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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

11 reports
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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

159 miles · Jan 9, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATION STALLS FROM 0-5 MPH THEN IS FOLLOWED BY A HARSH BUMP ON TAKE-OFF THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS IT WILL STALL UPON DOWN SHIFTING WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FOR AS LONG AS 6 SECONDS. THIS CAUSES TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO TAKE AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS. WHEN PASSING IT WILL DO THE SAME THING TAKING 3 TO 6 SECONDS TO START ACCELERA…

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ACCELERATION STALLS FROM 0-5 MPH THEN IS FOLLOWED BY A HARSH BUMP ON TAKE-OFF THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS IT WILL STALL UPON DOWN SHIFTING WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FOR AS LONG AS 6 SECONDS. THIS CAUSES TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO TAKE AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS. WHEN PASSING IT WILL DO THE SAME THING TAKING 3 TO 6 SECONDS TO START ACCELERATING. WHEN I PULL OUT TO PASS IT FALLS BACK A FULL CAR LENGTH BEFORE IT MAKES UP ITS MIND TO ACCELERATE. VERY DANGEROUS, IT WILL DO THIS AT 30 MPH THROUGH 70 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443200

120,000 miles · Nov 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 MPH AND 65 MPH, THE ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER, FOLLOWED BY THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR "D" LIGHT GOING OUT, AND THE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE OR REVERSE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE REAR WINDOW SHADE WILL SHUT DOWN. BASICALLY, AT…

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 MPH AND 65 MPH, THE ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER, FOLLOWED BY THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR "D" LIGHT GOING OUT, AND THE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, ASSOCIATED WITH THE ENGINE OR REVERSE FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE REAR WINDOW SHADE WILL SHUT DOWN. BASICALLY, AT THE TIME OF THIS POWER LOSS, THE VEHICLE DEFAULT SAFETY FUNCTIONS ENGAGE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WITHIN 30 SECONDS, THE ENGINE REGAINS THRUST AND THE "D" LIGHT COMES BACK ON. FRIEND FOLLOWING IN THE CAR BEHIND ME REPORTED SEEING MY "REVERSE LIGHTS" TURN ON AND STAY ON WHILE I REPORTED THE "D" LIGHT WAS OUT. TOOK TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS OVER THE COURSE OF 5 VISITS. ENGINE PERIODICALLY CONTINUES TO DO THIS. ISSUE SEEMS TO BE RESOLVED WHEN ADDITIONAL GAS IS APPLIED AND POWER IS ENGAGED. A COMPLETE RESTART OF THE CAR SEEMS TO ALSO CAUSE THE PLAGUING PROBLEM GO AWAY. CONCERNS INCLUDE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND POSSIBLE REAR END COLLISIONS AND FAILURE IN AN INTERSECTION DUE TO THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I'VE EXPERIENCED THIS ON THE INTERSTATE AS WELL WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A FOUR LANE MAIN ROAD IN WASHINGTON, DC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434349

17,000 miles · Jul 31, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT IN EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING. THERE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL : ENGINE NOT RUNNING AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND LIGHTING WENT OFF. ONLY MANUAL STEERING WAS AVAILABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE EXPRESSWAY SHOULDER .THE ALERT ACTIONS OF THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME DID PRE…

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I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT IN EXPRESSWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING. THERE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL : ENGINE NOT RUNNING AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND LIGHTING WENT OFF. ONLY MANUAL STEERING WAS AVAILABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE EXPRESSWAY SHOULDER .THE ALERT ACTIONS OF THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME DID PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. INSTRUMENT PANEL MESSAGE STATED "SHIFT INTO PARK"' WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THIS ACTION WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY IN PARK. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS DURING THE REST OF THE TRIP. THE VEHICLE HAS A PUSH BUTTON START. BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO START THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. RESTARTING THIS MOVING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WOULD HAVE SLOWED THE MOMENTUM REQUIRED TO SAFELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOUND NO COMPUTER CODES. ADVICE FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS " DRIVE OR TRADE THE VEHICLE". THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10416408

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

7,000 miles · Apr 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ODI #10395238

6,700 miles · Mar 15, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN IT RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THE MANUFA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN IT RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,700. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN

NHTSA ODI #10390193

24 miles · Dec 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STALL BUT LOOSE POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY REGAINING POWER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS SHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STALL BUT LOOSE POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY REGAINING POWER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4, 819. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 03/17/11

NHTSA ODI #10369897

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

250 miles · Jun 6, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentParking Brake

I BOUGHT THIS CAR 2010 FORD TAURUS SEL AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO SO WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT. THEN I NOTICED RED FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE SEAL WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEN WHEN I TURNED OFF THE C…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR 2010 FORD TAURUS SEL AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SUDDEN ACCELERATION BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO SO WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT. THEN I NOTICED RED FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE SEAL WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEN WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR THE GEAR SHIFT REFUSED TO SHIFT AND WHEN IT DID AFTER FIVE MINUTES, I COULD NOT GET MY KEY OUT!....NOW THE CD PLAYER IS ACCELERATING WHEN I TRY TO PLAY MY MUSIC, THIS CAR IS A LEMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334920

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.