This page covers 6 recalls, 78 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Ford Taurus.
20–22 mpg combined
10.7–11.8 L/100km
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering and structural issues dominate the complaint picture for the 2012 Ford Taurus. On the steering side, owners frequently report sudden loss of power assist, most often at low speeds or in parking lots, leaving the wheel extremely stiff and difficult to turn. The problem tends to occur without warning lights beforehand, and several owners say it happened more than once even after repairs. A smaller but notable group describes intermittent electrical behavior, warning lights cycling on and off, gauges dropping out, or the vehicle losing power to multiple systems at once before needing a restart to recover. Structural complaints round out the top three reported categories, though the specific symptoms described vary. On exterior lighting, owners report headlight and other lamp failures across multiple units. The steering loss at low speed, recurring after attempted fixes, is the most consistently described pattern in this complaint set.
78
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
By System
The 2012 Ford Taurus has 6 recalls, the most serious being two separate fire risks: a fuel tank with a weakly sealed seam that can leak fuel even without a collision, and exterior lighting wiring that can corrode and short-circuit in high-rust states.
On the occupant safety side, the driver's frontal airbag can inflate improperly during the second stage of deployment in a high-speed crash, which raises the risk of injury rather than reducing it. The interior door handle return spring can unseat and leave the handle partially extended, which may cause the door to unlatch in a side impact. The electric power steering system can lose its assist unexpectedly, requiring significantly more physical effort to steer, particularly at low speeds where the effect is most pronounced. Note that the power steering recall only applies to vehicles equipped with the 3.5L turbocharged engine.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag may inflate too forcefully during the second stage of deployment in a high-speed crash, potentially causing injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's front air bag module as needed at no cost.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric power steering assist system may shut down due to a steering motor sensor fault, potentially eliminating power steering.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the steering control module for fault codes. If found, the steering gear is replaced. If none are found, the steering control module software is updated.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The spring inside the interior door handle may come loose, causing the handle to not snap back to its resting position after you pull it.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect all four door handles and repair or replace them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water enters the license plate lamp assembly, causing corrosion and electrical failure in road-salt areas.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank seam may not be properly sealed, reducing tank strength in a crash and potentially causing leaks.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your fuel tank and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some fuel tanks were made with defects that reduce their strength during impact and may leak fuel even without a crash. A fuel leak near an ignition source could cause a fire.
What the fix does
Your dealer will inspect the fuel tank and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
