Should I buy a 2012 Ford Taurus with documented steering problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented steering issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2012 Ford Taurus steering problems

severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$700

1crash

What stands out

Steering accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.

No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

The failure pattern owners describe

Buyer takeaway: 2012 Ford Taurus owners report power steering losses ranging from complete failure to intermittent stiffness, sometimes recurring even after repairs or recalls. Before buying one, verify if the vehicle has been serviced under NHTSA Campaign 15V340000 or Ford's Customer Satisfaction Program 15N01, and test the steering thoroughly through a pre-purchase inspection.

Owners consistently describe abrupt power steering failures in 2012–2013 Ford Taurus models, occurring at highway speeds down to parking-lot crawls. The most severe incidents involved complete loss of steering assist while moving, forcing owners to muscle the wheel or pull over immediately. Some failures are preceded by warning lights (power steering assist fault, stability track, traction assist); others happen silently with no dashboard alert.

Dealers have diagnosed faulty EPAS (electric power-assist) racks and steering wheel rotation sensors. One owner's pump replacement failed to restore normal steering. Low hydraulic pressure has been found on inspection, though repairs sometimes don't stick—failures recur days or weeks later.

Ford issued NHTSA Campaign 15V340000 (Steering) and a Customer Satisfaction Program 15N01 (EPAS Power Steering Efforts). However, owners report difficulty getting dealers to honor the recall, with some told their VINs aren't covered despite the recall's stated breadth. One owner was denied a second repair under the same recall, told that a prior fix closed the case.

Intermittent failures that clear after restart were reported, as were persistent ones that don't. Steering noise accompanied at least one failure. Most complaints cite no warning lights until failure occurred.

Same Ford Taurus steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015

Failure modes owners describe

Loss of Power Steering Assist – Complete Failure

Power steering stops functioning entirely, rendering the steering wheel difficult or impossible to turn. Often accompanied by 'power steering assist fault' warning light. May occur while driving at any speed (15 mph to 65 mph) or at startup.

When: Reported between 30,000 and 144,027 miles; some failures recur after initial incidents

Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel extremely difficult to turn in either direction; Complete loss of power steering assist while driving; Power steering assist fault warning light illumination; Stability track warning light illumination; Service tire mobility kit message displayed; Failure may be intermittent (corrected by restart) or persistent

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have diagnosed faulty EPAS (Electric Power Assist Steering) rack requiring replacement; some owners report pump replacement did not resolve the issue; low steering pressure found by independent mechanic but failure recurred after repair

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V340000 (Steering) – some owners eligible for recall work; Customer Satisfaction Program 15N01 (EPAS Power Steering Efforts) referenced; some dealers claim VIN not covered by recall despite broad applicability; Ford has denied assistance on repeat failures claiming previous recall closed the issue

Steering Wheel Rotation Sensor Failure

Steering wheel rotation sensor malfunction, causing traction control and stability warning systems to activate and impairing steering response.

When: Approximately 30,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Traction assist warning indicator illuminated continuously; Warning light recurs numerous times; Steering becomes difficult; possible independent acceleration event reported in same complaint

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis indicated steering wheel rotation sensor failed and needed replacement; vehicle not repaired at time of complaint

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware; no action documented

Intermittent Steering Stiffness – Low Pressure

Steering becomes abnormally stiff and hard to turn, especially at low speeds, without warning lights. May be intermittent and recur after temporary fixes.

When: Reported at 93,000 miles and other unspecified mileages

Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stiff and difficult to turn at low speeds; No warning lights prior to failure; Intermittent nature; recurs after repair or within days; May be accompanied by steering noise

Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic found low power steering pressure and repaired, but failure recoccurred; pump replacement by owner did not resolve stiffness issue

Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

steering · filed 11/29/2022

Started car and power steering assist fault light came on making the wheel hard to steer. Turned off the car and restarted it and the same issue, power steering assist fault light has been on for 2 days now

Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2012 Ford Taurus?

It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.

At what mileage does the steering typically fail?

Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 51,000 and 117,000 miles, with the median around 100,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 117,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.

What does it cost to fix?

Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?

No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.

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.