Most common 1996 Ford Taurus SHO problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Taurus SHO complaints by model year
Best Taurus SHO years: 1995, 1998. Years to avoid: 1997, 1999. Compare all years →
What 1996 Ford Taurus SHO owners say
Engine & cooling all 20 →
The camshaft in my car failed and caused engine failure. It was a 1996 Ford Taurus SHO. It caused a complete power loss around a corner and I was almost involed in a head on collision. This has been happening to many SHO owners. The repair costs are running me $5000 dollars. This is nothing compared to what it could have done to my family. Please help this not happen again. Ford knows there is a problem. Some May not be as lucky as me.
I have a1996 Ford Taurus SHO v-8,it just turned 80,000 miles and has had all regular service and now the camshaft gear has failed on the camshaft and damaged the engine!I work at a Ford dealer and see this engine failure often. It seems that this is common on the v-8 SHO engine around 75,000-85,000 miles and sometimes there is a ticking noise that is considered a warning sign too get repairs but there was not any warning from my engine. I have done all kinds of research and found that there are lawsuits and numerous complaints and blogs devoted to this exact issue but I don,t have any information available for assistance on these very expensive repairs that are definitely due to a design flaw and I have 18 Ford technicians that are factory trained too back this up!I did not buy this vehicle new so I can,t say it was never abused but after partially disassembling the engine so far it is …
1996 Ford Taurus SHO engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Taurus SHO rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Taurus SHO at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO?
The engine & cooling — 20 complaints, 83% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (2) and electrical system (1).
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Ford Taurus SHO. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Taurus SHO?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1995 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997 and 1999. See the full Ford Taurus SHO years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Taurus SHO problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 7% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.