NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 204 owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Taurus. Most complaints involve steering (41) and engine (37). The EPA rates it 20–22 mpg combined.
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."
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Taurus model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 868 |
| 1997 | 816 |
| 1998 | 570 |
| 1999 | 918 |
| 2000 | 1,195 |
| 2001 | 1,036 |
| 2002 | 1,469 |
| 2003 | 1,223 |
| 2004 | 375 |
| 2005 | 774 |
| 2006 | 318 |
| 2007 | 149 |
| 2008 | 175 |
| 2009 | 64 |
| 2010 | 204 |
| 2011 | 187 |
| 2012 | 79 |
| 2013 | 591 |
| 2014 | 236 |
| 2015 | 286 |
| 2016 | 88 |
| 2017 | 44 |
| 2018 | 52 |
| 2019 | 18 |
“The contact owns a 2010 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while making a right turn, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that the "Power Steering Assist Failure" message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000.”
“O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting. Dealership had the vehicle non-recall. Seat belt light appeared and Agent was contacted. System is collected for revisiting my claim.”
“The contact owns a 2010 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated on its own at high speed without any warning, causing the vehicle to airborne and struck his neighbor's home. The contact desperately pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The contact's wife had severe injuries and sought medical attention. The vehicle was towed but the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 117,000.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taurus FWD Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 28 | 22 | $2,850 | 404 |
| Taurus FWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | $2,950 | 423 |
| Taurus AWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 | 444 |
| Taurus AWD Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 | 444 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 204 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (41), engine (37), power train (36). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2010 Ford Taurus at 20–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).