Ford TaurusYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 18,171 NHTSA owner complaints across 34 model years, the Ford Taurus years to avoid are 1993, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, and the strongest years are 2009, 2012, 2017 and 2018. The Taurus has 69 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'93 '95 '00 '01 '02 '03Use caution: 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005 Best years'09 '12 '17 '18Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints18,171Top: Suspension Safety recalls691986–2019 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Ford Taurus years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Taurus median. Tap a year for its full report.

1012553335623816496811,5579231,2058257705458741,1951,0371,4261,22337577431814917564 20418779 58523028689 44 52 18

'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2019Not rated–/10018 complaints · 2 recalls 2018Best88/10052 complaints · 4 recalls 2017Best92/10044 complaints · 4 recalls 2016Best83/10089 complaints · 4 recalls 2015Solid62/100286 complaints · 6 recalls 2014Solid66/100230 complaints · 5 recalls 2013Solid44/100585 complaints · 9 recalls 2012Best86/10079 complaints · 5 recalls 2011Best69/100187 complaints · 4 recalls 2010Solid66/100204 complaints · 3 recalls 2009Best84/10064 complaints · 0 recalls 2008Best68/100175 complaints · 1 recall 2007Best75/100149 complaints · 0 recalls 2006Solid58/100318 complaints · 2 recalls 2005Caution37/100774 complaints · 0 recalls 2004Solid51/100375 complaints · 1 recall 2003Avoid27/1001,223 complaints · 3 recalls 2002Avoid24/1001,426 complaints · 3 recalls 2001Avoid28/1001,037 complaints · 9 recalls 2000Avoid25/1001,195 complaints · 8 recalls 1999Caution32/100874 complaints · 5 recalls 1998Caution41/100545 complaints · 2 recalls 1997Caution34/100770 complaints · 3 recalls 1996Caution33/100825 complaints · 6 recalls 1995Avoid25/1001,205 complaints · 5 recalls 1994Caution32/100923 complaints · 4 recalls 1993Avoid22/1001,557 complaints · 6 recalls 1992Caution37/100681 complaints · 5 recalls 1991Caution39/100649 complaints · 4 recalls 1990Solid50/100381 complaints · 6 recalls 1989Caution40/100562 complaints · 5 recalls 1988Solid53/100333 complaints · 5 recalls 1987Solid57/100255 complaints · 8 recalls 1986Best81/100101 complaints · 8 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Ford Taurus problems

All model years combined: 18,171 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

3,079Suspension56 crash/fire/injury

2,881Power train92 crash/fire/injury

2,874Engine and engine cooling191 crash/fire/injury

2,082Vehicle speed control258 crash/fire/injury

1,580Electrical system289 crash/fire/injury

1,370Steering119 crash/fire/injury

1,078Service brakes, hydraulic

1,048Structure

957Visibility

4,97128 other systems965 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Suspension	3079	56
Power train	2881	92
Engine and engine cooling	2874	191
Vehicle speed control	2082	258
Electrical system	1580	289
Steering	1370	119
Service brakes, hydraulic	1078	132
Structure	1048	49
Visibility	957	26
28 other systems	4971	965

69 recalls

Ford Taurus recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Sensing system: camera25V-695 · 2015–2019 · Oct 13, 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles Structure: exterior trim25V-611 · 2016–2019 · Sep 12, 2025 · 101,944 vehicles Axle assembly: axle shaft20V-692 · 2014–2015 · Nov 10, 2020 · 15,587 vehicles Suspension: rear20V-072 · 2013–2018 · Feb 10, 2020 · 211,207 vehicles Electrical system: ignition18V-141 · 2017–2018 · Mar 1, 2018 · 2,100 vehicles Steering17V-530 · 2017 · Aug 28, 2017 · 253 vehicles Gasoline: turbo/supercharger16V-925 · 2016 · Dec 22, 2016 · 1,163 vehicles Delivery: fuel pump16V-621 · 2013–2015 · Aug 25, 2016 · 77,502 vehicles Air bags: frontal16V-247 · 2008–2012 · Apr 26, 2016 · 695 vehicles Fuel system, gasoline15V-812 · 2013 · Dec 2, 2015 · 868 vehicles Tank assembly: mounting15V-605 · 2015 · Sep 28, 2015 · 203 vehicles Parking brake15V-464 · 2015 · Jul 24, 2015 · 7,165 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 69 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

67 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Taurus

Oct 24, 2012
Speed control cable damagePE12033 · 2000–2003 · closed Jun 26, 2013
No recall
Mar 7, 2012
Stuck throttlePE12005 · 2004–2006 · closed Oct 22, 2012
No recall
Oct 14, 2008
TIRE VALVE CRACKINGPE08060 · 2007–2008 · closed Apr 9, 2009
No recall
Aug 28, 2008
Front Suspension Coil Spring FractureEA08018 · 2002–2003 · closed Jun 30, 2011
No recall
Dec 4, 2006
ENGINE STALLING FFVDP06005 · 2003–2005 · closed Dec 28, 2007
No recall
Jan 24, 2006
REAR COIL SPRING FRACTUREEA06002 · 2000–2001 · closed Feb 5, 2007
No recall
Sep 27, 2005
REAR COIL SPRING FRACTUREPE05054 · 2000–2001 · closed Jan 24, 2006
No recall
May 24, 2004
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTUREPE04044 · 1999–2000 · closed Aug 16, 2004
Led to recall 04V-332
Oct 31, 2003
BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLICATIONRP03001 · 2000–2002 · closed Mar 23, 2004
No recall
Oct 23, 2003
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURERQ03008 · 2000–2003 · closed Mar 5, 2004
Led to recall 04V-106