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2012 Ford Taurus body problems
moderate
Owners of the 2012 Ford Taurus have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See body across all vehicles →
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
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.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinSSM 54601Feb 2026
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
Some 2011-2019 Taurus/Police Interceptor Sedan vehicles may exhibit a loose and/or sagging headliner near the high mounted stoplamp. This may be caused by the headliner mounting bracket separating from the headliner. To resolve the condition, reapply adhesive to the headliner mounting bracket.
Some 2011-2017 Taurus/Police Interceptor Sedan vehicles may exhibit a loose and/or sagging headliner near the high mounted stoplamp. This may be caused by the headliner mounting bracket separating from the headliner. Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Eleven of the fifteen complaints center on NHTSA Campaign 15V040000 (Structure). Owners received recall notices starting in March 2015 but dealers could not obtain the required parts. Multiple owners contacted Ford directly—some on several occasions—and got no estimated delivery date. Parts remained on back order for months. Dealers refused to release vehicles until repairs were completed, leaving owners stranded without transportation or a clear timeline for resolution.
Two separate owners reported trunk lid hydraulic struts failing completely—one at 116,000 miles and another as early as 10,000 miles. The early failure case involved both hood and trunk hydraulics; the owner noted the trunk lid nearly fell on them while retrieving items. Replacement struts were unavailable at dealerships and every aftermarket supplier the owners contacted.
One owner experienced a repeat failure of the driver's side interior door handle, which had previously been repaired under an earlier recall. The handle hung limp and could not engage the door latch, forcing the owner to open the door from outside or roll down the window.
One complaint notes that a dealer held the vehicle for three days after the owner brought it in for the recall repair but then failed to complete the work and refused further assistance.
Same Ford Taurus body reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Structural Recall Parts Shortage (Campaign 15V040000)
NHTSA Campaign 15V040000 (Structure) issued recall notifications, but dealers could not obtain replacement parts. Multiple owners reported extended delays—sometimes months—with no estimated arrival date. Dealers refused to release vehicles or provide a timeline for repair completion. Ford was notified of delays but could not provide resolution.
When: Recall issued March 2015; complaints filed through early 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer unable to perform recall work due to part unavailability; Parts on back order with no estimated delivery; Vehicle held at dealership pending parts arrival; Manufacturer unable to provide timeline for repair
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair could not be completed; parts were unavailable at dealership, Ford distributors, and aftermarket suppliers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V040000 (Structure); manufacturer notified of delays but unable to expedite
Door Handle Internal Linkage Failure
Driver's side interior door handle failed to engage the door latch mechanism, hanging limply and unable to open the door. Owner reported this was a repeat failure of the same handle that had been previously repaired under a prior recall.
When: Failure occurred after prior recall repair; current failure timing unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Interior door handle does not engage latch; Handle hangs limp on hinges; Door must be opened from outside or by rolling down window
Repairs/costs cited: Previously repaired under prior recall; same handle failed again
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Prior recall repair performed; current failure not addressed in narratives
Trunk Lid Hydraulic Strut Failure
Hydraulic lift supports for the trunk lid suddenly failed, preventing safe opening and closing of the trunk. One owner reported the struts failed at 116,000 miles (vehicle purchased new); another reported hood and trunk hydraulics failed at approximately 10,000 miles with risk of trunk lid collapsing.
When: First report at 116,000 miles (July 2016); second report at 10,000 miles (failure mileage); current mileage 16,500
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk lid hydraulic struts lose pressure and collapse; Trunk lid drops or fails to stay open; Hood hydraulics also reported failed in one case; Risk of trunk lid falling during retrieval of items
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement strut parts unavailable at dealers and all aftermarket suppliers checked
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
4 most recent
body
· filed 12/04/2015
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford taurus. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 15v040000 (structure) was received in march of 2015. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be given. The…
body
· filed 10/19/2015
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford taurus. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15v040000 (structure); however, the parts needed were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time. The dealer stated that the parts were on back order and were unable to provide a time frame for when the parts would become available. The…
body
· filed 10/07/2015
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford taurus. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 15v040000 (structure) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
body
· filed 09/25/2015
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Ford taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v040000 (structure); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Had body trouble with your 2012 Ford Taurus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2012 Ford Taurus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 77,333 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover body issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Ford/Taurus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.