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2010 Ford Taurus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Taurus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 318.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

179 reports with mileage · 25 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports5 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

19 reports
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12,862 miles · Aug 21, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

THIS IS THE TWIN TURBO V6 ECOBOOST ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL TRANSMISSION ISSUES DATING BACK TO AUGUST 2011. FIRST ISSUE: CAR STUMBLED UPON ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. PARTICULARLY UNSAFE WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC. ONE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS EVENT WAS A RIGHT TURN I MADE FROM A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR CAME TO A CR…

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THIS IS THE TWIN TURBO V6 ECOBOOST ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL TRANSMISSION ISSUES DATING BACK TO AUGUST 2011. FIRST ISSUE: CAR STUMBLED UPON ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP. PARTICULARLY UNSAFE WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC. ONE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS EVENT WAS A RIGHT TURN I MADE FROM A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR CAME TO A CRAWL. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, FORD "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BUT IT RECURRED A MONTH LATER. NEXT INCIDENT(S): TRANSMISSION LUNGES AND CAME OUT OF GEAR AND REVVED UP. AGAIN, FORD HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS. THAT WAS SEPTEMBER 2011. OCTOBER 18, 2011: CAR LOST POWER ON FREEWAY AND RAN VERY ROUGH. CAR TOWED INTO FORD. THE HAD TO REPLACE COILS, PLUGS, AND PCM. 9/14/2012: SUNROOF FAILED AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. PROBLEM FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. 8/16/2013: DELIVERED THE CAR TO FORD BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION ACTING UP ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR STALLS VERY BRIEFLY BUT THEN CATCHES AND ACCELERATES FORWARD QUICKLY. THIS IS A LIABILITY CONCERN. ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A CAR, THE CAR COASTS BEFORE CATCHING. FORD STILL HAS THE VEHICLE AND IS TELLING ME THAT THEY DON'T SEE AN ISSUE WITH THEIR DRIVE TESTS BUT HAVE A CALL INTO FORD TO SEE HOW TO PROCEED. I'M VERY CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536551

28,000 miles · Aug 16, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

2010 TAURUS SHO. BRAKES ROARING &/OR GRINDING WHEN APPLIED MEDIUM TO HEAVY. BRAKES FEEL WEAK & SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN APPLIED. LITE GREASE OR OIL BURNING SMELL COMING INTO CAR. ENGINE LOST POWER, CAR FILLED WITH HEAVY FUEL SMELL, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING, & STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN IN TRAFFIC NEAR FORD DEALER & COAST…

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2010 TAURUS SHO. BRAKES ROARING &/OR GRINDING WHEN APPLIED MEDIUM TO HEAVY. BRAKES FEEL WEAK & SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN APPLIED. LITE GREASE OR OIL BURNING SMELL COMING INTO CAR. ENGINE LOST POWER, CAR FILLED WITH HEAVY FUEL SMELL, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING, & STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN IN TRAFFIC NEAR FORD DEALER & COASTED INTO THE SERVICE LANE. FORD SAID WRONG SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED AT FACTORY WHICH CAUSED PLUGS TO FOUL, THEN 2 INJECTORS TO LOCK WIDE OPEN, COIL PACKS RUINED, PCM BURNT UP, & SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEM. ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE & WARNING SYSTEM FLASHES ON THE WINDSHIELD & SYSTEM SAYS SENSOR IS BLOCKED & THE COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE STOPPED & RESTARTED . TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS INCORRECTLY AT TIMES OR HESITATES TO RESPOND WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. FORD SYNC SYSTEM CUT ON & OFF OR DISCONNECTS FROM PHONE WHICH IS LINKED TO 911 FOR SAFETY. BLIND SPOT WARNING SYSTEM GIVES FALSE WARNINGS CONSTANTLY WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE NEAR & ON VARIOUS ROADS TYPES. AUTOMATIC WIPERS COME ON WHEN ITS NOT RAIN. ADAPTIVE CRUISE WILL NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPER GAPS BETWEEN VEHICLES AHEAD OF IT & DRIVER MUST TAKE CONTROL. DURING FUELING THE FUEL POURS OUT FROM THE OVERFLOW VALVE WHEN THE TANK TOPS OFF AT ANY GAS STATION. DARK QUARTER SIZE SPOT COMING UP IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WHICH OBSCURES VISION OF OTHER VEHICLES. DUST & DIRT ENTERING THE VEHICLE AROUND THE REAR DOORS WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD REST SLOWLY RISES UP OVER A FEW DAYS & TOUCHES DRIVER'S HEAD & CANNOT BE SAFELY PUSHED DOWN UNTIL STOPPED. MICHELIN MXV4 TIRES 20" STARTED SEPARATING WHERE THE SIDE WALLS MEET THE TREAD. MICHELIN IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE 4 TIRES WITHOUT QUESTION. A TOTAL OF 34 PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING THE PAINT FADING OUT. CURRENTLY HAS 39,400 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535678

900 miles · Feb 25, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

SOON AFTER I GOT MY NEW 2010 FORD TAURUS IN MARCH OF 2010, IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY SISTER (MILEAGE UNDER 1,000 MILES). I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO TRY IT AGAIN - THE CAR RAN WELL, SO I FORGOT ABOUT THE INCIDENT. IN APRIL 2012, I AGAIN LOST POWER SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVI…

