NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 79 owner complaints for the 2012 Ford Taurus. Most complaints involve steering (17) and electrical system (16). The EPA rates it 20–22 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
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 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.
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.
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 |
“My steering all of a sudden was stiff and I can barely turn at low speeds. Not safe due to uncontrolled steering. I replaced the pump thinking that would fix it, and it did not. I’m taking it to a dealer after the holiday weekend. No warnings at all.”
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several different warning lights were intermittently flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where she was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure, and the contact was provided the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”
“THE DRIVER'S SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO ALLOW EGRESS. IT HANGS OUT LIMPLY ON ITS HINGES NOT ENGAGING THE DOOR LATCH. TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE WINDOW HAS TO BE ROLLED DOWN AND THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLED UP AS THOUGH ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A PRIOR RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THIS VERY SAME INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPAIRED BY A FORD DEALER.”
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 · All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,100 | 444 |
| Taurus AWD Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 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 |
5 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 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 79 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are steering (17), electrical system (16), structure (16). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2012 Ford Taurus at 20–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2012 Ford Taurus 4 out of 5 stars overall.