Ford Taurus: Owner Complaints and Recalls by Model Year
This is the Ford Taurus complaint and recall record by model year (1986–2016). 17,630 owner reports are on file across 29 years. 1993 has the highest count (1,541) — often because that year has had longer to collect reports, not because this page ranked it. Open a year to see what owners named, the recall list, and the filings themselves.
Ford Taurus filings that NHTSA splits across body-style names are combined here. Related weight classes stay separate.
Across these years, owners named Suspension more often than any other part of the truck. Unclassified leftovers from NHTSA are not a diagnosis.
In plain English
Across 29 years of the Ford Taurus, owners named Suspension more often than any other system. That is a pattern in the file, not a diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
1993 has the most reports (1,541). Older years collect more filings just by being around longer. Open the year you are actually buying — not the peak year unless that is the one in the listing.
Each row is a model year. The system column is what owners named most that year. Click the year for the inspect list, the recall campaigns, and the owner text.
NHTSA Consumer Complaints · Oct 14, 2026 NHTSA Safety Recalls · Oct 15, 2026
Owner reports by model year
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns | System named most often | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 Ford Taurus | 100 | 9 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 17 (17.0%) | not reported |
| 1987 Ford Taurus | 250 | 9 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 60 (24.0%) | not reported |
| 1988 Ford Taurus | 332 | 6 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 88 (26.5%) | not reported |
| 1989 Ford Taurus | 552 | 7 | Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) · 132 (23.9%) | not reported |
| 1990 Ford Taurus | 376 | 8 | Body / frame (STRUCTURE) · 58 (15.4%) | not reported |
| 1991 Ford Taurus | 639 | 5 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 224 (35.1%) | not reported |
| 1992 Ford Taurus | 671 | 6 | Engine (ENGINE) · 170 (25.3%) | not reported |
| 1993 Ford Taurus | 1,541 | 8 | Engine (ENGINE) · 526 (34.1%) | not reported |
| 1994 Ford Taurus | 910 | 5 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 234 (25.7%) | not reported |
| 1995 Ford Taurus | 1,188 | 6 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 347 (29.2%) | not reported |
| 1996 Ford Taurus | 801 | 8 | Engine (ENGINE) · 174 (21.7%) | not reported |
| 1997 Ford Taurus | 760 | 5 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 186 (24.5%) | not reported |
| 1998 Ford Taurus | 538 | 4 | Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) · 98 (18.2%) | not reported |
| 1999 Ford Taurus | 849 | 7 | Suspension (SUSPENSION) · 172 (20.3%) | not reported |
| 2000 Ford Taurus | 1,160 | 8 | Suspension (SUSPENSION) · 416 (35.9%) | not reported |
| 2001 Ford Taurus | 1,017 | 10 | Suspension (SUSPENSION) · 486 (47.8%) | not reported |
| 2002 Ford Taurus | 1,407 | 4 | Suspension (SUSPENSION) · 912 (64.8%) | not reported |
| 2003 Ford Taurus | 1,205 | 4 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 290 (24.1%) | not reported |
| 2004 Ford Taurus | 371 | 2 | Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) · 132 (35.6%) | not reported |
| 2005 Ford Taurus | 769 | 1 | Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) · 461 (60.0%) | not reported |
| 2006 Ford Taurus | 313 | 3 | Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) · 152 (48.6%) | not reported |
| 2007 Ford Taurus | 146 | 1 | Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) · 49 (33.6%) | not reported |
| 2008 Ford Taurus | 175 | 1 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 35 (20.0%) | not reported |
| 2010 Ford Taurus | 204 | 3 | Steering (STEERING) · 37 (18.1%) | not reported |
| 2011 Ford Taurus | 186 | 4 | Engine (ENGINE) · 38 (20.4%) | not reported |
| 2013 Ford Taurus | 583 | 9 | Steering (STEERING) · 273 (46.8%) | not reported |
| 2014 Ford Taurus | 227 | 5 | Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) · 63 (27.8%) | not reported |
| 2015 Ford Taurus | 278 | 6 | Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) · 64 (23.0%) | not reported |
| 2016 Ford Taurus | 82 | 4 | Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) · 25 (30.5%) | not reported |
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Taurus year has the most NHTSA complaints?
1993 has the highest owner-report count in this snapshot (1,541). That is not a recommendation to avoid the year.
What do Ford Taurus owners complain about most?
Across published years, owners named Suspension more often than any other system. Open the year you are buying for the mix, the recall list and the inspect steps.
How should I use this Ford Taurus page before I buy?
Open the model year in the listing — not the peak year unless that is the one you are shopping. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov, inspect the system owners named most, then read a few owner filings.
Do these counts mean the Ford Taurus is unreliable?
No. Counts are self-selected and not normalised for sales volume. YearTell does not publish reliability scores.
Are Ford Taurus body styles merged?
Where NHTSA splits the same consumer vehicle across cab or body-style names, YearTell combines those filings. Distinct weight classes stay separate.