NHTSA (USA)High Risk
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
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.
The 2011 to 2012 Ford Taurus received an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. In frontal crash testing, the Taurus earned 4 stars. Side crash protection was rated at 5 stars, while the side pole test also received 5 stars. Rollover resistance was rated 4 stars. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this rating covers the entire 2011 to 2012 range.
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 involving the fuel tank, which can leak even without a collision and may catch fire if fuel contacts an ignition source.
The exterior lighting system carries a separate fire risk on vehicles registered in certain northern and midwestern states: road salt and moisture can corrode the rear lamp wiring until it short-circuits and ignites. On the structural side, the interior door handle return spring can slip out of position and leave the handle stuck in an extended position rather than snapping back flush. When that happens, a side-impact collision can unlatch the door, leaving an occupant without a closed door during the crash. The driver's frontal airbag can inflate incorrectly during the second stage of deployment in a high-speed crash, meaning the bag may not cushion the driver as intended at the moment it is needed most. Rounding out the list, the electric power steering system can lose its assist without warning, which forces the driver to apply considerably more physical effort to turn the wheel, particularly at parking lot or city driving speeds where the assist is doing the most work.
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
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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 →
Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's front air bag module as needed at no cost.
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.
