Car spontaneously stopped running. The touch screen display went dark, the dash board lights turned off and the engine stopped while traveling a city street at 25 MPH. The car coasted to a stop and it took about a minute to restart it. *tr updated 2/11/16*js
2013 Ford Taurus electrical problems
severe 34 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
2fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 34 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Ford Taurus in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Taurus has widespread electrical and powertrain control issues that can kill the engine while driving, cause unintended acceleration, leave you stranded with repeated starting failures, and pose fire risk at the rear. Many failures occur early in ownership, some owners face dealer refusals to repair, and recall coverage is inconsistently applied by VIN—avoid this model unless you can verify a clean diagnostic history from a trusted independent shop.
The 2013 Taurus electrical failures cluster around three critical safety zones: throttle control, fuel delivery, and power distribution. Owners report unintended acceleration at stop signs, stalling mid-traffic, and loss of throttle response—sometimes within weeks of purchase or at low mileage. Fuel pump and relay failures create hard starts, stalling, and repeated failures even after part replacement. One owner's fuel pump relay only lasted six days before the stalling returned.
Battery terminal corrosion at an accelerated rate, poor charging from the alternator, and random loss of electrical power create the risk of losing power steering and brakes while driving. Infotainment systems freeze or stay on when the car is off; backup cameras fail intermittently; door locks stop responding to the key fob.
Most concerning are two reported fires: one with a 3-inch flame above the license plate after remote start, another melting the rear bumper and trunk lid. Both appeared to burn from inside.
Heating and air-conditioning systems shut off randomly and don't restart despite multiple repair attempts. A handful of owners report the same issues across identical model years, suggesting systemic problems. Many owners cite VIN-specific recall exclusions—their vehicles exhibit the exact same failures as recalled models but don't qualify for coverage. Dealers frequently claim inability to diagnose or repair the failures, and Ford has cited no TSBs for several recurring problems.
Same Ford Taurus electrical reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) / Throttle Control Failures
Loss of throttle control, sudden acceleration, hesitation, and deceleration without driver input. Some owners report the vehicle losing power mid-traffic or stalling. One owner experienced a dangerous unintended high-speed surge at a stop sign that caused an accident.
When: Reported from as early as 16,600 miles to 29,000+ miles; some within weeks of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of throttle in traffic; Sudden unintended acceleration; Vehicle hesitation and refusal to accelerate or decelerate; Stalling while driving; Service wrench warning light illumination; RPM deceleration independent of driver input
Codes mentioned: P0611 (Throttle Actuator Control Module fault implied), Throttle-related diagnostic codes
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement quoted at $750; some dealers refused to repair or claimed inability to fix; throttle body, fuel injection kit, and fuel kit replacements performed in one instance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VIN-specific recall exclusions reported by owners; some vehicles excluded from recall coverage despite same failure; dealer-level repairs attempted but some dealers could not or would not complete work
Fuel Pump / Fuel System Electrical Failures
Fuel pump not delivering fuel, causing no-start or stalling conditions. Hard starts, rough idle, and repeated failures even after parts replacement. Gas leaks and fuel gauge malfunction reported alongside fuel pump relay and module issues.
When: Reported at 79,000 miles and throughout vehicle ownership; some failures recur days or weeks after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start or starts very rough; Stalling in motion and after restart; Fuel pump relay failures; Gas leaking from fuel tank; Fuel gauge not working properly; Engine cuts off as if out of gas despite full tank; 'Check fuel pump module circuit' code; Purge valve issues
Codes mentioned: P0011 (Fuel pump circuit fault implied), Check fuel pump module circuit code
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump relay replaced; fuel pump assembly replaced (recall 13S04 in July 2014); purge valve replaced; repairs temporary—failures recurred within 6 days to weeks; one owner reports continuing no-start after fuel pump module replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V621000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and recall 13S04 (Fuel Pump Assembly) exist but exclude some VINs; owners report Ford denying coverage for their specific vehicles
Battery / Charging System Electrical Failures
Battery terminal corrosion and loose connections prevent proper charging and power distribution. Alternator not charging battery adequately due to poor connection design. Risk of sudden power loss to steering and brakes.
When: Battery terminal corrosion reported as an ongoing issue; some failures from early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Charging system failure warning light; Battery terminal corrosion at high rate; Connections break away and lose power; Alternator insufficient charging; Loss of electrical power
Codes mentioned: Charging system failure indicator
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing battery terminals and connections; corrosion reoccurs rapidly due to poor engineering
Infotainment / Sync System Malfunctions
Radio and Sync system failures including unresponsive controls, radio playing when car is off, black screen display, and system freeze. APIM (audio processing/infotainment module) warranty extension exists but expired for some owners; no TSB available per Ford.
When: Reported throughout vehicle ownership; one owner noted warranty extension notification was sent to previous owner only
Symptoms owners cite: Radio will not shut off despite car being off; Screen black but radio still playing; Touch screen buttons unresponsive (climate control, audio controls); Radio/Sync system freezes and cycles on and off; Radio increases volume on its own; Radio plays when vehicle is turned off
Repairs/costs cited: APIM warranty extension available but may have expired; no TSB exists per Ford
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty extension for APIM Sync system exists but transferred to previous owners only; no TSB available
Backup Camera Intermittent / Permanent Failure
Backup camera stops working intermittently or fails permanently. Screen shows 'rear camera unavailable' message. Multiple owners report the same issue across 2013–2019 model years.
