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.
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.