2016 Ford Taurus Problems and Recalls (80 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2016 Ford Taurus is Rear camera / backup safety (30% of 80 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Rear camera / backup safety — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 80 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2016 Ford Taurus?

24 of 80 filings named Rear camera / backup safety (30% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (9 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Suspension, Body / frame, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2015 has 268 reports on file; this year has 80. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2016 Ford Taurus

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
Rear camera / backup safety. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed.
Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
Skim a few owner reports below for Rear camera / backup safety. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Rear camera / backup safety 24 complaints · 30.0% of the file

Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:

Crashes 4
Fires 1
Injuries 3
Deaths 0

All Ford Taurus years →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table

System / Component	Complaints	Share of Reports	Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)	24	30.0%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE)	9	11.3%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING)	7	8.8%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)	5	6.3%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION)	5	6.3%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)	3	3.8%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)	3	3.8%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE)	3	3.8%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS)	2	2.5%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover	20	25.0%	1 crashes · 1 fires

NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

Campaign 16V925000 was reported 115 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 25V611000 was reported 2,707 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
Campaign 25V695000 was reported 1,356 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

View timeline records as a table

Date	Record type	Count	Record identifier
2016-Q3	Owner reports	3
2016-Q4	Owner reports	1
2017-Q2	Owner reports	1
2017-Q3	Owner reports	1
2018-Q2	Owner reports	2
2018-Q3	Owner reports	2
2019-Q2	Owner reports	1
2019-Q4	Owner reports	3
2020-Q2	Owner reports	1
2020-Q3	Owner reports	2
2020-Q4	Owner reports	3
2021-Q1	Owner reports	3
2021-Q2	Owner reports	1
2022-Q1	Owner reports	3
2022-Q3	Owner reports	2
2022-Q4	Owner reports	2
2023-Q1	Owner reports	3
2023-Q3	Owner reports	3
2023-Q4	Owner reports	1
2024-Q1	Owner reports	1
2024-Q2	Owner reports	1
2024-Q4	Owner reports	1
2025-Q1	Owner reports	1
2025-Q2	Owner reports	6
2025-Q3	Owner reports	4
2025-Q4	Owner reports	8
2026-Q1	Owner reports	11
2026-Q2	Owner reports	3
2026-Q3	Owner reports	6
Dec 2016	Recall campaign	1	16V925000
Feb 2020	Recall campaign	1	20V072000
Sep 2025	Recall campaign	1	25V611000
Oct 2025	Recall campaign	1	25V695000

NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Suspension, Body / frame, and Rear camera / backup safety.

Recall campaign 16V925000

Engine

Report date

Dec 22, 2016

Component:

Engine (ENGINE)

Consequence:

An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 20V072000

Suspension

Report date

Feb 10, 2020

Component:

Suspension (SUSPENSION)

Consequence:

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 25V611000

Body / frame

Report date

Sep 12, 2025

Component:

Body / frame (STRUCTURE)

Consequence:

Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S91.

View authoritative NHTSA record →
Recall campaign 25V695000

Rear camera / backup safety

Report date

Oct 13, 2025

Component:

Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

Consequence:

A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

View authoritative NHTSA record →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07

Showing 6 of 80 complaints · page 1 of 4

2026-08-26Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11759637

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed an inverted, distorted, or blank image. The message "Rear-view Camera Unavailable" was displayed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

2026-08-10Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11755923

CrashFireInjuryDeath

I own a 2016 Ford Taurus Limited that is covered under Ford Safety Recall 25SA9 / NHTSA Recall 25V-695 for the rearview camera. I received the recall notification in October 2025 stating that a remedy was not yet available and that I would receive another notification once parts became available. Nearly 10 months later, I contacted my local Ford dealership to schedule the recall repair. I was informed that they still do not have the required parts and that no nearby Ford dealerships have them available. I also contacted Ford’s customer service line, but the automated system simply states there are no updates available for this recall. My vehicle is experiencing the exact safety defect described in the recall. When I shift into reverse, the rearview camera no longer displays an image. Instead, the screen turns completely blue, leaving me without a functioning backup camera. This is no longer a potential safety concern—it is an active failure that affects the safe operation of my vehicle when backing up. I am extremely concerned that a federally recognized safety recall remains unrepaired even though my vehicle is now exhibiting the recalled defect. Despite my efforts to have the vehicle repaired, Ford has been unable to provide the necessary parts or any estimated timeline for when the repair will be available. I respectfully request that NHTSA review Ford’s continued inability to provide a remedy for Recall 25SA9 / NHTSA 25V-695 and investigate the prolonged delay in making repair parts available to owners whose vehicles are already experiencing this safety-related failure. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

2026-07-27Body / frame (STRUCTURE)

NHTSA ODI 11753126

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V611000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger’s side B-Pillar trim became loosened. The failure progressed and, upon further inspection, the passenger’s side B-Pillar trim detached, and the driver’s side B-Pillar trim became loosened. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.

2026-07-16Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11750840

CrashFireInjuryDeath

My backup camera rarely works and sometimes is upside down. It cuts in and out while backing up. There is a recall from Oct 2025 but still no fix.

2026-07-14Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11750232

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V611000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled with the understanding that parts had been ordered; however, while contacting the dealer a second time, it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issues. The contact had not experienced a failure.

2026-07-07Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)

NHTSA ODI 11748795

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact's wife owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact's wife was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse(R) on several occasions, the rearview camera displayed a blank image intermittently and eventually became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rearview camera had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Ford Taurus?

Owners named Rear camera / backup safety most often — 24 of 80 reports (30%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Ford Taurus?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Suspension, Body / frame, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2016 Ford Taurus?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21

Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources