Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND WAS MAKING A SHARP TURN AT THE OUTER PART OF CURVE, AUTOMATIC STEERING CONTROL BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *AK
WHLE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A TRAILER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE AND CAME INTO CONSUMER'S LANE, HITTING HER VEHICLE AND DEMOLISHING IT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO WIRING HARNESS WEARING THROUGH INSULATION AND SHORTING TO THE GROUND IN THE AREA OF LEFT WHEEL WELL.
CONSUMER STATES IN WARM WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN GEAR VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT. *AK IT TAKES 10-15 SECONDS OF PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE THE VEHICLE GOES INTO GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE. *SLC
POWER STEERING FAILS IN RAINY WEATHER.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CLUTCH DISENGAGES, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE FROM A STAND STILL. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SEALS WHICH CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN DEFROSTER IS ON THE WINDOWS ARE INSTANTLY FILLED WITH A THICK SOLID GREEN FOG, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. TSB IS OUT FOR PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT.
COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION, PUMP SHAFT SPLIT IN HALF.
STABILIZER BAR. VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD THUMPING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT.
VEHICLE WILL NOT DECELERATE AND RPM STAYS AT 2100 WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE STICKS AND MAINTAINS HIGHS SPEED RPM.
OWNER REQUESTING RECALL INFORMATION.
CONSUMER IS COMPLAINING THAT VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN IN HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR NO REASON. THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER TO LET THEM KNOW IF IT OCCURS AGAIN, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. *AK
STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. STEERING WOULD GET SLUGGISH & MOAN. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY/HOSE/ POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED REPLACING. HAD THEM REPLACED TWICE BEFORE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS LAST TIME MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY, IT PAUSES WITH A KNOCKING SOUND TO THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE.
SERPENTINE BELT HAS SLIPPAGE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER WATER PUDDLES. *AK
VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE IN PARK GEAR, CAUSING A COLLISION.
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK OR SLIP. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED IT WITH A REBUILT ONE. JERKING/SLIPPING REAPPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & IT WAS TEST DRIVEN, NO PROBLEMS EXISTED. FOR A 3RD TIME, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT FORD ORDERD NOT TO FIXED THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK
THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN OUT. VEHICLE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATED. *AK
HIT AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AT 25 MPH DUE TO A SUDDEN STOP, CAUSING AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE FLEW OFF, HITTING PASSENGER IN THE FACE, CAUSING A FRACTURED JAW .DEALER NOTIFIED. TWO INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE THAT WAS COMING INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, STILL NO CORRECTION WAS MADE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED.
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS/ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKES TO PULSATE UPON APPLICATION. ALSO RADIATOR IS LEAKING BROWN FLUID DUE TO RUST.
WHEN DRIVING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, THE POWER STEERING BELT GOT WET, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING. ALSO BELT SLIPS. *AK
RACK AND PINION FAILED TWICE TIMES.
PASSENGER'S DOOR RATTLES. REPLACED STEERING RACK/LEAKING OIL PAN GASKETS/OIL FILTER AND BRACKET/ SEAT BELT RETRACTOR/REAR DEFROSTER. *AK
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A COLLISION, RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK
HYDRAULIC BRAKES LOCKED UP ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS
DEFROSTER FOGS WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHEN FIRST ENGAGED.
FRONT END VIBRATION , SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE, HOWEVER STILL VIBRATES CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY.
VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE HARD STARTING/NO STARTING DUE TO FAULTY INJECTION SYSTEM.
DURING RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE. WILL BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN OR DELAY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT END VIBRATES AND IS NOISY. PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED.
BURNING OIL ODOR STARTS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. WHILE SITTING IDLE, THE ODOR EMINATES FROM THE ENGINE AND BLOWS THROUGH THE HEATING SYSTEM INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
WHEN GOING DOWNHILL THE VEHICLE SURGES AND BUCKS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON A FLAT PLAIN BUT MORE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. THIS IS A INTERMEDIATE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *AK
POWER STEERING 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 GO THE FLOOR AND DO NOT STOP, TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD TURNING, AND VEHICLE STALLS.
POWER STEERING RACK/RETURN HOSE/ GEAR SHORT ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE HEAVILY. MAKES GRUNTING NOISES WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. SERVICE BULLETIN IS OUT FOR DEFECT. DEALER WILL REPAIR IF THERE IS A WARRANTY. *AK
RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT WEBBING FRAYED.
DRIVE TRAIN SHIFTS ERRATICALLY.
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
POWER STEERING HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES.
TRANSMISSION OPERATES VERY SLOW.
WHILE DRIVING THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING CAUSING NOISES IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND NO POWER STEERING WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED RACK PINION AND POWER STEERING PUMP. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 55 MPH OR ABOVE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. DEALERS CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *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
THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUCTIONS WHEN WATER IS SPRAYED INTO THE POWER STEERING BELTS, AND CAUSES LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED 2 PUMPS, RACK AND PINION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR HANDLE STICKING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LOCK SWITCH.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Ford Taurus → · Every Taurus year → · How the figures are calculated →