Dt: the consumer's vehicle rolled while parked. The consumer indicated there was a recall on the vehicle and contacted the manufacturer. The manufacturer informed her that her vehicle was made one month to early and that her vehicle could not be repaired under the recall. The recall was for a park pin which was not installed properly. The consumer indicated that the vehicle sometimes rolled while parked on level ground, but mostly rolled while on hills. The emergency brake had to be applied to ensure that the vehicle would not move. The consumer had to start the vehicle in neutral because of this problem. The consumer is afraid that she may forget to put the emergency brake on and leave her vehicle. She actually has had to chase after the vehicle to keep it from hitting other vehicles. No prior warning to the failure. The consumer indicated that the vehicle stopped going into park suddenly and she'd have to take it in and out of gears.
1996 Ford Taurus transmission complaints
Page 2 of 7: complaints 11 to 40 of 183, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1996 ford taurus purchased by my family in november/december 1996 from hewlett-packard fleet vehicles. We've had intermittent problems with the parking gear (car rolls when in park) since we got the car. I found that there had been 3 "parking pawl" recalls on the ford taurus in 1996--all occurring prior to our purchase of the car. Now, ford is telling me that the recalls don't apply to my vehicle. Seems suspicious since I am experiencing the very problem that was described in the 3 automatic transmission recalls listed at the federal safety agency web site. What are my options?
Progressive system failures; initally raido goes out, seat belt light flashes and clicks, intermittent wipers fail. Finally power steering locks up, causing safety concerns. If put in park electrical systems resume operation. Transmission range sensor replaced, automotive shop has seen 3 other '96 taurus' with same issue.
Transmission has failed. Started by not shifting into overdrive. Then as I was driving down the road it completely went out leaving me coasting into a parking lot. There was no signs or warning lights to indicate a problem. It only has 72,000 miles on it.
While driving, the engine light illuminated. The consumer heard a knocking noise coming from the transmission. *ak the consumer stated the transmission and engine was in the process of failing.
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. *ak *sc
While driving 5 MPH vehicle stalled. Consumer tried to restart vehicle but was unable to do so. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that transmission clutch plate needed to be replaced.
Consumer shifted vehicle to park, but vehicle would actually be in the reverse gear. This would cause a problem for the consumer when trying to park the vehicle. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
I was on the highway with my car and just as I exited, the car began jerking uncontrollably as I came to a stop light. Even with my foot on the brake the car would do this. The following day I couldn't even go to work and had one mechanic tell me it was the transmission and he could repair for $1600+(not incl tax). I took the car to another mechanic the following day and was basically told that this was common with the taurus's and that the repair would cost $1901.00 (tax incl). Apparently this is a common problem based on the complaints I have read. Ford should really address this. The problem specifically was:torque converter, neutral safety switch, overdrive piston, pump shaft, etc.
While driving transmission failed, causing the driver to pull off the highway. The driver had vehicle towed to the dealer.
On aug. 4, 2003, I noticed my car was shifting into neutral on a stop. On aug. 5, 2003, my car was shifting into neutral on a stop, and hesitating before slamming into first upon acceleration. On aug. 6, 2003, my car stopped shifting back into first when it neutralized at a stop. It had to be manually shifted to park, and back into drive. If I turned off the overdrive, which is automatically engaged on this car, she drove like new, but if I forgot to manually disengage my overdrive, my car very loudly reminded me to shut it off.
Rebuilt trans. Nov. 2000, check engine light came on in may 2003 due to the trans. Not going into overdrive. Replace solenoids in trans. In june 2003 and that still did not correct the problem. Paid $1600.00 to rebuild and $250.00 to replace solenoids.
This car continually stalls out , the battery light comes on, the engine repair light comes on, the underneath suspension squeeks and groans, the brakes squeak, the wheel doesn't turn when the car stalls out. It has happened numerous times when I am turning a corner, the car stalls out and the wheel will not turn. Now the computor systems are not working the air conditioning. I have to restart the car to get the radio and the air conditioning to start up. These things happen but no one can find a problem.
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.
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.
Transmission failure as you described in your february 2001 article on anod e transmissions. The car has 97k miles on it and I believe the used car dealer knew it had problems when he sold it to me but I didn't have the knowledge concerning the car until I visited this website. I believe I will use the lemon aid car book in trying to get either ford or the dealer to deliver. The dealer was called fleet depot in bridgeville, pa I am going to the closest dealer kenny ross and hope I may get something resolved. Sincerley, paul k. Little
Had to replace the transmission in my car 2 times .
Transmission has had a vibration and trouble shifting gears, I have heard rumors that other taurus owners have had same problems. Car only has 60,000 adult driven miles on it and this seems out of the ordinary for an auto with so few miles.
While driving about 55 MPH on the highway and without prior warning vehicle shut down. Due to a broken torque converter.
I own a 1996 ford taraus gl. The transmission in it has failed twice. Each time, it suddenly stopped pulling, without any warning of a pending malfunction. Each time this happened, the vehicle was being driven in traffic, but, fortunately, there were no accidents. I have been told that there is a design flaw in the transmission that accounts for its failure. I have contacted ford motor company concerning the failure of the transmission and asked that they inspect it. However, they have refused such an inspection. In as much as I have been told by mechanics that the transmission has a designed flaw and said flaw was responsible for the failure, I feel that an inspection could have been done by ford motor company to either verify or rule out any designed problems. It would appear that the inspection would have been the most economical approach to resolving a potential problem, as opposed to waiting for serious injuries or deaths to occur first.I feel that safety is compromised when a transmission fails in the manner that this one did; in triffic and without any warnning of pending malfunction.
Transmission will slip out of gear while driving and right before the car comes to a complete stop, the tranny bucks. I was told by two transmission shops that the transmission has a faulty forward piston and needs to be rebuilt at a cost of $1800.00 dollars. The car has only 71k miles. After reading all these horror stories, I think ford should do the right thing and issue a recall!!
While driving at normal speed, the transmission failed. *ak *ts
The federal safety agency# 96-v-086-000: 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. *ak consequence this could result in the park pawl occasionally not engaging when the transmission selector lever is placed in the park position. This could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral if the vehicle operator does not apply the parking brake. Consumer has the same problem please provide further information.
Purchased my 1996 ford taurus wagon in nov. 2001. It accelerates at high speeds with cruise going down hill. The gas pedal often gets hung up which leaves me tapping it my foot to get it to go, so that I do not have an accident. The whole car rides very roughly. It also hangs up in passing gear almost every time. And also how do I find out where to check to see if all the recalls were taken care of. Be careful for what u buy.
To whom it may concern. I bought a ford taurus 1996 from venuns ford in milwaukee wisconsin. I have only had this car for seven months and the gas pedal was sticking and taking off very fast and shifting its gears. The motor was rumbling and shaking. I had to repair the axles of the car. I had to take it back every month because of the engine. The water pump over heated and the gas pedal is still sticking and taking off very fast today. Also the dealer is trying to take away the warranty so they wouldn't have to pay for the repairs. I asked the dealer to take a federal investigation but they refused. I asked for an even exchange for a different car but they wanted me to pay for this car and the other if I got one. Urgently respond to my complaint.
When the vehicle accelerated from a stop, the transmission jerked into gear which caused the vehicle to lurch forward. The same issue occurred when the vehicle decelerated from high speed, the transmission down shifted abruptly. *jb ph
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. Not a happy camper!
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.
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. I feel that I was lucky as there was nobody/nothing to hit and that all I had damaged was a wheel cover.
Transmission slips--86,000 miles getting trans rebuilt
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