NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
47 reportsClear category filter32,000 miles · Jun 21, 2015
Electrical SystemSeatsInjury
MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED AND BURNED THE BACKS OF HER LEGS. SEVERAL DAYS LATER MY FATHER TURNED IT ON, IT BURNED THROUGH SEVERAL LAYERS OF HIS WINTER CLOTHES AND LEFT A BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER SEAT. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE, AND…
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MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES THE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED AND BURNED THE BACKS OF HER LEGS. SEVERAL DAYS LATER MY FATHER TURNED IT ON, IT BURNED THROUGH SEVERAL LAYERS OF HIS WINTER CLOTHES AND LEFT A BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER SEAT. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE, AND HAS CAUSED BOTH PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGE TO THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10726422
80,000 miles · May 7, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructureCrashInjury
SOME OF THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS WELL A CONSTANT BURNING SMELL. THE FRAME WAS BENT AS WELL!!! THERE ARE LIGHT THAT CONSTANTLY APPEAR FOR WORK TO BE DONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10715130
55,075 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
HELLO GOOD MORNING I HAVE A 2011 FORD TAURUS SEL AND WHILE GOING UP A HILL MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE MY KEYS WERE STILL IN THE IGNITION. MY STEERING LOCKED, CHECK ENGINE AND LOW OIL LIGHTS WENT ON. THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS APPLY BRAKES TO THE CAR AND PLACE IT IN PARK. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING LO…
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HELLO GOOD MORNING I HAVE A 2011 FORD TAURUS SEL AND WHILE GOING UP A HILL MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE MY KEYS WERE STILL IN THE IGNITION. MY STEERING LOCKED, CHECK ENGINE AND LOW OIL LIGHTS WENT ON. THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS APPLY BRAKES TO THE CAR AND PLACE IT IN PARK. I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF ANYTHING LOOKED OUT OF PLACE. I CHECKED MY ENGINE OIL LEVELS AND THAT SEEMED FINE. I CLOSED THE HOOD AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR LOW OIL? I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM SINCE BUT IT SEEMED LIKE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I SEE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10691713
26,570 miles · Feb 6, 2015
Electrical System
DEAR SIR MY 2011 FORD TAURUS HAS SHUT OFF--------(3 TIMES)--------NOW SINCE 2012 WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT WITH MY REMOTE KEY IN MY CAR. I DID NOT MAKE A RECORD ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TWO SO AM REPORTING ON THE LATEST. I HAVE A PUSH BUTTON IGNITION AND REMOTE KEYS. IT RANDOMLY DOES NOT DETECT THE KEYS AS WELL AND THEN IT TA…
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DEAR SIR MY 2011 FORD TAURUS HAS SHUT OFF--------(3 TIMES)--------NOW SINCE 2012 WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT WITH MY REMOTE KEY IN MY CAR. I DID NOT MAKE A RECORD ABOUT IT FOR THE FIRST TWO SO AM REPORTING ON THE LATEST. I HAVE A PUSH BUTTON IGNITION AND REMOTE KEYS. IT RANDOMLY DOES NOT DETECT THE KEYS AS WELL AND THEN IT TAKES SOME PUSHING ALL THE BUTTONS ON THE REMOTE TO RECOGNIZE I HAVE THE KEY THERE. YESTERDAY THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERIES IN THE REMOTE AND RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THEM ANNUALLY. THEY COULD NOT OFFER ME AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEYS WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND IT SHUTS OFF. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT THING WAITING TO HAPPEN. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT AS WELL AND SEARCHED THE HOME OFFICE FOR ANY DEFECT OR RECALL AND HAVE NONE. IS THIS A REPORTED INCIDENT AND IS THERE ANYTHING ON IT? I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IF IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT I WANT IT ON THE RECORD AS WELL. I WENT TO FORD DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND GET IT REMEDIED. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10681752
52,801 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AND NO NOTHING. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS RIGHT BACK UP NO PROBLEMS BUT I AM AFRAID OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.THE FIRST FEW TIMES I TO…
