IllustrationDRIVING NORMALLY , WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. LUCKILY I WAS ON A CITY STREET GOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND I WAS ABLE TO MANAGE THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
2012 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Taurus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 318.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
160–25K
1025–50K
450–75K
875–100K
9100–150K
4150K+
51 reports with mileage · 27 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
Steering complaints
16 reportsI AM UNABLE TO TURN BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THERE'S A RECALL 1 5V 340000. SET FORD WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY AGREED SET THE RECALL IS ON EDMUNDS FOR THE 2011 THROUGH 2013 TAURUS. CALLED THREE FORD DEALERS WHO SAY IT'S NOT ATTACHED TO MY VIN CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BACK THEY SAID IT'S SO BRO…
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I AM UNABLE TO TURN BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THERE'S A RECALL 1 5V 340000. SET FORD WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY AGREED SET THE RECALL IS ON EDMUNDS FOR THE 2011 THROUGH 2013 TAURUS. CALLED THREE FORD DEALERS WHO SAY IT'S NOT ATTACHED TO MY VIN CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BACK THEY SAID IT'S SO BROAD BECAUSE OF ALL THE TAURUS IS IT AFFECTED THAT GIVE HIM THE RECALL NUMBER THEY WOULD FIX IT STILL CANNOT GET THEM TO FIX IT NOW SOMEBODY IS HIT MY CAR CUZ I COULD NOT TURN IN MY REAR DOOR HAS A DENT VERY UNSAFE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN BORTEL FORD (71 MARSH RD. EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VAN BORTEL FORD (71 MARSH RD. EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000(STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED AND IT MAKES A NOISE WHEN IT DOES TURN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON I279 AROUND 6:15AM ON JULY1, 2014. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING THERE WAS A POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. AT THAT POINT I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT COURSE AND FORTUNATELY I DIDN'…
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I WAS DRIVING ON I279 AROUND 6:15AM ON JULY1, 2014. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING THERE WAS A POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. AT THAT POINT I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT COURSE AND FORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE VERY FAR TO GO UNTIL I COULD PULL OVER AND STOP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE SCREEN ALSO. *TR
Official recalls
516V247000 · Air Bags:frontal
Apr 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.
15V340000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
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.
15V040000 · Structure:body:door
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.
14V285000 · Exterior Lighting
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.
13V109000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Mar 27, 2013
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks may not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks may also leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.