When: Reported throughout vehicle ownership and after multiple service attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Camera randomly stops working; Black screen when shifting to reverse; 'Rear camera unavailable' error message; Intermittent failures that recur frequently; Permanent non-function despite repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs performed but failures persist or recur
Door Lock / Keyless Entry Failures
Driver and passenger door locks fail to respond to key fob. Doors appear locked but are not, creating a security hazard. Issue emerged after recall for interior door handle replacement.
When: Reported after interior door handle recall
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks do not respond to key fob; Doors appear locked but are unsecured; Loss of keyless entry functionality
Repairs/costs cited: Issue surfaced after recall work; not repaired under warranty because it did not occur at dealership
Tail Light / License Plate Light Electrical Fires
Electrical short in tail light and license plate light assembly causing fires at the rear bumper. One fire burned the bumper, melted plastic, and damaged the trunk lid. Another fire occurred with a 3-inch flame above the license plate after remote start. Both fires burned from what appeared to be inside.
When: Reported after remote start activation and during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: License plate bulbs not working; Internal short in bulb assembly; 3-inch flame at rear bumper area; Bumper burning across deck lid; Tail lights melting; Trunk lid damage from fire
Repairs/costs cited: License plate lamp assembly replacement available under recall 14S08 but excluded some VINs; bulb replacement only temporary fix; fires occurred despite 'repairs'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14S08 exists for license plate lamp assembly but some VINs excluded; Ford did not know cause of spontaneous fire
Blend Door / HVAC Control Failures
Heating and air-conditioning system malfunctions including loss of heat gauge, inconsistent temperatures (one side hot, other cold), and random shutoffs. Multiple owners with same model year report identical issues that remain unfixed.
When: Reported throughout vehicle ownership; unresolved after multiple shop visits
Symptoms owners cite: No heat gauge reading; AC/Heat shuts off randomly; Will not turn back on after shutoff; Blend door issue causing one side hot and other cold; Inconsistent temperature control
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repair attempts at shops; issues remain unresolved; owners report many same-model vehicles have identical problems
Speedometer / Cruise Control Display Discrepancy
Speedometer reads 3–4 mph higher than actual cruise control setting consistently across all speed settings. Issue present from new delivery. Dealer found same symptom on multiple model years (2013–2014) but deemed 'all OK.'
When: Present from new vehicle delivery; consistent across all driving speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer reads 3–4 mph higher than cruise control setting; Occurs at all cruise speed settings (45, 55, 65, 70 mph); Inconsistency between digital and analog display
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to fix; verified same issue on multiple model years but took no action
Wiring Harness Damage / Rodent Chew-Through
O2 sensor wiring harness damaged by rodents. Ford dealership reported seeing a pattern of this same failure across multiple 2013 Taurus vehicles.
When: Reported at one dealership serving multiple vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: O2 sensor wiring harness chewed through by rodents; Multiple instances at same dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs made; dealer noted pattern of rodent damage on same model
Reverse Parking Sensor / Backup Alert System Failure
Reverse sensor alarm inadequate and inaudible during normal cabin noise. Alarm range limited to only 2.5–3 feet from rear bumper, providing minimal warning. Dealer stated unable to correct; customer was denied refund or replacement.
When: Noted early in vehicle ownership (purchased September 2012)
Symptoms owners cite: Reverse sensor alarm not audible in cabin during conversation/radio noise; Alarm does not activate beyond 2.5–3 feet from rear bumper; Inadequate safety warning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated unable to correct issue
Dashboard Lights / Instrument Cluster Electrical Issues
Dashboard lights, gauges, and warning indicators malfunction or fail. Includes oil pressure gauge failure, light dimmer switch non-function, and intermittent warning light illumination.
When: Reported throughout vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pressure gauge not working; Dashboard lights turning off intermittently; Dimmer switch not working; Warning lights cycling on and off; Vehicle shaking when warning lights activate
Electrical System Resets / Language Settings Resets
Vehicle performs unexpected electrical 'resets' and language setting resets even on brand-new vehicles. Message appears on center console screen about language being reset. Occurs periodically or every six months to a year.
When: Reported even on new vehicle with 1,000 miles; reoccurs periodically
Symptoms owners cite: Electrical system 'spins' or resets without driver input; Language setting resets unexpectedly; IKO, IKE, IKZ messages on center console screen before starting; Charging system failure light during resets
Codes mentioned: IKO, IKE, IKZ (unverified error codes or screen messages)
Repairs/costs cited: Washing motor reported lost at low mileage; dealer could not identify issue even when brought to attention multiple times
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership could not identify issue even on new vehicle; no recalls or TSBs referenced
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Purchased vehicle on 10/06/2022. Within a week noticed surging and /or loss of power. I also smelled buring of some sort. Contacted the dealership and tried to make arrangements for car to be diagnosed and repaired. Codes began to show on the dash. When I took it to be read it showed throttle issues. On 10/18/2022 I was at a complete stop at a stop sign. When I released the brake and touched the…
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 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 electrical problem on the 2013 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 34 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 44,000 and 106,000 miles, with the median around 79,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 44,000; a quarter make it past 106,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.
Related
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/2013/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.