2013 Ford Taurus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 10 Taurus years
The 2013 Ford Taurus ranks worst of 10 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100, 584 complaints, and 9 recalls. Steering issues dominate, making up 51% of complaints, followed by fuel system problems at 18%.
- Complaints
- 584
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 20 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 25 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 18.5 city / 27 hwy
Top 2013 Ford Taurus problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering295 (51%)
- Fuel System107 (18%)
- Engine87 (15%)
- Electrical System64 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain44 (8%)
- Other38 (7%)
- Brakes29 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires28 (5%)
- Structure & Body15 (3%)
- Airbags11 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners describe wheels detaching or axles breaking while driving at low speed, causing the vehicle to swerve.
- Some report tie rods separating or control arms coming loose at highway mileage, leading to a temporary loss of control.
- Several owners report engine compartment fires, including flames near the license plate area and under the hood, sometimes with no warning.
- Owners describe the accelerator pedal sticking, causing the vehicle to surge unexpectedly.
- Some report the engine seizing suddenly at highway speed with no prior warning signs.
- Electrical issues include lights failing repeatedly and a burning odor accompanied by vehicle shaking or stalling near stops.
2013 Ford Taurus recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V072000Feb 10, 2020Suspension, Wheels & Tires211,207 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
- NHTSA 16V621000Aug 25, 2016Fuel System77,502 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
Risk: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.
- NHTSA 15V812000Dec 2, 2015Fuel System868 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.
2013 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18.5 MPG
- Highway
- 27 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,025
- 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.
2013 compared with other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Ford Taurus a bad year?
- Among the 10 Ford Taurus model years tracked, 2013 has the highest complaint index (100) and is ranked worst overall, with 584 complaints and 9 recalls.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Ford Taurus?
- Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 51% of complaints (295 of 584), with a median failure mileage of 95,000 miles.
- Does the 2013 Ford Taurus have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2013 Ford Taurus, covering steering, fuel system, transmission, electrical, and structure/body components.
- How does the 2013 Taurus compare to other years?
- The 2013 Taurus has a complaint index of 100, the highest of any year from 2010 to 2019; by comparison, 2017 and 2019 have complaint indexes of 11 and 0.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Ford Taurus?
- The EPA rates the 2013 Ford Taurus at 21.5 mpg combined (18.5 city/27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,025.