The problem
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.
The risk
This condition could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral with the shift lever in the park position.
The fix
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.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 96V-176 (96V176000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Power train › Automatic transmission |
| Report date | September 18, 1996 |
| Owners notified | October 9, 1996 |
| Vehicles affected | 340,000 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the transmission & drivetrain
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 96V-176 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 340,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.