2018 Ford Taurus Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2018 Ford Taurus has a complaint index of 21, the lowest of any year among the worst, ranking 12th of 15 years and earning a Best verdict relative to other Taurus years. It has 49 complaints, 4 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 21/100
- #12 of 15 Taurus years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 49
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 6
- Top issue
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
Top 2018 Ford Taurus problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (24%)
- Structure & Body11 (22%)
- Other9 (18%)
- Electrical System8 (16%)
- Engine7 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (14%)
- Brakes2 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (4%)
- Fuel System1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Rear suspension toe links have fractured, causing loss of control during braking or normal driving.
- B-pillar door trim has detached at freeway speeds, leaving sharp exposed edges.
- Headlights have intermittently failed to illuminate the roadway at various speeds, with dealers unable to duplicate the fault.
- The engine has stumbled on light acceleration as if starved for fuel, with no fault codes detected.
- One vehicle lost transmission, brake, steering, and engine function simultaneously while driving up a ramp, leading to a crash.
2018 Ford Taurus recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V695000Oct 13, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,448,655 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
- 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.
2018 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 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.
2018 compared with other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Ford Taurus reliable?
- Compared with other Taurus model years, 2018 ranks well. It has a complaint index of 21 and ranks 12th worst out of 15 years tracked, with a Best verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Taurus?
- NHTSA complaints show Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues account for 24% of complaints, followed by Structure & Body at 22% and Electrical System at 16%. Median mileage at failure for the top category is 60,000 miles.
- Does the 2018 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Taurus covering the rearview camera, B-pillar trim, rear suspension toe links, and an ignition key/shifter issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2018 Taurus compare to other years like 2013 or 2017?
- The 2013 Taurus has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, the worst in the lineup, while 2017 and 2019 have complaint indexes of 7 and 0 with Best verdicts. The 2018 model sits between these with an index of 21.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Ford Taurus?
- EPA rates the 2018 Taurus at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400.