Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The transmission range selector (also called park/neutral start switch) shorts internally and causes the variably assisted steering to malfunction (stop assisting entirely). Date of incident May not be exact. While turning right at low speed into an alley power steering failed momentarily causing front wheel to jump the opposite curb onto the sidewalk and damage wheel cover. TSB # 96255 May describe problem, but I'm not sure. Ford dealership pulled up a report on this for me. Report states that the transmission range selector May short internally and cause the power steering assist to be reduced (eliminated), power windows to fail, and stereo to temporarily fail. This problem is intermittent and sporadic, but since the steering is adversely affected this problem constitutes a clear safety hazard. …
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle slipped out of park and almost rolled backwards into a ditch. The vehicle hit a culvert causing damage to the suspension. The driver and infant passenger were not injured. The manufacturer determined the vehicle was not included in NHTSA recall #96V176000 regarding the power train:automatic transmission, due to the VIN.
With vehicle in park, it rolled backwards. The consumer was found fatally crushed beneath the front driver side rocker panel and tire. The vehicle rolled backwards despite the fact that the transmission indicator was in the park position. The police concluded that the consumer parked on a paved driveway on a uphill incline.
My Ford Taurus has less that 50,000 miles on it and I treat it like a baby. Brought it in to the local Ford dealership to have it serviced do to the "service engine soon" light coming on. They changed the oil and filter, performed multi-point inspection, changed the engine coolant and reprogrammed the powertrain control module as per TSB 97-8-6. I also had them rotate the tires. There was nothing wrong with this car as far as running (except that the service engine soon light was on). After getting the car back I noticed that when I was at a complete stop and went to accelerate the car was having a hard time "gripping the road". Called Ford dealer. Took in again. They informed that it was the transmission and that it would need to be replaced. Called Ford headquarters no help there. This car was originally a leased car and when it was purchased by us it had low mileage. …
The consumer complained about transmission failure. While driving, the transmission suddenly malfunctioned. It was called sudden transmission failure of clutch plates which caused the park pin plate not to stay in position. The consumer was told by the manufacturer and dealer that the pin did not stay engaged in the park position. He was told by dealer that Ford was aware of this problem and there was a recall on this problem, but because he lived in Canada he never received thr recall notice. The consumer purchased the vehicle in Canada. The consumer spent about $5000-6000 in repairs on something that was recalled and no one wanted to help him because of where he lived.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford Taurus. The contact has experienced minor shifting failure. The vehicle would not properly shift into park. Occasionally, when the vehicle was started, it failed to move. When the vehicle is placed into park and the contact's foot is removed from the brake pedal, the vehicle begins to roll backwards. In addition, the vehicle shifts out of first gear very hard, and the engine revs up to 3,000 rpms. A transmission flush was performed, which stopped the failure. NHTSA campaign id numbers 96V086000 and 96V166000 (powertrain:automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)) were referenced. The current and failure mileages were 113,000.
In May 03 Ford said trans. Was just wore out. Had rebuilt by aamco and then at the end of July trans. Had no park, was just like in nutral. On the way to aamco trans. Fell apart. Aamco tryed to say we did something wrong, but decided that we couldn't have so are in the process of trying to find a new case for are ax4n trans. Now. It has been over two weeks now and still can not find a case. Hope they find soon so can get car back and get rid of it, never to own another Ford. This car has had continual small but still problems never the less sence we purchased it. Have been a Ford lover all my life and am kind of sad to say I will never own another Ford.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. It cranks, but the ignition does not turn over until she depresses the accelerator pedal. The vehicle would stall at least ten to twelve times before it would start. She took the vehicle to a mechanic and was informed that the fuel injectors and brake switch interlock were the causes of the failure. The vehicle is also stuck in park and will not move. In order to start the vehicle, she has to turn the ignition off and shift into neutral. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 05/05/09.
Eng size 3.0 transmission type ax4s or axode , transmission just stop pulling forward, had car since oct. 1998 bought used alway had problem with jerking when changing to first or second gear from day one when I bought car . Told the dealer about the jerking when changing gear he said the the way the car was made. Car is in shop now for transmission work. They said it must be the computer , couldnt find nothing wrong with the transmission. I think a recall should have been made on 1996 Taurus . I am tired of spending money on this car. I know Ford know about this problem.
My 96 Ford Taurus gl has the following electrical problems, radio goes out, seat belt light flashes and clicks, intermittent wipers fail, power windows fail, finally power steering locks up,and when running for a while transmission would slip, causing safety concerns. If put in park everything goes back working as normal. Took to shop and they say it's the transmission range sensor and that several 96 Taurus' they have worked on have had the same problem....I am wondering why this has not been a recall part if that is the case...something is definitely wrong!
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
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.
Transmission complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1996 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 182 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1996 Ford Taurus, 22% of the model year's 825 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (135 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Ford Taurus transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 96V-176 (automatic transmission, Sep 18, 1996); NHTSA recall 96V-166 (gear position indication (prndl), Sep 5, 1996); NHTSA recall 96V-086 (automatic transmission, May 14, 1996). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Taurus transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.