The defect
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 remedy
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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1996 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1996 |
| Mercury Sable | 1996 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1996 | 825 | 6 |
| Lincoln Continental | 1996 | 48 | 2 |
| Mercury Sable | 1996 | 304 | 5 |
Other power train recalls in 1996
10 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the power train; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 96V255000 23 Dec 1996 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 96V243000 5 Dec 1996 | HINO DIESEL TRUCKS(USA) |
| 96V198000 9 Oct 1996 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 96V190000 4 Oct 1996 | UTILIMASTER CORPORATION |
| 96V166000 5 Sept 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V086000 14 May 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V035000 22 Feb 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V015000 23 Jan 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996