34 of the 1,132 complaints about the 1996 Ford Taurus are about the lighting — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 44,500 miles.
34
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATED HEADLIGHT LENSES PRODUCED A THICK FILM. AS A RESULT, THE OF THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER BECOMES IMPAIRED. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL PROCEDURE. *AK HEAD LIGHT LENS ARE NO LONGER CLEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10090169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10081934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS WERE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER'S VIEW. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10081817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FORD TAURUS: HEAD LIGHTS FOGGED OVER. WE FEEL THERE IS A SEVERE DEFECT IN THE SEALS FOR THESE HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10063746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS. ALSO STATED THAT WHEN SHE WILL TURN ON HER LIGHTS ONLY THE DAY LIGHTS WILL GO ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT US. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AT RANDOM, THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS QUIT WORKING, AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON! THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO THIS MLP/TR SWITCH. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND 4 OTHER OCCURRENCES THAT WERE REPORTED. WHEN I CALL THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE GARAGE, THE SERVICE MANAGER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS AND SOLD ME THE SENSOR SWITCH. HE WAS AWARE THAT THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHEN THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR. I EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING FAILING ON A TURN AND HAD MUCH TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE CAR. I'M WORRIED THAT MY DAUGHTER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #762249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SEAL ON BOTH HEADLIGHT LENS HAVE FAILED RESULTING IN CLOUDY LENSES . LENS ARE NOT REMOVABLE REQUIREING REPLACING EACH UNIT AT A PRICE OF $214. PER UNIT. IN DISCUSSING WITH SERVICE PEOPLE AT FORD GARAGE THEY SAY THIS IS OCCURING QUITE FREQUENTLY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT TO ENABLE CLEANING OF A HEADLIGHT LENS. THIS RESTRICTS THE VISIBILITY DUE TO DIMINISHED LUMENS AVAILABLE . THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #753952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P20565R15)
NHTSA complaint #753504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE CLOUDY AND VERY LITTLE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH. YOU CAN HARDLY TELL THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #750004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE CLOUDY AND VERY LITTLE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH. YOU CAN HARDLY TELL THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #750004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES BACK UP LIGHTS NOT WORKING, AS WELL AS BRAKE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD NOT WORKING WHEN PARKING BRAKE IN USE.
NHTSA complaint #560886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
CONSUMER STATES BACK UP LIGHTS NOT WORKING, AS WELL AS BRAKE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD NOT WORKING WHEN PARKING BRAKE IN USE.
NHTSA complaint #560886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
MY BATTERY HAS RUN DOWN DUE TO THE INTERIOR LIGHT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #740545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON PROBLEM ONE: I HAVE OBSERVED SEVERAL 1996 THROUGH 1999 FORD TAURUS WAGONS WITH DEFECTIVE CENTER MOUNTED STOP LIGHT. PROBLEM TWO: BOTH REAR OUTER SEAT BELTS STOPPED RETRACTING AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME.
NHTSA complaint #739257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM - DUE TO OPAQUE PLASTIC COVER.
NHTSA complaint #732392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
OUTER HEADLIGHT LENS YELLOWING,INTERIOR FILLING WITH MOISTURE
NHTSA complaint #730298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
OUTER HEADLIGHT LENS YELLOWING,INTERIOR FILLING WITH MOISTURE
NHTSA complaint #730298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO A LEAK WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, A PROBLEM WITH BATTERY DRAINING OUT, AND HEADLIGHTS COME OFF AND ON. CONSUMER HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK THE THERMOSTAT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #868920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. YH
NHTSA complaint #552542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #723415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY BECAME HOT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #857287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #716695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NO CHANGE TO THE SHAKING. VERY VIOLENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #713240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN EVER THE VEHICLE RUNS THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAIL AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS / CUTS OFF. THE VEHICLE CAN BE INSTANTLY STARTED BACK UP BY TURNING THE IGNITION AGAIN. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #845680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE PLASTIC COVERING DOOR LIGHT BECAME DETACHED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #546378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON WHEN EVERYTHING IS OFF, BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR STAYS ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE PREVIOUS TIME THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, EMERGENY BRAKE UNAFFECTIVE THIS TIME. IT APPEARS TO BE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS EVEN THOUGH THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON.
NHTSA complaint #780451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
WIPERS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #524298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
THIRD STOP LIGHT CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #606093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LAMP SWITCH WORKED INTERMITANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #506984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH OVERHEATED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #516310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.