Ford Taurus: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Ford Taurus problems by model year, from 1,762 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2010 (42%, 82 drivetrain complaints), 2011 (39%, 65 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (38%, 83 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 9 Ford Taurus years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2017 (23%), 2012 (23%) and 2016 (27%). 2017 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2011 (39%) to 2012 (23%), down 16 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (187 of 566 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Ford Taurus year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Taurus | high | 42% | 82 | 204 | 1/9 | 3 |
| 2011 Taurus | elevated | 39% | 65 | 187 | 2/9 | 4 |
| 2012 Taurus | no elevated signal | 23% | 15 | 79 | 8/9 | 5 |
| 2013 Taurus | no elevated signal | 33% | 187 | 590 | 5/9 | 9 |
| 2014 Taurus | elevated | 38% | 83 | 235 | 3/9 | 5 |
| 2015 Taurus | elevated | 34% | 92 | 277 | 4/9 | 6 |
| 2016 Taurus | no elevated signal | 27% | 20 | 81 | 7/9 | 4 |
| 2017 Taurus | no elevated signal | 23% | 9 | 44 | 9/9 | 4 |
| 2018 Taurus | no elevated signal | 28% | 13 | 49 | 6/9 | 4 |
| 2019 Taurus | too few to score | – | 3 | 16 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Ford Taurus years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Ford Taurus engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the Ford Taurus involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 19 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2013 | 13V109000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2012 |
| May 2013 | 13V227000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2013 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V393000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2013–2014 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V605000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting | 2015 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V812000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2013 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V621000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2013–2015 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V925000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger | 2016 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V692000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2014–2015 |
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2013 | 13V270000 | latches/locks/linkages | 2013 |
| May 2014 | 14V285000 | exterior lighting | 2010–2014 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V040000 | structure: body: door | 2010–2013 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V340000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2011–2013 |
| Jul 2015 | 15V464000 | parking brake | 2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V247000 | air bags: frontal | 2010–2012 |
| Aug 2017 | 17V530000 | steering | 2017 |
| Mar 2018 | 18V141000 | electrical system: ignition | 2017–2018 |
| Feb 2020 | 20V072000 | suspension: rear | 2013–2018 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V611000 | structure: exterior trim | 2016–2018 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V695000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2015, 2016, 2018 |
What the free pages leave out on the Ford Taurus
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Ford Taurus
What are the worst years for the Ford Taurus?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Ford Taurus years are the 2010 (42% of relevant complaints, high), the 2011 (39% of relevant complaints, elevated) and the 2014 (38% of relevant complaints, elevated). 4 of 9 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Ford Taurus?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Ford Taurus years are the 2017 (23%), the 2012 (23%) and the 2016 (27%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Ford Taurus have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 9 scored years, 566 of 1,682 relevant NHTSA complaints (34%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015.
Is the Ford Taurus reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 9 Ford Taurus years we score have an elevated complaint share and 5 do not. Pooled across those years, 34% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Ford Taurus?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Ford Taurus years we track, out of 19 in total: 16V621000 (Aug 2016, 2013–2015), 16V925000 (Dec 2016, 2016), 20V692000 (Nov 2020, 2014–2015), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.