Ford Taurus 2010–2019 problems by year and mileage
6th generation (D3/D4)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,748 complaints, 1,252 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
- 201046kmedian
- 201164kmedian
- 201241kmedian
- 201384kmedian
- 201473kmedian
- 201568k†median
- 201656k†median
- 2017—too few
- 201856k†median
- 2019—too few
The 2010 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 46,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 204
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2010
- Steering41 reports · median 102,000 mi
- Engine37 reports
- Transmission and driveline36 reports · median 13,000 mi
3 recall campaigns name the 2010: Air bags — frontal; Structure — body; Exterior lighting. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2011 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 64,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 187
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2011
- Electrical system47 reports · median 39,000 mi
- Engine40 reports · median 81,000 mi
- Steering25 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2011: Air bags — frontal; Steering — electric power assist system; Structure — body. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2012 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 41,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 79
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2012
- Steering17 reports
- Electrical system16 reports
- Body structure16 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2012: Air bags — frontal; Steering — electric power assist system; Structure — body. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2013 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 84,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 584
- Recalls naming this year
- 9
Most reported on the 2013
- Steering295 reports · median 95,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system96 reports · median 80,000 mi
- Engine70 reports · median 70,000 mi
9 recall campaigns name the 2013: Suspension — rear; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Fuel system, gasoline. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2014 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 73,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 229
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2014
- Steering64 reports · median 77,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system55 reports · median 82,000 mi
- Electrical system29 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2014: Power train — axle assembly; Suspension — rear; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 68,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 276
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2015
- Reversing camera and sensors58 reports · median 90,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system53 reports · median 75,000 mi
- Steering50 reports · median 59,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2015: Back over prevention — sensing system; Power train — axle assembly; Suspension — rear. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 56,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 81
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Reversing camera and sensors26 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise14 reports
- Engine12 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2016: Back over prevention — sensing system; Structure — exterior trim; Suspension — rear. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 44
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2017
- Electrical system11 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise9 reports
- Body structure7 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2017: Structure — exterior trim; Suspension — rear; Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- 56,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 49
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Reversing camera and sensors12 reports
- Body structure11 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise8 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2018: Back over prevention — sensing system; Structure — exterior trim; Suspension — rear. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Ford Taurus
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 15
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2019
- Reversing camera and sensors6 reports
- Engine and its cooling system2 reports
- Lane departure2 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2019: Back over prevention — sensing system; Structure — exterior trim. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2013 reports latest and the 2012 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2012 has had 1 more year on the road to accumulate mileage. 2 of these years carry fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and show no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2010–2019 Ford Taurus reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 70,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 130,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,252
- Recalls
- 19
Most reported
- Steering28.9% of complaints · median 90,000 mi
- Engine13.0% of complaints · median 66,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system12.9% of complaints · median 80,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine (3.5L Ecoboost)2010–2019
- Engine (direct Injection)2010–2019
- Doors2013–2016
- Infotainment2011–2015
Owners filed 1,748 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2019 Ford Taurus; the steering leads with 28.9% of them, and half of the 1,252 that record an odometer reading came by 70,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 37,000 and 102,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2010–2019 Ford Taurus last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2010–2019 Ford Taurus, half of the 1,252 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 70,000 miles and 90% by 130,000 miles.
71 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 10 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Taurus reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Ford Taurus 2010–2019 · 1,252 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 96 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 10 complaints (0.8%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 8,000
- 25%
- 37,000
- Median
- 70,000
- 75%
- 101,820
- 90%
- 130,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 96 | 7.7% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 48 | 3.8% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 32 | 2.6% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 30 | 2.4% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 24 | 1.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 35 | 2.8% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 37 | 3.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 31 | 2.5% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 38 | 3.0% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 41 | 3.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 50 | 4.0% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 40 | 3.2% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 64 | 5.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 52 | 4.2% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 54 | 4.3% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 39 | 3.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 59 | 4.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 56 | 4.5% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 48 | 3.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 39 | 3.1% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 54 | 4.3% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 35 | 2.8% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 35 | 2.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 21 | 1.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 38 | 3.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 23 | 1.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 27 | 2.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 14 | 1.1% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 15 | 1.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 19 | 1.5% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 13 | 1.0% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 7 | 0.6% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 10 | 0.8% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Taurus problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Ford Taurus 2010–2019
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Transmission and driveline141 reports45,00010,000–85,000Transmission and driveline: 141 reports, median 45,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 85,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise166 reports48,00019,000–86,000Problems owners could not categorise: 166 reports, median 48,000 miles, middle half 19,000 to 86,000 miles.
