2012 Ford Taurus Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 27 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 Ford Taurus, 34% of its 79 total complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 25,500. A related recall (14V285000) covers license plate lamp assemblies but not the headlight or full electrical shutdown issues owners describe.
- Electrical System complaints
- 27
- 34% of 79
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 25,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners describe a sharp horizontal cutoff line in the low-beam headlight pattern that divides the windshield view and makes it hard to see pedestrians or objects on the road shoulder at night.
- Some drivers report headlights that are too dim overall, with uneven or 'finger shadow' patches across the light field, especially in rain.
- A few complaints describe a sudden, total electrical shutdown while driving, with the instrument panel going dark, wipers stopping, and the engine cutting off.
- One owner reported the radio, HVAC controls, and window defrosters all failing at once, traced to a circuit board.
- Another complaint describes electrical systems failing at low speed, forcing the vehicle to coast to the roadside, followed by intermittent brake failure on restart.
When 2012 Ford Taurus electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 25, 2011, latest Sep 24, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Ford Taurus
- NHTSA 14V285000May 29, 2014Electrical System183,425 vehicles
Exterior lighting
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, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. When used in areas that use road salt, the license plate lamp assembly may experience an electro-chemical reaction and corrosion as a result of water intrusion.
Risk: This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08. Note: Under program 14R01, Ford will notify owners in non-corrosion states, and, at the customer's request, dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly.
Electrical System complaints by Taurus model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical complaints does the 2012 Ford Taurus have?
- NHTSA lists 27 Electrical System complaints for the 2012 Taurus, which is 34% of the 79 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Ford Taurus electrical system?
- Yes, recall 14V285000 covers 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles for license plate lamp assembly replacement, but it does not address the headlight cutoff or full electrical shutdown complaints owners reported.
- At what mileage do electrical problems show up on the 2012 Taurus?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical complaints on the 2012 Taurus is 25,500 miles, though some owners reported issues at much lower or higher mileage.
- Are the 2012 Taurus electrical problems linked to crashes or fires?
- NHTSA records zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries among the 27 electrical complaints for the 2012 Taurus.
- How does the 2012 Taurus compare to other years for electrical complaints?
- The 2012 Taurus's 34% share of complaints tied to electrical issues is the highest among model years 2010-2019 listed, ahead of 2011's 33% and 2017's 30%.