Ford Taurus problems
64 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 5 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Ford taurus sel(na). While driving 1-2 MPH making a left turn, the vehicle stalled suddenly. The cruise control had just been deactivated before the failure. The contact allowed the vehicle to coast and restarted it. The vehicle was then taken to an…
Ford taurus 2009 engine stalled while going about 55 MPH. Driver restarted car by shifting into neutral and restarting car. This happened a second time a few months later. The third time the car started idling very roughly while stopped at a traffic light. This time, a…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, another vehicle failed to yield right-of-way and crashed into the front passenger's side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report…
I purchased a new Ford taurus on 9-16-09. Shortly after that, I noticed that all the running lights and interior lights would go on and off while the car was parked in the garage. I also noticed that the drivers door would unlock while I was driving it. I was told that a part…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Ford Taurus reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Ford Taurus is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2009 Ford Taurus?
On the NHTSA data, the 2009 Ford Taurus does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Ford Taurus?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 23 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 25,158 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 25,158 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford Taurus has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Ford Taurus?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 64 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.