repaired · 2017 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
2012 Ford TaurusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 79 owner complaints about the 2012 Ford Taurus, most often about the steering. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-040 the manufacturer reports only 52% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 24, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Ford Taurus has problems
79 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
17Steering1 crash/fire/injury
16Electrical system
16Structure
12Exterior lighting
11Engine1 crash/fire/injury
4Vehicle speed control
4Service brakes
3Air bags
2Seats
118 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 17 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 16 | 0 |
| Structure | 16 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 0 |
| Engine | 11 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 |
| 8 other systems | 11 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2012 Ford Taurus recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Body: door
Risk. If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Exterior lighting
Risk. This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Taurus year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Taurus median. How we score
1012553335623816496811,5579231,2058257705458741,1951,0371,4261,223375774318149175642041877958523028689445218
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Ford Taurus safety ratings
2012 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Taurus owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My steering all of a sudden was stiff and I can barely turn at low speeds. Not safe due to uncontrolled steering. I replaced the pump thinking that would fix it, and it did not. I’m taking it to a dealer after the holiday weekend. No warnings at all.
The steering shut down and I could not steer the vehicle in a Holiday parking lot and I almost hit a pedestrian. My engine and oil light came on. I had to shut the car off and turn it back on and it worked again. This is the second time this has happened to me!
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at a slow speed, the vehicle was extremely difficult to steer. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who found that the power steering pressure was low.…
Own a 2012 Taurus?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.