NHTSA recall 96V086000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 96V086000 |
| Manufacturer's number | 96S39 |
| Manufacturer | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| Reported | 1996-05-14 |
| Owners notified | 1996-07-17 |
| Component | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION |
| Units potentially affected | 100000 |
What is wrong
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.
What can happen
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.
The 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. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.
Notes
SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; TRANSMISSION; AUTOMATIC. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI-VANS EQUIPPED WITH FORD AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. NOTE: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN MID-JUNE 1996. NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
| 1996 FORD TAURUS | Built 1995-07-01 to 1995-10-01. |
|---|---|
| 1996 FORD WINDSTAR | Built 1995-07-01 to 1995-10-01. |
| 1996 MERCURY SABLE | Built 1995-07-01 to 1995-10-01. |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Investigated as PE96015
This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.
| PE96015 | Preliminary evaluation, opened 1996-02-23, closed 1996-05-22. FAILURE OF AUTO TRANS PARK LOCK SYSTEM. POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. |
|---|
From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| 03148 | 2003-10-29. Service bulletin. NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT |
|---|---|
| 03123 | 2003-09-10. Service bulletin. TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING WHEN COMMANDED AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0741 OR P1744 STORED IN MEMORY. MODELS FROM 1996 TO 2003. *TT |
| 01181 | 2001-11-30. Service bulletin. BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 14773 | 2001-05-31. Service bulletin. INFORMATION ON INDEXING ORANGE DOT ON TORQUE CONVERTER TO FLEXPLATE. *TT |
| 980304 | 2001-02-06. Service bulletin. INTERMITTENT NO FORWARD ENGAGEMENT WITH OR WITHOUT DTC P1784 ACTION. *AK |
| 5205 | 2001-01-13. Service bulletin. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NGS ERROR MESSAGE, TOTAL CHECKSUM ERROR AFTER NGS / SBTS PCM REPROGRAMMING. *TT |
| 5131 | 2001-01-13. Service bulletin. SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES WITH THE AX4S TRANSAXLE HAVING AN INLINE TRANSMISSION COOLER BYPASS VALVE LOCATED IN THE COOLER LINE NEAR THE RADIATOR COOLER. *TT |
| 11815 | 2001-01-12. Service bulletin. SOME VEHICLES WITH AX4S TRANSAXLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN OF INCREASED ENGINE RPM AND BUMP ON THE 3-2 TORQUE DEMAND DOWN SHIFT AT LIGHT THROTTLE (TIP-IN) BETWEEN 10-15 MPH. *TT |
| 99152 | 2001-01-05. Service bulletin. INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 12169 | 2000-06-19. Service bulletin. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NGS ERROR MESSAGE AFTER NGS/SBTS PCM REPROGRAMMING. *MJS |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.