Ford Taurus Best and Worst Years (2010–2019)
The Ford Taurus years to avoid are 2010, 2013, and 2015, based on NHTSA complaint and recall data. 2013 is the worst, with 584 complaints and a complaint index of 100, driven mainly by steering problems. The best years are 2012, 2017, and 2019, with far fewer complaints and low complaint indexes.
- Model years
- 10
- 2010–2019
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,748
- Recall campaigns
- 19
- Crashes reported
- 86
- Fires reported
- 20
- Top problem area
- Steering
Taurus Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Ford Taurus problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Avoid | 89 | 204 | 17 | 5 | 3 | Engine | 20.5 | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 67 | 187 | 14 | 2 | 4 | Electrical System | 20.5 | 4★ |
| 2012 | Best | 22 | 79 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Electrical System | 20.5 | 4★ |
| 2013 | Avoid | 100 | 584 | 20 | 6 | 9 | Steering | 21.5 | 5★ |
| 2014 | Caution | 56 | 229 | 13 | 1 | 5 | Fuel System | 22 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Avoid | 78 | 276 | 12 | 1 | 6 | Fuel System | 22 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Good | 44 | 81 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 20 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Best | 11 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Electrical System | 20 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Good | 33 | 49 | 3 | 1 | 4 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 19 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Best | 0 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Collision Avoidance & Cameras | 19 | 5★ |
Taurus years to avoid: what went wrong
2013 Ford Taurus Index 100 · 584 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2013 Taurus is the worst year in the lineup, with 584 complaints, a complaint index of 100, 20 crashes, 6 fires, and 25 injuries. Steering dominates the complaints at 295 reports (51%) with a median failure mileage of 95,000. Fuel system issues followed with 107 complaints (median 81,500 miles), then engine problems at 87 complaints (median 68,502 miles). Owners described engine fires starting under the hood while driving or shortly after parking, wheels detaching due to broken axles, and electrical fires near the license plate area. NHTSA issued 9 recalls, including fuel delivery module and rear suspension toe link fixes.
2013 steering problems →2013 fuel system problems →2013 engine problems →
2010 Ford Taurus Index 89 · 204 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2010 Taurus logged 204 complaints and a complaint index of 89, with 17 crashes, 5 fires, and 2 deaths. Engine problems led the way at 68 complaints (33%), with a median failure mileage of 46,500, followed by steering (41 complaints, median 103,750 miles), brakes (38 complaints, median 29,650 miles), and transmission issues (36 complaints, median 13,431 miles). Owners reported sudden stalling, unexpected vehicle movement after shifting into park, and airbags that failed to deploy in low-speed crashes. NHTSA issued 3 recalls for this year covering airbags, door handles, and license plate lamps.
2010 engine problems →2010 steering problems →2010 brakes problems →
2015 Ford Taurus Index 78 · 276 complaints · 6 recalls
The 2015 Taurus recorded 276 complaints and a complaint index of 78, with 12 crashes and 6 injuries. Fuel system problems were the top concern at 73 complaints (26%), median failure mileage 76,300, followed by collision avoidance and camera issues at 59 complaints (median 90,500 miles) and steering at 50 complaints (median 60,450 miles). Owners reported vehicles rolling backward and crashing after being shifted out of park, sudden loss of steering with control arm and ball joint separation, and airbags deploying unexpectedly while parked. NHTSA issued 6 recalls covering rearview cameras, drive axle brackets, and suspension toe links.
2015 fuel system problems →2015 collision avoidance & cameras problems →2015 steering problems →
Most common Ford Taurus problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Steering505 (29%)
- Engine325 (19%)
- Fuel System278 (16%)
- Electrical System277 (16%)
- Other171 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain141 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras123 (7%)
- Brakes116 (7%)
- Structure & Body110 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires87 (5%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Ford Taurus should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint and recall data, avoid the 2010, 2013, and 2015 Ford Taurus. The 2013 model year has the highest complaint index at 100 and the most complaints overall at 584.
- Is the 2013 Ford Taurus reliable?
- The 2013 Taurus has the highest complaint index (100) and the most complaints (584) of any Taurus year from 2010-2019, with steering problems accounting for 51% of its complaints. It ranks worst among all model years covered.
- Which Ford Taurus years are the best?
- NHTSA data points to 2012, 2017, and 2019 as the best Taurus years, with complaint indexes of 22, 11, and 0 respectively, far lower than the 2013 model's index of 100.
- Does the Ford Taurus have steering problems?
- Steering is the top overall problem area for the Taurus across 2010-2019, with 505 complaints (29% share). The 2013 model year is especially affected, with 295 steering complaints reported.
- How many recalls does the Ford Taurus have?
- Across the 2010-2019 model years, Ford issued 19 recall campaigns for the Taurus, covering areas including airbags, fuel systems, suspension, and rearview cameras.