CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2012 Ford Taurus

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

78

Complaints

1

Crashes

3

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Ford Taurus have filed 78 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2011 and April 2025. The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 16 of them (21%). The typical failure was reported at 41,493 miles, the median across the 51 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (5)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V247000 · April 26, 2016

The defect
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."
The risk
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 695 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

15V340000 · June 2, 2015

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 393,623 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

15V040000 · January 28, 2015

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 194,889 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

14V285000 · May 29, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 183,425 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

13V109000 · March 27, 2013

The defect
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.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 3,037 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 78.

STEERING 16 21%
STRUCTURE 16 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 19%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12 15%
ENGINE 11 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 5%
AIR BAGS 3 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 3%
POWER TRAIN 2 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 19.

2011 2015 2025
2011 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEATS

fire · 90,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 10954263. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

fire

DRIVER'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!!

NHTSA complaint 10993926. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · 30,000 miles

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE BURNING THE TOP OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HOOD. IT HAPPENED SO FAST I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT WAS FUEL RELATED.

NHTSA complaint 11300675. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

crash · 100,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11165897. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
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.

NHTSA complaint 11655569. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN

NHTSA complaint 11639005. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
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!

NHTSA complaint 11569997. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

93,000 miles

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. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.

NHTSA complaint 11528532. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

200,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several different warning lights were intermittently flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where she was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, and the contact was provided the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA complaint 11514144. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driving on the highway, when the car lights, radio, air conditioner, steering wheel, speed all goes out. The car wouldn’t crank back up and theft system keep coming on.

NHTSA complaint 11508801. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Taurus

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 12 2
2018 46 4
2017 44 4
2016 79 4
2015 265 6
2014 228 5
2013 581 9
2011 187 4 1
2010 204 3 2

Other 2012 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst