2017 Ford Taurus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
11/100
#9 most-complained of 10 Taurus years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2017 Ford Taurus ranks 9th worst out of 10 model years, with a Complaint Index of 11 and 44 complaints logged, earning a "Best" verdict relative to other Taurus years. It has 4 recalls and its top problem area is the Electrical System.
- Complaints
- 44
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17.5 city / 25.5 hwy
Top 2017 Ford Taurus problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System13 (30%)
- Other9 (20%)
- Structure & Body8 (18%)
- Engine5 (11%)
- Fuel System3 (7%)
- Steering3 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (7%)
- Airbags2 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (5%)
- Brakes1 (2%)
What owners report
- Ignition keys could be removed from the mechanical key ignition without the transmission being in park.
- Instrument panel gauges appeared too dim to read during daytime driving.
- Steering wheel clicked and dashboard lights took about 30 seconds to illuminate after startup.
- Engine unexpectedly dropped from highway speed to around 10 mph while accelerating past 55 mph.
- Keypad door lock detached from the driver's side door and stopped working reliably in rain.
- Steering became stiff and resistant to turning inputs after roughly two hours of continuous highway driving.
2017 Ford Taurus recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V611000Sep 12, 2025Structure & Body101,944 vehicles
Structure:exterior trim
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S91.
- 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 18V141000Mar 1, 2018Electrical System2,100 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems. The keys for these vehicles may be able to be removed from the ignition when transmission is not in the PARK position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: If the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C02.
2017 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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.
2017 compared with other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Ford Taurus reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 Taurus has a Complaint Index of 11, one of the lowest among Taurus model years, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other years of this model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Taurus?
- NHTSA data shows Electrical System complaints lead at 30% of total complaints (13 of 44), followed by Structure & Body issues at 18% (8 complaints) and Engine problems at 11% (5 complaints).
- Does the 2017 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Taurus, covering the B-pillar door trim, rear suspension toe links, ignition shifter assembly, and steering gear heat shield fasteners. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2017 Taurus compare to other Taurus years?
- The 2017 model ranks 9th worst out of 10 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 11 versus 2013's index of 100 and 2010's index of 89, making 2017 one of the better years to consider.
- What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2017 Taurus?
- The median mileage at failure across complaints is 32,000 miles, though Electrical System issues showed a median of 34,900 miles and Steering issues showed a median of 119,000 miles.