CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2016 Ford Taurus

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

Owners have filed 81 safety complaints about the 2016 Ford Taurus with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is back-over prevention, named in 26 complaints, 32% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 56,483 miles, the median across the 46 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2016 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

81 complaints on file

81

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

3

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints more than doubled year on year: 26 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 8 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
BACK OVER PREVENTION 26 · 32%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14 · 17%
ENGINE 12 · 15%
STEERING 9 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 · 9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 · 7%
STRUCTURE 6 · 7%
SUSPENSION 5 · 6%
AIR BAGS 4 · 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 5%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 4%
SEAT BELTS 3 · 4%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 81.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 21.

24 18 12 6
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2016 Ford TAURUS, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR AWD 4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 11.3% 11.3%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V695000 · October 13, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
The risk
A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,448,655 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM

25V611000 · September 12, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
The risk
Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S91.

Ford Motor Company · up to 101,944 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:REAR

20V072000 · February 10, 2020

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
The risk
A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.

Ford Motor Company · up to 211,207 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

16V925000 · December 22, 2016

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
The risk
An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,163 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

ENGINE

1 injured · crash · towed · 29,000 miles

I WAS APPROACHING A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES THE CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PROCEEDED ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND AS I WAS TURNING INTO A STRIP MALL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AGAIN. THIS TIME OUT OF CONTROL. I WHEN THROUGH THE TURN AND HIT A LARGE CURB AND THEN RAN INTO THE GUARD RAIL. I RIPPED THE GUARD RAIL OFF AND STILL PROCEEDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 150 FEET ON THE GRASS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.

NHTSA complaint 11282783. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

I turned left after stopping at a four-way stop sign intersection. I crashed into a parked car waiting its turn but I did not see until I was upon it and it was too late to swerve away. My car's air bags inflated. My wrist was broken. My car was declared totaled by my insurer although I could not have been speeding since I had just stopped at the four-way stop sign, waited my turn, and turned my car left onto a street that runs slightly downhill. I am still trying to comprehend how my wrist on my right hand was broken since both of my hands were on the steering wheel at the point of impact but a trip to the emergency room proved my suddenly limp and suddenly pain-filled arm meant I had

NHTSA complaint 11476768, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash · towed

Steering didn't work correctly which led to brakes not doing what I needed which led to slamming into a cement edge at a freeway exit or entrance. Seat belts locked up. Air bags did not deploy. Front passenger tire flat. Car towed next day. Ford dealership did NOTHING even when it was discovered Ford sold us a car with a FLAT spare tire (donut). Dealership said no recalls, but coverup or fixed but not correctly previously? Car purchased used. Ford dealership said to go to body shop. Body shop couldn't do anything unless we paid $6,000.00 to get the seat belts replaced. That's 1/3 the price financed for the car!!!! Safety put at risk: flat spare tire & seat belts locked up. The dealership

NHTSA complaint 11651282, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

fire · 18,260 miles

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A STRONG SMELL OF PROPANE/NATURAL GAS. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT SHE COULDN'T GET ME IN UNTIL TUESDAY. I BUCKLED MY 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR SEAT AND LEFT THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE WRITE STATED THAT THERE WAS A TSB OUT ON THE CAR AND IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE LEAK IN THE PTU. BUT SHOULD BE THAT BIG OF DEAL. WE STARTED TO TRAVEL HOME THE CAR STALLED, ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR, AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP, I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH MY SISTER WHO WAS TRAVELING BEHIND US WHO TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND TO PULL OVER. I STOPPED

NHTSA complaint 10990946, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The rear-view camera on my 2016 Ford Taurus Limited intermittently malfunctions when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The displayed image flickers and sometimes appears upside down/inverted. The vehicle also sometimes produces inappropriate warning beeps while reversing. There were no warning lamps or messages before the problem began. The malfunction makes the rear-view image unreliable and creates a safety risk while backing because the displayed image may not accurately represent what is behind the vehicle. I cannot safely rely on the camera to identify pedestrians, vehicles, or other obstacles. The problem has occurred repeatedly but has not yet been diagnosed or confirmed by a Ford

NHTSA complaint 11764987, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

160,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed an inverted, distorted, or blank image. The message "Rear-view Camera Unavailable" was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA complaint 11759637. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I own a 2016 Ford Taurus Limited that is covered under Ford Safety Recall 25SA9 / NHTSA Recall 25V-695 for the rearview camera. I received the recall notification in October 2025 stating that a remedy was not yet available and that I would receive another notification once parts became available. Nearly 10 months later, I contacted my local Ford dealership to schedule the recall repair. I was informed that they still do not have the required parts and that no nearby Ford dealerships have them available. I also contacted Ford’s customer service line, but the automated system simply states there are no updates available for this recall. My vehicle is experiencing the exact safety defect

NHTSA complaint 11755923, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

156,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V611000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger’s side B-Pillar trim became loosened. The failure progressed and, upon further inspection, the passenger’s side B-Pillar trim detached, and the driver’s side B-Pillar trim became loosened. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

NHTSA complaint 11753126. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My backup camera rarely works and sometimes is upside down. It cuts in and out while backing up. There is a recall from Oct 2025 but still no fix.

NHTSA complaint 11750840. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V611000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled with the understanding that parts had been ordered; however, while contacting the dealer a second time, it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issues. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint 11750232. 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 16 2 —
2018 49 4 —
2017 44 4 —
2015 276 6 —
2014 229 5 —
2013 584 9 —
2012 79 5 —
2011 187 4 1
2010 204 3 2

Other 2016 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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