BestCarRank
Ford

2010 Ford TAURUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Ford TAURUS has 274 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 251. The most common issue is engine problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: tl*the contact owns a 2010 ford taurus which was purchased on january 15, 2010. while driving at speeds of 55 mph, the collision warning symbol illuminated on the instrument panel and within one half mile, the vehicle stalled. on a separate occasion, while utilizing the cruise control mechanism at 6. There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 23 crash reports 31 injuries

274

Total Complaints

3

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

47 complaints
17%
  • • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 15, 2010. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE COLLISION WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WITHIN ONE HALF MILE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM AT 6
  • • I BOUGHT THIS CAR 2010 FORD TAURUS SEL AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO SO WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT. THEN I NOTICED RED FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE SEAL WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
  • • THE 2010 FORD TAURUS LOSES POWER AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT SPEEDS WITHIN AND EXCESS OF 65 MPH. WHEN THE DEFECT OCCURS, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, THE THROTTLE IS DEACTIVATED, THE CENTER STACK CONSOLE IS DEACTIVATED AND THE MESSAGE CENTER IN THE VEHICLE'S CLUSTER TELLS THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 15, 2010. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE COLLISION WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WITHIN ONE HALF MILE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM AT 6”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2010 Ford TAURUS

Based on 231 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 45K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
98
30-60K
43
60-100K
41
100-150K
42
150-200K
7
200K+
0

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 51K mi · 40 reports
0-30K
14
30-60K
8
60-100K
8
100-150K
8
150-200K
2
200K+
0

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 13K mi · 34 reports
0-30K
22
30-60K
4
60-100K
2
100-150K
4
150-200K
2
200K+
0

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 30 reports
0-30K
17
30-60K
7
60-100K
5
100-150K
1
150-200K
0
200K+
0

SPEED CONTROL

In line with typicalmedian 29K mi · 21 reports
0-30K
11
30-60K
6
60-100K
2
100-150K
2
150-200K
0
200K+
0

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 41K mi · 18 reports
0-30K
8
30-60K
3
60-100K
5
100-150K
2
150-200K
0
200K+
0

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 38K mi · 16 reports
0-30K
7
30-60K
5
60-100K
1
100-150K
3
150-200K
0
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (3)

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR28/01/2015

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.

Risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2010 Ford TAURUS

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,401
Per month
$200
Per mile
20.0¢
MPG
20
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$2,824/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,920/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2010 Ford TAURUS

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,366
Full coverage / month
$114
Liability only / year
$611
vs US avg
-18%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating1.00x
× vehicle age0.85x
= Full coverage estimate$1366

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford TAURUS Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
30K mi
Engine coolant
100K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
20K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
5 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2010 TAURUS, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
STEERING(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 274 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ENGINE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 15, 2010. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE COLLISION WARNING SYMBOL ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WITHIN ONE HALF MILE, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE UTILIZING THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM AT 6

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    STEERING: 2010 FORD TAURUS SHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN FIRST GEAR AFTER A STOP. ONE TO TWO SECOND HESITATION AND THEN CLUNKS INTO GEAR AND I AM ABLE TO TAKE OFF. THIS HAPPENS APPROXIMATELY TWICE A MONTH. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE CAR ALSO HAS AN ISSUE WITH BRE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    TRANSMISSION: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A "PUSH START" SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF WITH THE GEAR SHIFT PLACED IN THE "DRIVE" POSITION AND SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ROLLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS O

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    BRAKES: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE BRAKES, ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE NOISE HAS BECOME LO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Ford TAURUS — Year Comparison

How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2019
15Excellent Reliability
2018
61Above Average
2017
52Above Average
2016
97Above Average
2015
329Avoid This Year
2014
295Below Average
2013
749Avoid This Year
2012
100Average
2011
251Average
2010
274Below Average
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
274
Recalls
3
Fire reports
3
Crash reports
23
Injury reports
31
Segment avg
251

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2010 Ford TAURUS

Compare With

2010 Ford CROWN VICTORIA14 complaints2010 Ford E-15014 complaints2010 Ford E-25012 complaints2010 Ford E-35021 complaints