Ford Taurus problems
202 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.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
- Steering: 40 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 76,500–110,000 mi
- Engine: 32 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 30,000–120,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.4/10 — around 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 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
While driving at speeds below 40 MPH, my transmission would shutter, today my vehicle was going through a intersection when I tried to use the gas through the intersection the vehicle would not move or speed up, I then shifted to manual mode to cross the intersection.…
Power assist steering fault appears on the dashboard. As I was driving down the street at 7:00 pm my steering wheel locked up and my dash read power steering assist fault. I then ran over a median and almost pulled a muscle trying to bring the car back on to the road. I called…
2010 Ford taurus sho- when brakes are applied grinding noise is heard. Happened after about 1000 mi., dealer replaced pads..most prevalent when weather is colder. Was good for awhile but started again after 9000 mi.! Brought back to dealer, says he will change rotors and pads…
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…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2010 Ford Taurus reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 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 2010 Ford Taurus?
The 2010 Ford Taurus is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Steering: 40 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 76,500–110,000 mi; Engine: 32 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 30,000–120,000 mi; Reliability score 7.4/10 — around 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 2010 Ford Taurus?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 40 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 93,294 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 42,500 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 2010 Ford Taurus?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 202 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, 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.