- Electrical system225 reports63,00025,000–92,000Electrical system: 225 reports, median 63,000 miles, middle half 25,000 to 92,000 miles.
- Engine227 reports66,00033,000–92,000Engine: 227 reports, median 66,000 miles, middle half 33,000 to 92,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system226 reports80,00059,000–98,000Fuel and propulsion system: 226 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 59,000 to 98,000 miles.
- Reversing camera and sensors122 reports80,00052,000–119,000Reversing camera and sensors: 122 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 119,000 miles.
- Steering505 reports90,00062,000–120,000Steering: 505 reports, median 90,000 miles, middle half 62,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 505 | 28.9% | 90,000 | 62,000–120,000 |
| Engine | 227 | 13.0% | 66,000 | 33,000–92,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 226 | 12.9% | 80,000 | 59,000–98,000 |
| Electrical system | 225 | 12.9% | 63,000 | 25,000–92,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 166 | 9.5% | 48,000 | 19,000–86,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 141 | 8.1% | 45,000 | 10,000–85,000 |
| Reversing camera and sensors | 122 | 7.0% | 80,000 | 52,000–119,000 |
| Body structure | 85 | 4.9% | 55,000 | 15,000–97,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 79 | 4.5% | 36,000 | 9,000–63,000 |
| Suspension | 69 | 3.9% | 84,000 | 44,000–126,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 28.9% of complaints (505 reports, 375 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 62,000 and 120,000 miles.
A single system taking 28.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The engine accounts for 13.0% of complaints (227 reports, 173 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 66,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 33,000 and 92,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 12.9% of complaints (226 reports, 175 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 59,000 and 98,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 12.9% of complaints (225 reports, 141 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 63,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 92,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.5% of complaints (166 reports, 73 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 48,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 19,000 and 86,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.1% of complaints (141 reports, 112 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 45,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,000 and 85,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2010–2019 Taurus
Engine (3.5L Ecoboost) 2010–2019
Internal chain-driven water pump failure dumps coolant directly into the crankcase; the pump is buried in the front of the engine so replacement is an engine-out-scale job. Affects the SHO's 3.5L EcoBoost.
Engine (direct Injection) 2010–2019
Intake valve carbon buildup on the direct-injected EcoBoost engines causing misfire and rough running, since no port fuel wash cleans the valves.
Doors 2013–2016
Door latch pawl spring tab fractures, allowing a door to appear closed but open while driving; subject of a large Ford recall covering 2013-2016 Taurus among other models.
Infotainment 2011–2015
MyFord Touch system freezes, reboots and loses climate/audio control; a very high complaint category for 2011-2015 cars.
Before you buy a 2010–2019 Taurus: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,252 mileage-tagged complaints, 19 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 19 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine (3.5L ecoboost) on 2010–2019 cars. Internal chain-driven water pump failure dumps coolant directly into the crankcase; the pump is buried in the front of the engine so replacement is an engine-out-scale job. Affects the SHO's 3.5L EcoBoost.
- Check engine (direct injection) on 2010–2019 cars. Intake valve carbon buildup on the direct-injected EcoBoost engines causing misfire and rough running, since no port fuel wash cleans the valves.
- Check doors on 2013–2016 cars. Door latch pawl spring tab fractures, allowing a door to appear closed but open while driving; subject of a large Ford recall covering 2013-2016 Taurus among other models.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 37,000 and 102,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 66,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Taurus problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi40% below | At 90k mi66% below | At 120k mi85% below | At 150k mi94% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 62,000–120,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 33,000–92,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 59,000–98,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 25,000–92,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 19,000–86,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 10,000–85,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Reversing camera and sensors | 52,000–119,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Ford Taurus 2010–2019 · 1,252 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 40% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 66% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 85% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 94% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.8% of reports (10) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2010–2019 Ford Taurus recalls (19)
NHTSA records 19 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (5), body structure (2), the transmission and driveline (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Oct 2025 · 2015–2016, 2018–2019 · Back Over PreventionA rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a…
What can happen. A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model…
Sep 2025 · 2016–2019 · StructureDoor trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
What can happen. Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Nov 2020 · 2014–2015 · Power TrainThe failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.
