Skip to content
AnyRecalls

1996 Ford Taurus recalls

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

8 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026

For the 1996 Ford Taurus. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.

Has your Ford been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. Recall repairs are free.

1996 Ford Taurus recalls, newest first

April 7, 2009NHTSA 09E01200016,270 vehicles potentially affected

Exterior lighting

  • Aftermarket equipment: applies only if this part was installed
Summary
Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Consequence
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

March 23, 2006NHTSA 06E02600061,944 vehicles potentially affected

Exterior lighting

  • Aftermarket equipment: applies only if this part was installed
Summary
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Consequence
Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Remedy
Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

March 25, 1998NHTSA 98V067000400 vehicles potentially affected

Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly

Summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles previously serviced under Ford service bulletin 97-17-9 from August 1997 through December 1997. These vehicles were inadvertenly equipped with an 18-gallon fuel tank rather than the 16-gallon as specified. The 18-gallon tank has a second valve location where a shipping plug should be installed.
Consequence
If this shipping plug is displaced, fuel leakage can result. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could potentially result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install the correct fuel tank.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

September 18, 1996NHTSA 96V176000340,000 vehicles potentially affected

Power train › Automatic transmission

Summary
The automatic transmission park pawl shaft may not be free to rotate as intended. If the park pawl shaft does not rotate, it would prevent the park pawl from engaging the park gear when the shift lever is in the park position.
Consequence
This condition could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral with the shift lever in the park position.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft rotation and those shafts with restricted rotation will be replaced with a shorter shaft that will not restrict rotation.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

September 5, 1996NHTSA 96V16600040,000 vehicles potentially affected

Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)

Summary
The park pawl abutment bracket has a sharp edge which can cause the parking pawl to hang up and not engage the park gear. This would allow the vehicle to move even though the gear shift indicator shows that the vehicle is in park.
Consequence
Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

August 12, 1996NHTSA 96V1510004,700 vehicles potentially affected

Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system

Summary
The fuel pressure regulator located on the fuel rail in the engine compartment has a vacuum diaphragm that was damaged during manufacture of the regulator.
Consequence
If the diaphragm tears or ruptures, liquid fuel could enter the intake manifold plenum through the vacuum line resulting in either release of fuel from the air cleaner assembly or the exhaust system. Fuel release in the presence of an ignition source could potentially result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the fuel pressure regulator. Those regulators produced during the suspect time period will be replaced.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

May 14, 1996NHTSA 96V086000100,000 vehicles potentially affected

Power train › Automatic transmission

Summary
The park pawl shaft was improperly positioned when the roll pin that retains it was installed during transmission assembly. If the shaft was not properly positioned, the roll pin may not have lined up with the groove in the shaft and have been crushed at assembly. Also, a burr could have been raised on the shaft.
Consequence
This could result in the park pawl occasionally not engaging when the transmission selector lever is placed in the park position. This could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral if the vehicle operator does not apply the parking brake.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft roll pin. If the roll pin is damaged, both the roll pin and the park pawl shaft will be replaced. In addition, owners will be reminded to fully apply the parking brake, in addition to placing the transmission in park.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

January 25, 1996NHTSA 96V01600076,500 vehicles potentially affected

Service brakes, hydraulic › Brake fluid low warning › Lamp

Summary
The brake system fluid level indicator lamp switch can malfunction. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems."
Consequence
Consequence of non-compliance: if the switch malfuntions, the brake system warning lamp will either remain illuminated continuously or fail to light as intended when the fluid level falls to a certain level. In either case, the vehicle operator would not be warned of a low brake fluid level condition.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the brake system fluid level indicator lamp switches.

This recall on nhtsa.gov

Owner complaints

Owners have filed 825 complaints about the 1996 Ford Taurus with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public; NHTSA uses them to decide what to investigate.

Crashes reported
69
Fires reported
12
Injuries reported
69
Deaths reported
1

Most complained-about components

  1. Power train › Automatic transmission135
  2. Service brakes83
  3. Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline70
  4. Engine and engine cooling › Engine62
  5. Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system61

Other Ford Taurus years

Other 1996 Ford models

Most recalled 1996 vehicles

  1. 1996 Dodge Caravan (16 recalls)
  2. 1996 Honda Civic (16 recalls)
  3. 1996 Dodge Ram (14 recalls)
  4. 1996 Plymouth Voyager (13 recalls)
  5. 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier (13 recalls)
All of 1996’s most recalled vehicles

Questions

Does the 1996 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
8 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline, power train, service brakes, hydraulic. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
How do I check if my 1996 Ford Taurus recall has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Ford dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 1996 Ford Taurus?
825 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.