2013 Ford Taurus Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 64 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Ford Taurus, 11% of its 584 total complaints that year, including 3 fires and 1 injury. A related recall (14V285000) covers license plate lamp assemblies on 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles, but most electrical complaints describe separate issues like fires near the license plate/bumper area and stalling.
- Electrical System complaints
- 64
- 11% of 584
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 3
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 71,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report fires starting near the license plate lamp and rear bumper area, in some cases melting the bumper and trunk lid.
- Some drivers describe the vehicle stalling or failing to accelerate/decelerate at speed, sometimes accompanied by a burning smell.
- Several complaints describe dim or unevenly lit low-beam headlights with a visible horizontal cutoff line reducing visibility.
- One owner reported a rodent chewing through the wiring harness at the O2 sensor, causing electrical failure.
- A steering-related complaint describes a power steering warning and steering wheel locking up while driving, which owners tied to the electrical system.
When 2013 Ford Taurus electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 23, 2012, latest Sep 23, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2013 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
- Does the 2013 Ford Taurus have an electrical recall?
- Yes. Recall 14V285000 covers 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles built between November 24, 2008 and February 28, 2014, and addresses the license plate lamp assembly; Ford replaces it free of charge.
- How many electrical complaints does the 2013 Ford Taurus have?
- NHTSA lists 64 Electrical System complaints for the 2013 Taurus, which is 11% of the 584 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Are there fires linked to the 2013 Ford Taurus electrical system?
- Yes, NHTSA data shows 3 fires and 1 injury among the electrical complaints, several describing fire near the license plate and rear bumper.
- At what mileage do electrical problems appear on the 2013 Taurus?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2013 Taurus is 71,000 miles.