2005 Ford Taurus Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2005 Ford Taurus ranks 2nd worst out of 15 model years, with a complaint index of 93 and 774 complaints, mostly engine-related. It has no recalls on file, but owners reported serious engine, transmission, and airbag problems, making it an Avoid year relative to other Taurus years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 93/100
- #2 of 15 Taurus years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 774
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 40
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 10
- Injuries
- 28
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19.5
- 17 city / 24.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 28 / 2
Top 2005 Ford Taurus problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine579 (75%)
- Transmission & Powertrain123 (16%)
- Fuel System41 (5%)
- Brakes37 (5%)
- Electrical System32 (4%)
- Other30 (4%)
- Airbags27 (3%)
- Structure & Body25 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (1%)
- Visibility & Wipers8 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine compartments have caught fire, in some cases while the vehicle was parked and unattended for over an hour.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal and rear-end crashes, even at highway speeds, leading to head and chest injuries.
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration paired with a hard, resistant brake pedal at highway speeds.
- Electrical wiring under the dashboard has caught fire, in one case after using the cigarette lighter accessory outlet.
- Windshield wiper motors have smoked and failed, with one owner also reporting a subsequent transmission failure.
- A rearview mirror mounted with a suction cup reportedly caught fire while the rear defroster was running.
2005 Ford Taurus recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2005 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,325
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Ford Taurus reliable?
- Compared to other Taurus model years, the 2005 ranks 2nd worst out of 15 years tracked, with a complaint index of 93 and 774 owner complaints, mostly about the engine.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2005 Ford Taurus?
- Engine problems dominate, accounting for 579 of 774 complaints (75%), with a median failure mileage of 93,000 miles.
- Does the 2005 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Ford Taurus.
- What year Ford Taurus should I avoid?
- The 2005, 2010, 2013, and 2015 Taurus all carry an Avoid verdict; the 2005 has the second-highest complaint index (93) of all 15 years tracked, behind only 2013 at 100.
- How does the 2005 Taurus compare to later years like the 2012 or 2017?
- The 2012 and 2017 Taurus earn a Best verdict with complaint indexes of 14 and 7, far below the 2005's index of 93.