Generations
The Ford Taurus has had 5 generations. Figures cover the model years in each generation's production run.
| Generation | Built | Complaints per year | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st generation | 1985–1991 | 380 | 15 |
| 2nd generation | 1991–1995 | 1,003 | 11 |
| 3rd generation | 1995–2000 | 902 | 25 |
| 4th generation | 2000–2008 | 741 | 17 |
| 5th generation | 2008–2010 | 148 | 3 |
Generations and production years: Wikidata (CC0). Complaints and recalls: NHTSA, US model years; a recall covering several years is counted once. MOT: DVSA, first tests in Great Britain. Where two generations overlap, a model year counts towards both.
Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2018.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Taurus | 18 | 2 |
| 2018 Taurus | 52 | 4 |
| 2017 Taurus | 44 | 4 |
| 2016 Taurus | 85 | 4 |
| 2015 Taurus | 280 | 6 |
| 2014 Taurus | 229 | 5 |
| 2013 Taurus | 585 | 9 |
| 2012 Taurus | 79 | 5 |
| 2011 Taurus | 187 | 4 |
| 2010 Taurus | 204 | 3 |
| 2009 Taurus | 64 | 0 |
| 2008 Taurus | 175 | 1 |
| 2007 Taurus | 149 | 0 |
| 2006 Taurus | 318 | 2 |
| 2005 Taurus | 774 | 0 |
| 2004 Taurus | 375 | 1 |
| 2003 Taurus | 1,223 | 3 |
| 2002 Taurus | 1,426 | 3 |
| 2001 Taurus | 1,037 | 9 |
| 2000 Taurus | 1,195 | 8 |
| 1999 Taurus | 874 | 5 |
| 1998 Taurus | 545 | 2 |
| 1997 Taurus | 770 | 3 |
| 1996 Taurus | 825 | 6 |
| 1995 Taurus | 1,205 | 5 |
| 1994 Taurus | 923 | 4 |
| 1993 Taurus | 1,557 | 6 |
| 1992 Taurus | 681 | 5 |
| 1991 Taurus | 649 | 4 |
| 1990 Taurus | 381 | 6 |
| 1989 Taurus | 562 | 5 |
| 1988 Taurus | 333 | 5 |
| 1987 Taurus | 255 | 8 |
| 1986 Taurus | 101 | 8 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Suspension3,079
- Power train2,884
- Engine and engine cooling2,876
- Vehicle speed control2,082
- Electrical system1,579
- Steering1,370
- Service brakes, hydraulic1,078
- Structure1,048
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 1,008 Taurus vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 642 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 18 | 4 |
| 2018 | 24 | 13 |
| 2017 | 32 | 11 |
| 2016 | 39 | 20 |
| 2015 | 60 | 30 |
| 2014 | 47 | 15 |
| 2013 | 84 | 42 |
| 2012 | 38 | 18 |
| 2011 | 44 | 17 |
| 2010 | 32 | 15 |
| 2009 | 11 | 7 |
| 2008 | 56 | 31 |
| 2007 | 59 | 42 |
| 2006 | 51 | 53 |
| 2005 | 62 | 41 |
| 2004 | 48 | 42 |
| 2003 | 79 | 64 |
| 2002 | 46 | 36 |
| 2001 | 46 | 34 |
| 2000 | 41 | 31 |
| 1999 | 26 | 25 |
| 1998 | 18 | 15 |
| 1997 | 10 | 7 |
| 1996 | 15 | 13 |
| 1995 | 8 | 3 |
| 1994 | 7 | 6 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 4 |
| 1990 | 2 | 3 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 9 model-year variants; 7 of 9 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2019 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 11.3 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 11.3 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 11.3 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 11.3 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 11.3 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 11.3 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | 11.3 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.3 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★☆ | 11.3 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 25 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.1–11.7 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Taurus FFV · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.0 | 11.5 |
| 2018 | Taurus FFV · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.7 | 11.1 |
| 2017 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.1 | 10.1 |
| 2016 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.1 | 10.1 |
| 2015 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 7.4 | 9.1 |
| 2014 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 7.3 | 9.1 |
| 2013 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 7.4 | 9.1 |
| 2012 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.0 | 8.5 | 10.9 |
| 2011 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.6 | 11.1 |
| 2010 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.6 | 11.1 |
| 2009 | Taurus · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 8.6 | 11.1 |
| 2008 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.3 | 11.0 |
| 2007 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| 2006 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| 2005 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| 2004 | Taurus # · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| 2003 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.1 | 11.4 |
| 2002 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.3 | 11.5 |
| 2001 | Taurus # · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.5 | 11.7 |
| 2000 | Taurus # · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.1 | 11.5 |
| 1999 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.1 | 11.5 |
| 1998 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.9 | 9.0 | 11.7 |
| 1997 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 9.3 | 11.5 |
| 1996 | Taurus # · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| 1995 | Taurus · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 8.7 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
61 Taurus cars are on the New Zealand register; 59% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 1997 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 1996 | 36 | 12 | 23 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
15 Taurus cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | — |
| 1973 | 1 | — |
| 1972 | 1 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | — |
| 1959 | 0 | 1 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
8 new Ford Taurus cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Germany (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 257 (WLTP) |
| 2016 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Taurus in 1 alert. European versions can differ from the North American car.
It may be possible over time for the fuel delivery module in the fuel tank to develop a crack that could result in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
69 campaigns cover the Taurus; the latest 12 are below.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems. The keys for these vehicles may be able to be removed from the ignition when transmission is not in the PARK position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
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 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured on July 24, 2015. During vehicle production, the fuel tank attachment bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the fuel tank straps may fracture and the fuel tank could separate from the vehicle.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
NHTSA recalls