2012 Ford Taurus: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Ford Taurus: 5 recalls, 79 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #13V109000 · 2013 · 3,037 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks May have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks May not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks May also leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13s03.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #14V285000 · 2014 · 183,425 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: This corrosion May result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #15V040000 · 2015 · 194,889 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Steering Vehicle recall #15V340000 · 2015 · 393,623 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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…
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V247000 · 2016 · 695 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (17): the most common themes are steering problems (16), warning light on (6).
- Electrical (16): the most common themes are electrical failure (7), stalls / loses power (2).
- Body & structure (16): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Exterior lights (12): the most common themes are electrical failure (5), warning light on (3).
The 2012 Ford Taurus has 79 owner complaints, ranking #26 of 30 Taurus model years for complaints (well below the 563 average). Complaints peaked in 2015 (19 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 41,493 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (187 complaints, 4 recalls), 2013 (584 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 28 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Ford Taurus.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Ford Taurus. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Ford Taurus problems?
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (17), electrical (16), body & structure (16).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Taurus get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (3.5 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Ford Taurus repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.