YearToAvoid

2012 Ford Taurus Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2012 Ford Taurus ranks 13th out of 15 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 14 and a Best verdict. It has 79 complaints, 5 recalls, no deaths, and just 1 crash and 3 fires reported to NHTSA.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
14/100
#13 of 15 Taurus years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
79
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
20.5
17.5 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2012 Ford Taurus problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System27 (34%)
  2. Structure & Body18 (23%)
  3. Steering17 (22%)
  4. Engine16 (20%)
  5. Other6 (8%)
  6. Brakes5 (6%)
  7. Airbags3 (4%)
  8. Fuel System2 (3%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain2 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Headlights produce a sharp, hypnotic cutoff line on the windshield that owners say severely limits night visibility, especially in rain.
  • Heated seat elements have shorted, smoked, and in one case smoldered inside the seat cushion.
  • Instrument panel lights, wipers, and the engine reportedly cut out simultaneously while driving at highway speed in the rain.
  • The rear window has suddenly shattered while driving at highway speed, scattering glass inside the cabin.
  • Owners report the passenger airbag warning light cycling on and off depending on how a passenger sits, with no clear indication of airbag status.
  • One owner reported the engine compartment catching fire while stopped, suspected to be fuel-related.
2012 Ford Taurus complaints: complaints filed per quarter82011 Q42013 Q12014 Q32016 Q22017 Q32019 Q42022 Q12024 Q1
79 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q3 (8).

2012 Ford Taurus recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2012 Ford Taurus →

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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid86204320.5
2011Caution71187420.5
2012Best1479520.5
2013Avoid100584921.5
2014Caution57229522

All Ford Taurus years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Ford Taurus reliable?
Among 15 model years of the Taurus, 2012 ranks 13th worst (meaning it's one of the better years), with a complaint index of 14 and a Best verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Taurus?
Electrical System issues make up 34% of complaints, mostly headlight beam pattern and wiring problems, followed by Structure & Body at 23% and Steering at 22%, per NHTSA data.
Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Taurus, covering the driver airbag module, power steering control module, interior door handles, license plate lamps, and fuel tank sealing. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2012 Taurus compare to other bad years like 2013?
The 2013 Taurus has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict with 584 complaints and 9 recalls, far worse than the 2012 model's index of 14 and 79 complaints.
Did the 2012 Ford Taurus have any fires or crashes reported?
NHTSA data shows 3 fire reports and 1 crash for the 2012 Taurus, with no reported injuries or deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.