Worst 2012 Ford Taurus Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Body Structure
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Ford Taurus.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 16 | 1 | — | 88,373 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 15 | — | — | 57,807 mi | |
| Body Structure | 13 | — | — | 77,333 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 11 | — | 1 | 70,127 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 11 | — | — | 40,460 mi | |
| Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Ford Taurus. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2012 Ford Taurus
5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~775,669 vehicles.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Ford Taurus Years
2012 Ford Taurus — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Ford Taurus reliable?
What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Taurus?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Ford Taurus?
How safe is the 2012 Ford Taurus?
Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Ford Taurus?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Taurus reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Ford Taurus
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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