Vehicle recall 96V086000 · May 14, 1996
Mercury Sable, Ford Taurus and 1 more model
The park pawl shaft was improperly positioned when the roll pin that retains it was installed during transmission assembly.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- 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.
- Notes
- System: power train; transmission; automatic. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and mini-vans equipped with Ford AX4S automatic transaxles. Note: owner notification is expected to begin in mid-june 1996. Note: owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 96V086000
- Reported to NHTSA
- May 14, 1996
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Manufacturer campaign
- 96S39
- Owner notification
- July 17, 1996
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 100,000
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford Taurus (1996): 1996
- Ford Windstar (1996): 1996
- Mercury Sable (1996): 1996
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