VehicleVerdict

1996 Ford Taurus engine problems

The 1996 Ford Taurus has 241 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 21% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

241

Engine complaints

21%

Share of year

4

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Taurus engine complaints by model year760 complaints1986: 27 complaints1987: 42 complaints1988: 76 complaints1989: 114 complaints1990: 91 complaints1991: 147 complaints1992: 261 complaints1993: 760 complaints1994: 339 complaints1995: 403 complaints1996: 241 complaints1997: 173 complaints1998: 66 complaints1999: 89 complaints2000: 115 complaints2001: 68 complaints2002: 65 complaints2003: 90 complaints2004: 44 complaints2005: 108 complaints2006: 43 complaints2007: 29 complaints2008: 31 complaints2009: 24 complaints2010: 47 complaints2011: 49 complaints2012: 13 complaints2013: 76 complaints2014: 22 complaints2015: 33 complaints2016: 14 complaints2017: 5 complaints2018: 7 complaints2019: 2 complaints
Taurus engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH, VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ENGINE QUIT. CONSUMER HAD TO GET TO SHOULDER BY USING HAZARD LIGHTS. WHILE CONSUMER WAS ON SHOULDER ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER SAYS TEMPARATURE GAUGE WENT TO 3 QUARTERS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · August 7, 2000 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1996 Ford Taurus have?

NHTSA has 241 complaints about the 1996 Ford Taurus engine — 21% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.