IllustrationTHE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HAVE AN ACCIDENT.
2013 Ford Taurus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Taurus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 318.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
320–25K
4525–50K
10250–75K
10375–100K
103100–150K
41150K+
426 reports with mileage · 157 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 295 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports6 fire reports17 injury reports
What owners actually said
583 reportsMY 2103 FORD TAURUS LOST THE POWER STEERING WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY ON A COUNTY ROAD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO FIGHT THE STEERING BY MUSCLING IT TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND OFF THE ROAD. TWO NOTICES NOW APPEAR ON THE DASH. 1. POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND 2. SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK…
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MY 2103 FORD TAURUS LOST THE POWER STEERING WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY ON A COUNTY ROAD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN. LUCKILY SHE WAS ABLE TO FIGHT THE STEERING BY MUSCLING IT TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND OFF THE ROAD. TWO NOTICES NOW APPEAR ON THE DASH. 1. POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND 2. SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MANY FORD VEHICLES INCLUDING MANY BUT NOT ALL 2013 FORD TAURUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS KNOWN SAFETY CONDITION, HOWEVER THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TELLS ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I FEEL THAT SINCE THIS IS A VERIFIED KNOWN PROBLEM AND A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM EXISTS THAT ALL 2013 FORD TAURUS WITH THIS KNOWN CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. I THINK THAT THE RECALL # IS 15S18.
MY ENGINE LIGHT IS CAME ON. AT FIRST IT WAS READING THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS GOING BAD. I'VE RECENTLY REPLACED MY FUEL PUMP AND NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON AND ITS READING TWO DIFFERENT CODES. ONE IS A LEAK WITH MY GAS CAP. THE OTHER ONE IS ELETRICAL. MY CAR HAS CUT OFF ME AS IF I'VE RAN OUT OF GAS AND I WASN'T REALLY OUT OF GAS…
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MY ENGINE LIGHT IS CAME ON. AT FIRST IT WAS READING THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS GOING BAD. I'VE RECENTLY REPLACED MY FUEL PUMP AND NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON AND ITS READING TWO DIFFERENT CODES. ONE IS A LEAK WITH MY GAS CAP. THE OTHER ONE IS ELETRICAL. MY CAR HAS CUT OFF ME AS IF I'VE RAN OUT OF GAS AND I WASN'T REALLY OUT OF GAS. WHEN I HAVE SOMEONE COME AND BRING ME GAS IN A GAS CAN, WHILE POURING THE GAS IN ITS LEAKING RIGHT OUT AS IF MY THING ISNT CONNECTED OR I HAD A LINE THATS CUT. MY GAS METER ISNT WORKING PROPERLU EITHER AND WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE ALL OF MY LIGHTS TURN ON AND WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE THEY CUT OFF. MY STEREO FREEZES AND CUTS ON AND OFF.
BAD REAR TOE LINKS ON CAR WITH 26,000 MILES PURCHASED NEW
A WRENCH APPEARS IN THE DISPLAY AND CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE. YOU CUT THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY AND THEN IT START BACK UP WITH NO ALARM CODE LEFT ON THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVING ON THE HWY.
LOST STEERING CONTROL. POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. ON STARTING CAR THE FAULT COMES UP IN DASH AND NOT STEERING. SHUTTING OFF ENGINE RESETS AS MANY AS TWO TRIES.
REAR TOE LINKS BROKEN
WHEN YOU START THE CAR, OCCASIONALLY A CODE COMES UP POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. THERE IS A RECALL 15S18 FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR MY EXACT CAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. HOWEVER WHEN I HAVE THE VIN NUMBER CHECKED, MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ( LITHIA SPRINGS,GA) SAY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. MY…
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WHEN YOU START THE CAR, OCCASIONALLY A CODE COMES UP POWER STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. THERE IS A RECALL 15S18 FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR MY EXACT CAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. HOWEVER WHEN I HAVE THE VIN NUMBER CHECKED, MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ( LITHIA SPRINGS,GA) SAY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. MY CAR IS HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM THE RECALL IDENTIFIES, BUT FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR IT BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT IN THE RECALL. MY MECHANIC IDENTIFIED THE RECALL AND THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER AND I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AFTER CHECKING MY VIN NUMBER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I AM HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM THE RECALL DESCRIBES AND I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE RECENTLY THE CAR STOPPED IN MY SUBDIVISION WHEN I WAS TURNING ON TO THE MAIN ROAD. THAT IS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHEN I INITIALLY STARTED THE CAR-IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY MECHANIC HAS SAID IT IS 'THE STEERING CONTROL MOGEAL FAULT & THE STEERING ANGEL FAULT' AND THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBES 'THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST SYSTEM THAT MAY SHUT DOWN AS RESULT OF A STEERING MOTOR SENSOR FAILURE. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, EXTRA STEERING EFFORT WILL BE REQUIRED AT LOWER SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH'.THIS ALSO CAN HAPPEN ON THE ROAD AND CAUSE A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR NOW BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID WE WILL BE KILLED OR MAIMED IF IT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF OUR SUBDIVISION. PLEASE HELP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS A POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR SERVICED. THE MANUFACTUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE AS A POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
RECALL FROM FEBRUARY 10TH ON FRACTURED REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK. FORD DEALER STATING PARTS STILL NOT AVAILABLE
Official recalls
920V072000 · Suspension:rear
Feb 10, 2020
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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
16V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Aug 25, 2016
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of power to the fuel pump will cause the engine to stall or prevent the vehicle from starting, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S31.
15V812000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Dec 2, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.
15V340000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Jun 2, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.
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.
14V393000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft
Jul 2, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the halfshaft and linkshaft become disengaged while driving, power will no longer be transmitted to the wheels, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll away despite the transmission being placed in 'Park', increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence of spline damage, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S10.
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.
13V270000 · Latches/locks/linkages
Jun 26, 2013
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety locks may change from an activated position to a deactivated position without notice.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to personal injury to an unrestrained child.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the safety locks. If necessary, the locks will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S07. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
13V227000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
May 31, 2013
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.