IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. THE LIGHT WOULD GO ON WHEN PRESSED FOR A SECOND THEN SHUT OFF. GOT AROUND TO GETTING IT FIXED. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE HEATING ELEMENT THAT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. HAD IT REPLACED, AND FOUND OUT THE OLD ONE WAS BURNED OUT! SCARY!!
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
What owners actually said
78 reportsLOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED AND IT MAKES A NOISE WHEN IT DOES TURN.
HEATED SEAT ELEMENT SHORTED, SMOKED, SMOTHERED FIRE IN SEAT. DID NOT COME THROUGH LEATHER SEAT - SMOTHERED WITHIN SEAT. NO INJURIES. WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN HEATED SEAT STOPPED WORKING. PHOTO OF HEATING ELEMENT AND BAR CODE OF SAME IS ATTACHED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN DURING NIGHT TIME AND THAT THE LOW BEAMS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN, ADJUSTED THE BRIGHTNESS ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN DURING NIGHT TIME AND THAT THE LOW BEAMS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN, ADJUSTED THE BRIGHTNESS ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE FCIM (FRONT CONTROL INTERFACE MODULE) MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROST TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED AND BLEW HOT AIR AT 90 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE FCIM (FRONT CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE FCIM (FRONT CONTROL INTERFACE MODULE) MALFUNCTIONED WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROST TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED AND BLEW HOT AIR AT 90 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE FCIM (FRONT CONTROL INTERFACE MODULE) REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/31/17*LJ *TR
TOOK OUR 2012 FORD TAURUS IN FOR SERVICE & THEY ASK IF WE WOULD LIKE THEM 2 GO AHEAD & DO OUR STATE INSPECTION SO WE SAID THAT'S FINE! WE THEY LATER CAME IUT & SAID IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF AIR BAG & TAG LIGHT! WHEN WE PULLED IN TO THAT DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAG LIGHT WASN'T ON! WE TOLD THEM THIS!THE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE …
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TOOK OUR 2012 FORD TAURUS IN FOR SERVICE & THEY ASK IF WE WOULD LIKE THEM 2 GO AHEAD & DO OUR STATE INSPECTION SO WE SAID THAT'S FINE! WE THEY LATER CAME IUT & SAID IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF AIR BAG & TAG LIGHT! WHEN WE PULLED IN TO THAT DEALERSHIP THE AIRBAG LIGHT WASN'T ON! WE TOLD THEM THIS!THE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO RUN A TEST 4 ANOTHER $100 OR MORE! WE LOOKED UP ONLINE & FOUND WHERE THERE WAS A RECALLS BACK IN APRIL 2016 FOR AIRBAGS ON THIS MODEL!THEY SAID NOT ON THERE RECORDS IN THEIR COMPUTER! WE ASK 4 FORD PHONE # & ON 09/16/2016 WE CALLED FORD & NO HELP THERE EITHER! I'M CONCERNED! FOR CAR HASN'T BEEN WRECKER & WE FEAR FOR OUR SAFETY AS WELL AS OUR FAMILIES SAFETY RIDING IN THIS CAR!PLEASE HELP CHECK CHECK 4 RECALLS & COMPLAINTS & GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MATTER! THANK U SO MUCH!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAIT TEN MINUTES, AND RESUME DRIVING. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAIT TEN MINUTES, AND RESUME DRIVING. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
HYDRAULIC LIFT SUPPORTS SUDDENLY FAILED WHEN LIFTING THE TRUNK LID ONE DAY IN JULY 2016. CAR HAS 116,000 MILES, PURCHASED NEW. TOOK TO ORIGINAL DEALER WHO SAID HE WOULD INSTALL IF I COULD FIND SOME. PARTS ARE SOLD OUT AT EVERY AUTO PARTS STORE I CAN FIND, AND ALSO SOLD OUT AT THE VENDORS FOR THE AUTO PARTS STORES. IF THERE ARE …
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HYDRAULIC LIFT SUPPORTS SUDDENLY FAILED WHEN LIFTING THE TRUNK LID ONE DAY IN JULY 2016. CAR HAS 116,000 MILES, PURCHASED NEW. TOOK TO ORIGINAL DEALER WHO SAID HE WOULD INSTALL IF I COULD FIND SOME. PARTS ARE SOLD OUT AT EVERY AUTO PARTS STORE I CAN FIND, AND ALSO SOLD OUT AT THE VENDORS FOR THE AUTO PARTS STORES. IF THERE ARE NONE TO BE FOUND, IS THIS A PROBLEM?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, PLACED IN PARK, AND RESTARTED ON THE INITIAL ATTEMPT. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING,…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, PLACED IN PARK, AND RESTARTED ON THE INITIAL ATTEMPT. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. ON MAY 16, 2016 AFTER DRIVING A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING. IT STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE CONSUMER HAD NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. HOWEVER, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HORN WORKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 06/08/16.*JB STATUS UPDATE 07/06/16.*JB UPDATED 08/04/16.*JB
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.