TT