2012 Ford Taurus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
22/100
#8 most-complained of 10 Taurus years
The 2012 Ford Taurus ranks 8th out of 10 model years, with 79 complaints and a Complaint Index of 22, earning a 'Best' verdict relative to other Taurus years. Electrical System issues lead at 34% of complaints, with 5 recalls on record.
- Complaints
- 79
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 17.5 city / 26 hwy
Top 2012 Ford Taurus problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System27 (34%)
- Structure & Body18 (23%)
- Steering17 (22%)
- Engine16 (20%)
- Other6 (8%)
- Brakes5 (6%)
- Airbags3 (4%)
- Fuel System2 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report heated seat elements shorting, smoking, and causing small fires inside the seat.
- Some describe the instrument panel losing power, wipers stopping mid-windshield, and the engine cutting off while driving in rain at highway speed.
- Several drivers report a sharp, hypnotic cutoff line in the headlight beam that limits visibility on dark roads.
- One owner reported the rear window suddenly shattering while driving 65 mph, scattering glass inside the cabin.
- A steering complaint described being unable to turn the wheel, tied to a power steering control module recall that the owner said the dealer would not initially honor.
- One owner reported an engine compartment fire while stopped at a stop sign, suspected to be fuel-related.
2012 Ford Taurus recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V247000Apr 26, 2016Airbags695 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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 second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: 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 Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
- NHTSA 15V340000Jun 2, 2015Steering393,623 vehicles
Steering:electric power assist system
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 equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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 be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
- NHTSA 15V040000Jan 28, 2015Structure & Body194,889 vehicles
Structure:body:door
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 door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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 customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.
2012 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 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.
2012 compared with other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Ford Taurus reliable?
- Relative to other Taurus model years, the 2012 ranks 8th out of 10 with a Complaint Index of 22, giving it a 'Best' verdict among Taurus years based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Ford Taurus?
- The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 34% of complaints (27 of 79), with a median failure mileage of 25,500 miles.
- Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Taurus, covering airbags, steering, structure and body, electrical system, and fuel system components. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2012 Taurus compare to other years?
- The 2012 Taurus (Complaint Index 22) has far fewer reported problems than the 2013 (100) and 2010 (89), which are rated 'Avoid,' making 2012 one of the better years for the Taurus.