2016 Ford TAURUS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Ford TAURUS has 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is driver assist/cameras problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: the rear back up camera has stopped working properly and most of the time it's not working at all making it a safety risk maneuvering in reverse when children or other pedestrians are around.. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 6 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

24 complaints

25%

• The rear back up camera has stopped working properly and most of the time it's not working at all making it a safety risk maneuvering in reverse when children or other pedestrians are around.
• I turned left after stopping at a four-way stop sign intersection. I crashed into a parked car waiting its turn but I did not see until I was upon it and it was too late to swerve away. My car's air bags inflated. My wrist was broken. My car was declared totaled by my insurer although I could not ha
• I was backing up in a parking lot when the backup camera suddenly inverted and I nearly ran over a small child. It now only works about 40% of the time and usually the image is inverted or scrambled. This is dangerous. I think Ford should fix it since apparently they have approved a recall on othe

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

“The rear back up camera has stopped working properly and most of the time it's not working at all making it a safety risk maneuvering in reverse when children or other pedestrians are around.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

14 complaints

14%

• PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2X - 07/16TH AND 07/18/2016 - WHILE TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70MPH, ACCELERATION CEASED - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON, HAVE TO PULL OVER, SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, DRIVE FOR 1 MORE PROBLEMS REOCCUR AGAIN. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WITH CHECK ENGINE L
• UPON HARD ACCELERATION, CABIN IS FILLED WITH STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL / EXHAUST. AC IS IN THE AUTO MODE AND RECIRCULATION IS NOT ENGAGED. MUST ROLL ALL WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE CABIN OF FUMES. VERY SIMILAR TO SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED WITH FORD EXPLORER. INCIDENCE FIRST OCCURRED MAY 13, 2016 (D
• DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FOUND CRACKED COOLANT TANK. CONSISTENT PROBLEM ON 2016 TAURUS AND EXPLORER. CRACKED COOLANT TANK PRESENTS RISK OF FIRE, SKIN BURNS, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SHORTS AND PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE.

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

“PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2X - 07/16TH AND 07/18/2016 - WHILE TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70MPH, ACCELERATION CEASED - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON, HAVE TO PULL OVER, SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, DRIVE FOR 1 MORE PROBLEMS REOCCUR AGAIN. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WITH CHECK ENGINE L”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

12 complaints

12%

• THIS NEW 2016 TAURUS SHO HAS A STRONG FUEL, OIL OR CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS WITH OR WITHOUT THE AC RUNNING. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I MUST DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. OF COURSE, WHEN IT IS RAINING, I MUST BREATHE IN THE FUMES BECAUSE THE WINDOWS AR
• I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A STRONG SMELL OF PROPANE/NATURAL GAS. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT SHE COULDN'T GET ME IN UNTIL TUESDAY. I BUCKLED MY 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR SEAT AND LEFT THE DEALERSHIP/SERV
• ON JULY 27 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AT 75 THE CAR SHUT OFF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND IT SCARED THE H OUT OF HER AND ME I TOOK IT OUT OF DRIVE AND TRIED TO START IT ,I TRIED THREE TIME FINALLY IT STARTED. NO TROUBLE TILL YESTERDAY AT THE AIRPORT GOING UP THE PARKING RAMP IT QUIT AGAIN I WAS DRIVING I

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

“THIS NEW 2016 TAURUS SHO HAS A STRONG FUEL, OIL OR CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS WITH OR WITHOUT THE AC RUNNING. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I MUST DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. OF COURSE, WHEN IT IS RAINING, I MUST BREATHE IN THE FUMES BECAUSE THE WINDOWS AR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

• THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE LOCKED UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEIR WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
• THE POWER STEERING ON THIS UNIT FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS ISSUED OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS AND AS A RESULT NO ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. DO NOT HAVE THE INVOICE FOR THIS REPAIR AT THE TIME OF SENDING
• CAR ELECTRONIC STEERING STOPPED AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEELS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE LOCKED UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEIR WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

7 complaints

• PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2X - 07/16TH AND 07/18/2016 - WHILE TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70MPH, ACCELERATION CEASED - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON, HAVE TO PULL OVER, SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, DRIVE FOR 1 MORE PROBLEMS REOCCUR AGAIN. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WITH CHECK ENGINE L
• MY FUEL SYSTEM WENT OFF ALL KINDS OF ERROR COMING ON CAR STOPS WHILE RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY
• THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE FAILED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO START, STEER, OR BRAKE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED BUT NOT MOVING. IT STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO START AGAIN. I KNOW THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR EARLIER MODELS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE REPAIR INVOICES, BUT AM CURRENTLY UNABL

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 97 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The rear back up camera has stopped working properly and most of the time it's not working at all making it a safety risk maneuvering in reverse when children or other pedestrians are around.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2X - 07/16TH AND 07/18/2016 - WHILE TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70MPH, ACCELERATION CEASED - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON, HAVE TO PULL OVER, SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, DRIVE FOR 1 MORE PROBLEMS REOCCUR AGAIN. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WITH CHECK ENGINE L
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS NEW 2016 TAURUS SHO HAS A STRONG FUEL, OIL OR CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS WITH OR WITHOUT THE AC RUNNING. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I MUST DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. OF COURSE, WHEN IT IS RAINING, I MUST BREATHE IN THE FUMES BECAUSE THE WINDOWS AR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE LOCKED UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEIR WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)