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SOON AFTER I GOT MY NEW 2010 FORD TAURUS IN MARCH OF 2010, IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY SISTER (MILEAGE UNDER 1,000 MILES). I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO TRY IT AGAIN - THE CAR RAN WELL, SO I FORGOT ABOUT THE INCIDENT. IN APRIL 2012, I AGAIN LOST POWER SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS, LEFT THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF MY ROAD WHERE IT HAD STOPPED, AND CALLED AAA TO TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. SERVICE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, AND SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING THAT COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL. TWICE AGAIN, THE CAR STOPPED AS I WAS DRIVING IT AND EACH TIME FORD SERVICE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE LAST INCIDENT LEFT ME SHAKEN AS I WAS STUCK ACROSS MY ROAD, EXPOSED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC. AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT FORD EXAMINED THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS, DROVE IT HUNDREDS OF MILES AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO FORD MOTOR. FORD WANTED A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. OF COURSE THE SECOND OPINION SAID ALL WAS FINE, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECLINED MY REQUEST FOR A REPLACEMENT CAR AND FOR A LOANER. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE FORD AND LEFT IT THERE. FORD ABSOLUTELY KNOWS THE DANGERS OF THIS CAR, THEY ARE WELL DOCUMENTED IN MY COMPLAINT HISTORY AND IN VARIOUS COMPLAINT VENUES ON THE INTERNET AND THEY ARE STONE WALLING VERY EFFECTIVELY. THE FACT IS THAT FORD ITSELF HAS ISSUED SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS TALKING ABOUT ...IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER'. I WAS 'INTERMITTENTLY PUT IN DANGER FOUR TIMES. FORD TELLS ME THEY WILL AUCTION THE CAR, FULL WELL KNOWING OF THE RISKS. THIS CAR VIN IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE NEVER BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN TO COMPROMISE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10500064

6,800 miles · Oct 29, 2011
Electrical SystemEquipment

THE CD PLAYER WENT OUT IN MY TAURUS LIMITED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A MONTH FOR THE REPLACEMENT, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE ENTIRE CENTER STACK (NAV/RADIO/SYNC SYSTEMS) HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $3000. UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433523

12,000 miles · Oct 21, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE GEAR SHIFTER COULD NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WHEN THE LIGHT FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE GEAR SHIFTER COULD NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WHEN THE LIGHT FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE COMPUTER TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10432354

28,000 miles · Oct 11, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE RADIO BY PRESSING THE MEDIA BUTTON, WHICH WAS LOCATED NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PASSENGER ERRONEOUSLY DEPRESSED THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE RADIO BY PRESSING THE MEDIA BUTTON, WHICH WAS LOCATED NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PASSENGER ERRONEOUSLY DEPRESSED THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS OVER THE TWO BUTTONS BEING LOCATED SO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ODI #10429484

47,500 miles · Jul 1, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OR LOST POWER WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 20MPH APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHILE SET ON CRUISE CONTROL FIVE HOURS INTO A DRIVE. IN BOTH OCCURRENCES T…

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ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED OR LOST POWER WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 20MPH APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHILE SET ON CRUISE CONTROL FIVE HOURS INTO A DRIVE. IN BOTH OCCURRENCES THE DISPLAY INDICATED TO PUT SHIFTER INTO PARK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED AND STILL MOVING. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STALLED THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING WAS DISABLED. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMAL. THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM TWICE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CONTACTED FORD AND THEY STATE THEY AREN'T AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION TO OCCUR WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH ON A CURVY CANYON ROAD. I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10411133

10,160 miles · May 26, 2011
Electrical System

TAURUS SHO. ENGINE QUIT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL STOPPED AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. FORD SERVICE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE STALL OR FIND ANYTHING TO INDICATE IT HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO AREA TO PULL OFF ROAD AND HAD TO COMPLETE ACTION IN THE LANE OF TRAVEL. FORD UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING TO CORRECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402854

9,568 miles · Jul 30, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE 2010 FORD TAURUS LOSES POWER AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT SPEEDS WITHIN AND EXCESS OF 65 MPH. WHEN THE DEFECT OCCURS, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, THE THROTTLE IS DEACTIVATED, THE CENTER STACK CONSOLE IS DEACTIVATED AND THE MESSAGE CENTER IN THE VEHICLE'S CLUSTER TELLS THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE DRIVER MUST THEN P…

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THE 2010 FORD TAURUS LOSES POWER AND THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT SPEEDS WITHIN AND EXCESS OF 65 MPH. WHEN THE DEFECT OCCURS, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, THE THROTTLE IS DEACTIVATED, THE CENTER STACK CONSOLE IS DEACTIVATED AND THE MESSAGE CENTER IN THE VEHICLE'S CLUSTER TELLS THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE DRIVER MUST THEN PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN 45 DAYS. FOR THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO PERFORM A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS. NO ISSUE WAS FOUND AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE OWNER. THE DEFECT OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN ON JULY 29, 2010 AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE ONCE A LOANER VEHICLE CAN BE OBTAINED. NO PHYSICAL CHANGE OR IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN MADE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME AND FORD FIELD SERVICE ENGINEERING HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED OR NOTIFIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346274

Official recalls

3

16V247000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 26, 2016

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

15V040000 · Structure:body:door

Jan 28, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.

14V285000 · Exterior Lighting

May 29, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles manufactured November 24, 2008, through February 28, 2014, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. When used in areas that use road salt, the license plate lamp assembly may experience an electro-chemical reaction and corrosion as a result of water intrusion.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08. Note: Under program 14R01, Ford will notify owners in non-corrosion states, and, at the customer's request, dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.