What can happen. The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8…
Feb 2020 · 2013–2018 · SuspensionA fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
What can happen. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A…
Mar 2018 · 2017–2018 · Electrical SystemIf the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems. The keys for these vehicles may be able to be removed from the ignition when transmission is not in the PARK position. As such, these…
What can happen. If the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
Aug 2017 · 2017 · SteeringIf the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
What can happen. If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Dec 2016 · 2016 · Engine and Engine CoolingAn oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply…
What can happen. An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Aug 2016 · 2013–2015 · Fuel System, GasolineA loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump…
What can happen. A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford…
Apr 2016 · 2010–2012 · Air BagsAn improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during…
What can happen. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact…
Dec 2015 · 2013 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
Sep 2015 · 2015 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the fuel tank separates from the vehicle, a fuel leak may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured on July 24, 2015. During vehicle production, the fuel tank attachment bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a…
What can happen. If the fuel tank separates from the vehicle, a fuel leak may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Jul 2015 · 2015 · Parking BrakeIf the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles…
What can happen. If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September…
Jun 2015 · 2011–2013 · SteeringIf the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles…
What can happen. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will…
Jan 2015 · 2010–2013 · StructureIf the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior…
What can happen. If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford…
Jul 2014 · 2013–2014 · Power TrainIf the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and…
What can happen. If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not…
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if…
May 2014 · 2010–2014 · Exterior LightingThis corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles manufactured November 24, 2008, through February 28, 2014, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland…
What can happen. This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673.…
Jun 2013 · 2013 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesIf the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to…
The defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety…
What can happen. If the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to personal injury to an unrestrained child.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the safety locks. If necessary, the locks will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S07. Owners may…
May 2013 · 2013 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The defect. Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at…
Mar 2013 · 2012 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The defect. Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The free fix. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03. Owners may…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,748 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 86 (4.9%)
- Fires
- 20
- Injury reports
- 54
- Fatality reports
- 2
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Taurus problems by model year
The 2013 drew the most complaints of this generation, 584, most of them about the steering, and the 2017 the fewest among the 9 years with at least 20 complaints, 44. A typical year drew about 187.
That makes the 2013 stand out at roughly 3.1 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 204 | 177 | 46,000 | Steering (41) | 3 |
| 2011 | 187 | 142 | 64,000 | Electrical system (47) | 4 |
| 2012 | 79 | 51 | 41,000 | Steering (17) | 5 |
| 2013 | 584 | 424 | 84,000 | Steering (295) | 9 |
| 2014 | 229 | 163 | 73,000 | Steering (64) | 5 |
| 2015 | 276 | 188 | 68,000† | Reversing camera and sensors (58) | 6 |
| 2016 | 81 | 46 | 56,000† | Reversing camera and sensors (26) | 4 |
| 2017 | 44 | 23 | under 30 reports | Electrical system (11) | 4 |
| 2018 | 49 | 32 | 56,000† | Reversing camera and sensors (12) | 4 |
| 2019 | 15 | 6 | under 30 reports | Reversing camera and sensors (6) | 2 |
What Taurus owners reported
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that upon shifting into reverse(R) occasionally, the rearview camera failed to display a clear image and…
2015 · 65,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to perform the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while in reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed a blank screen. The local dealer was contacted…
2018 · 60,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera image was distorted and inverted. The dealer was contacted and provided an estimate for the repair; however, the contact declined the repair due to the cost. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign…
2015 · 125,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while reversing or while driving forward, the rearview camera displayed a blank image or an upside-down image, with the message "Please Contact the Dealer" displayed. The contact stated that the dealer replaced the radio three times; however, the failure…
2015 · 134,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
Built from 1,252 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Taurus generations
- Taurus 1996–1999 767 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Taurus 2000–2007 5,014 reports with mileage, most about the suspension
- Taurus 2008–2009 215 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline