Component Record

Ford Taurus 1996 Power Train Problems

185 distinct owners reported a power train problem on the 1996 Ford Taurus - 22% of all complaints for this model year.

Recall Coverage185 complaints

185 complaints; 3 recall campaigns cover this system.

Campaigns Covering This System

96V086000Reported May 14, 1996 - 100,000 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on May 14, 1996. The campaign covers an estimated 100,000 vehicles across all affected models.

96V166000Reported September 5, 1996 - 40,000 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on September 5, 1996. The campaign covers an estimated 40,000 vehicles across all affected models.

96V176000Reported September 18, 1996 - 340,000 vehicles potentially affected

Recall covering the power train system, reported to NHTSA on September 18, 1996. The campaign covers an estimated 340,000 vehicles across all affected models.

Other Systems on This Model Year

Engine235 Steering109 Brakes80 Suspension62 Visibility59 Electrical System57

How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.