Problems · by component
2010 Ford Taurus engine problems
37 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Taurus cite engine, 18% of all 204 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
37
18% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“5 April 2022 my 2010 Taurus SEL 3.5L engine overheated unexpectedly and the temp warning light came on my way home. I let it cool down during a heavy rain before heading home. I left the vehicle at a gas station for a couple of hours and return to bring it home (3 miles). Temp gage remain steady (3 miles) until it was parked on my driveway. The next day, I conducted an assessment to the cooling system. Reservoir was completely empty and my oil deep stick level was higher than normal 1 inch above max range. It showed coolant contamination. I read several reports about a flaw with the internal water pump design. If indeed is a flaw design or pump manufacture defect, why Ford Motor Company hasn't fix the issue or provided a solution to alleviate this flaw? Now I have to incur on major engine repairs or replacement, in which I am not sure if it is cost effective. Current mileage 171,424”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE TURNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RIVERTOWN FORD (1680 WHITTLESEY RD, COLUMBUS, GA 31904) AND DIAGNOSED AND TEST DRIVEN HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING AND SMOKE WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT HAD SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TWO OTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE INTERIOR FILLED UP WITH SMOKE, THE CONTACT MANAGED TO GET OUT THE VEHICLE WHERE IN A FEW MOMENTS THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE. PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE WAS CONTACTED, CAME OUT AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.”
“WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH A RED LIGHT ON A STATE ROUTE, I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. ENGINE SOUNDED CHOKED. VEHICLE THEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TRAVELING UP HILL. FORCING ME TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, WAS ADVISED THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. DEALERSHIP SERVICE STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED RELEASING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE, DAMAGING THE ENGINE PERMANENTLY. TRAVELING THIS ROADWAY IS USUALLY A SEMI ROUTE TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND FACTORIES. SEMIS DO NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP AS QUICKLY AS A CAR AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT DO TO THE ABRUPT PULL OVER THAT WAS NECESSARY DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION.”
Showing 6 of 37 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.