2012 Ford TAURUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Ford TAURUS has 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: after about 6,000 miles we began to notice that the right hand side blis sensor and signal light indicating a vehicle is in the blind spot when no vehicle or other object are within the area. often the light will remain on for several minutes. additionally, occasionally started to give false warn. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 1 crash report

100

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

16 complaints

16%

• AFTER ABOUT 6,000 MILES WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE BLIS SENSOR AND SIGNAL LIGHT INDICATING A VEHICLE IS IN THE BLIND SPOT WHEN NO VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT ARE WITHIN THE AREA. OFTEN THE LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. ADDITIONALLY, OCCASIONALLY STARTED TO GIVE FALSE WARN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HYDRAULICS FAILED ON THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR TRUNK ALMOST FELL DOWN ON THE CONTACT WHILE RETRIEVING ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER RECALL ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER ABOUT 6,000 MILES WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE BLIS SENSOR AND SIGNAL LIGHT INDICATING A VEHICLE IS IN THE BLIND SPOT WHEN NO VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT ARE WITHIN THE AREA. OFTEN THE LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. ADDITIONALLY, OCCASIONALLY STARTED TO GIVE FALSE WARN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

16 complaints

16%

• I WAS DRIVING ON I279 AROUND 6:15AM ON JULY1, 2014. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING THERE WAS A POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. AT THAT POINT I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ROTATION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE
• LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOW SPEED AND IT MAKES A NOISE WHEN IT DOES TURN.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING ON I279 AROUND 6:15AM ON JULY1, 2014. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING THERE WAS A POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. AT THAT POINT I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

15 complaints

15%

• 03/24/2012. 1ST FAILURE MILEAGE APPROX.1,450: DRIVING ON I-95S AT APPROX. 70 MPH, RAINING CONDITION, WIPERS IN USE, HEADLIGHTS ON. SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT DARK, WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR FROM MIDDLE LANE TO ROAD SIDE AND BRAK
• THE KEYLESS START/STOP BUTTON IS OBSCURED BY THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN BE INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED WHILE KEEPING ATTENTION TO ROAD AND TRAFFIC.THE BUTTON IN OUR CAR IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND DOES NOT REQUIRE A DELIBERATE PUSH TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. WHILE DRIVING I WAS TRYING TO ADJUST THE AIR DISCHA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO BECAME INOPERABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEATER SETTING COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED ON THE DRIVER' SIDE AND THERE WAS NO AIR BLOWING THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE VENTS. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND WINDOW DEFROSTERS HAD ALSO FAILED. THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“03/24/2012. 1ST FAILURE MILEAGE APPROX.1,450: DRIVING ON I-95S AT APPROX. 70 MPH, RAINING CONDITION, WIPERS IN USE, HEADLIGHTS ON. SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT DARK, WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR FROM MIDDLE LANE TO ROAD SIDE AND BRAK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

13 complaints

13%

• 03/24/2012. 1ST FAILURE MILEAGE APPROX.1,450: DRIVING ON I-95S AT APPROX. 70 MPH, RAINING CONDITION, WIPERS IN USE, HEADLIGHTS ON. SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT DARK, WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR FROM MIDDLE LANE TO ROAD SIDE AND BRAK
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH DETECTED NO TROUBLE CODES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPAR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING AND DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THEN STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

12 complaints

12%

• 2012 TAURUS THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2012 TAURUS HAVE A VERY SHARP SHORT CUTOFF THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY GREATLY. THIS CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED ON A HIGHWAY OR BACK ROAD WHERE THERE IS NO BACK LIGHTS OR OTHER VEHICLES PRESENT. THE CUTOFF PROJECTS A BLACK LINE THAT FLOATS UP AND DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD THA
• THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PRODUCE A COMPLETE AND FULL LIGHT FIELD IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL DISTINCT "FINGER SHADOWS" PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LIGHT FIELD, RESULTING IN VERY POOR NIGHT VISION. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE VERY DISTINCT UPPER HORIZONTAL "CUT-OFF" OF THE PROJECTED LIG
• 2012 TAURUS THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2012 TAURUS HAVE A VERY SHARP SHORT CUTOFF THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY GREATLY.THIS CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED ON A HIGHWAY OR BACK ROAD WHERE THERE IS NO BACK LIGHTS OR OTHER VEHICLES PRESENT.THE CUTOFF PROJECTS A BLACK LINE THAT FLOATS UP AND DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2012 TAURUS THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2012 TAURUS HAVE A VERY SHARP SHORT CUTOFF THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY GREATLY. THIS CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED ON A HIGHWAY OR BACK ROAD WHERE THERE IS NO BACK LIGHTS OR OTHER VEHICLES PRESENT. THE CUTOFF PROJECTS A BLACK LINE THAT FLOATS UP AND DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD THA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 100 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: AFTER ABOUT 6,000 MILES WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE BLIS SENSOR AND SIGNAL LIGHT INDICATING A VEHICLE IS IN THE BLIND SPOT WHEN NO VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT ARE WITHIN THE AREA. OFTEN THE LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. ADDITIONALLY, OCCASIONALLY STARTED TO GIVE FALSE WARN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I WAS DRIVING ON I279 AROUND 6:15AM ON JULY1, 2014. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING THERE WAS A POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. AT THAT POINT I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 03/24/2012. 1ST FAILURE MILEAGE APPROX.1,450: DRIVING ON I-95S AT APPROX. 70 MPH, RAINING CONDITION, WIPERS IN USE, HEADLIGHTS ON. SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT DARK, WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR FROM MIDDLE LANE TO ROAD SIDE AND BRAK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 03/24/2012. 1ST FAILURE MILEAGE APPROX.1,450: DRIVING ON I-95S AT APPROX. 70 MPH, RAINING CONDITION, WIPERS IN USE, HEADLIGHTS ON. SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT DARK, WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR FROM MIDDLE LANE TO ROAD SIDE AND BRAK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)