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THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AND NO NOTHING. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS RIGHT BACK UP NO PROBLEMS BUT I AM AFRAID OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.THE FIRST FEW TIMES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS LAST TIME THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR TO DRIVE WHILE THEY TAKE A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10676562
30,000 miles · Oct 31, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE NOTHING HAPPENED AND I NOTICED ALL DASH LIGHTS WERE ON. I COASTED TO SHOULDER, SHIFTED TO PARK AND PUSHED IGNITION BUTTON AND IT RESTARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 OTHER TIMES AND LUCKILY THERE WAS A SHOULDER AVAILABLE, BUT THE HOLMAN FORD DEALERSHIP, (WHO IS THE ONLY ONE…
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WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE NOTHING HAPPENED AND I NOTICED ALL DASH LIGHTS WERE ON. I COASTED TO SHOULDER, SHIFTED TO PARK AND PUSHED IGNITION BUTTON AND IT RESTARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 OTHER TIMES AND LUCKILY THERE WAS A SHOULDER AVAILABLE, BUT THE HOLMAN FORD DEALERSHIP, (WHO IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EVER SERVICED THE CAR), SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I NOTICED GM HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM AND RECALLED AUTOS DUE TO DEATH!! I HAVE BEEN LUCKY BUT NOW FEAR THIS CAR, AFTER 5 TIMES. IT IS NOT A STALL. IT JUST SHUTS OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10651622
8,900 miles · Oct 11, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering
CLEARWATER FLORIDA 2013 VEHICLE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH.I WATCHED AS THE KEY TO THE VEHICLE TURNED INTO THE OFF POSITION. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT STEER THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. OCTOBER 8, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM WHILE IN BOSTON MASS THE VEHICLES E…
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CLEARWATER FLORIDA 2013 VEHICLE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH.I WATCHED AS THE KEY TO THE VEHICLE TURNED INTO THE OFF POSITION. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT STEER THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. OCTOBER 8, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM WHILE IN BOSTON MASS THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN. TIRES ARE CRACKED AND DRY AT ONLY 34,000 MILES. I'M TRAVELING BACK TO FLORIDA SOON WITH MY DOG FROM BOSTON AND I'M AFRAID THIS CAR WON'T MAKE IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10643992
46,700 miles · Dec 2, 2013
Electrical SystemSeatsInjury
I OWN A 2011 FORD TAURUS WITH HEATED LEATHER SEATS. THE HEATING MECHANISM BEGAN TO GET HOTTER IN SPOTS ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT ON MY DRIVE INTO WORK. I BEGIN TO FEEL A BURNING SENSATION ON MY SKIN AS WELL AS A BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE HEATING VENTS, AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND STEPPING OU…
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I OWN A 2011 FORD TAURUS WITH HEATED LEATHER SEATS. THE HEATING MECHANISM BEGAN TO GET HOTTER IN SPOTS ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT ON MY DRIVE INTO WORK. I BEGIN TO FEEL A BURNING SENSATION ON MY SKIN AS WELL AS A BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE HEATING VENTS, AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND STEPPING OUT I REALIZED IT WAS NOT. WHEN I TOOK OFF MY COAT, I REALIZED THAT THE SEAT HAD BURNED A HOLE IN MY JACKET, MY SWEATER AND I HAD A BURN ON MY SKIN. LOOKING AT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT YOU CAN SEE BURN MARKS AS WELL AS A HOLE WHERE THE HEATING MECHANISM BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10554400
20,000 miles · Nov 4, 2013
Air BagsElectrical System
DASH LIGHTS GO DIM FOR ABOUT 15 MIN THEN GO BRIGHT AGAIN DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG
NHTSA ODI #10550769
500 miles · May 17, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION EVEN IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION EVEN IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 6/7/12 *CN
NHTSA ODI #10458861
Official recalls
4Apr 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.
Jun 2, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
Jan 28, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.
May 29, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