The contact's mother owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, several unknown warning lights illuminated when turning off the vehicle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the dashboard. In addition, the gear shifter had seized in park(P). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In…
2013 Ford Taurus powertrain problems
severe 36 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 36 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 36 powertrain 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 12 model years of Ford Taurus in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Taurus has a documented pattern of sudden power loss and stalling while driving—often triggered by turns or normal acceleration—that dealers struggle to diagnose. Early fluid leaks and transmission hard shifts have also been reported; budget for potential PTU or transmission work if you're buying used.
The 2013 Taurus powertrain failures cluster around sudden loss of acceleration and stalling, typically accompanied by a wrench warning light. Owners describe the vehicle entering limp mode or reduced-power state at speeds ranging from 20 to 77 mph, often after turns or lane changes. The loss of power is complete—the accelerator becomes unresponsive, forcing owners to restart the engine to regain normal operation. This repeats randomly; one owner had three incidents in one week, another experienced it happening 1–3 times daily for a period.
Dealerships consistently fail to reproduce or diagnose the issue. When they do scan the vehicle, no active codes appear. Some techs clean the throttle body; others have found faulty fuel control modules, PCMs, or throttle bodies, but repairs don't always stick. One owner had a throttle body replaced and the problem returned. Owners cite stability-control interference as a possible cause and note that similar PCM recall campaigns exist for other Taurus model years—but not 2013.
Separately, multiple owners report Power Transfer Unit (PTU) failure between 73,000 and 84,000 miles, preceded by hot plastic or sulfur smells and fluid leaks. Replacement costs exceed $2,000 out-of-pocket. One dealership acknowledged five PTU failures in six months. Transmission hard shifts, park-to-roll issues, and crank-no-start conditions round out the broader powertrain concerns.
Same Ford Taurus powertrain reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden loss of acceleration / limp mode activation
Engine loses power and enters limp mode (reduced power state), often triggered by turns or lane changes at low-to-moderate speeds. Vehicle slows dramatically or stalls completely. Wrench warning light illuminates. Restarting temporarily restores function.
When: Occurs at speeds between 20–77 mph; often after lateral vehicle motion, turns, or during acceleration/deceleration cycles. Some instances happen randomly throughout driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration or complete power loss; Engine sputtering; Wrench (powertrain fault) light illumination; Vehicle enters limp mode or reduced-power mode; Difficulty restarting (some cases require multiple attempts); RPMs lock in 1200–1500 range (some cases); Hazard lights and AC continue operating
Codes mentioned: Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) system fault, Throttle body malfunction, Powertrain Control Module (PCM) fault, Check engine / maintenance vehicle warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning or replacement reported by some owners; dealerships unable to reproduce issue in many cases. No repairs completed in several narratives. One owner reports faulty fuel control module was replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealerships unable to diagnose in multiple cases; no active or pending codes found at service centers. Owner references PCM recalls on other Taurus model years but states 2013 not included. Ford denied warranty assistance citing expired powertrain warranty despite vehicle still under powertrain warranty period at time of initial complaint.
Power Transfer Unit (PTU) failure
PTU fails prematurely, causing hot plastic/sulfur smell, fluid leaks, and eventual failure. Dealership initially misdiagnosed as surface oil, then confirmed PTU and turbo downpipe failure.
When: At 73,000 miles (highway driving). Another instance at 84,000 miles with initial noise 2 weeks prior.
Symptoms owners cite: Hot plastic or sulfur smell after vehicle warm-up; Smell intensifies at low speeds or when stationary; Progressive fluid leak underneath vehicle; Check engine codes
Codes mentioned: Check engine code(s) recorded but specific codes not provided in narrative
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost reported as over $2,000 out-of-pocket. Dealership indicated 5 other PTU failures in 6 months. Another owner reports $2,000 replacement at 84,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford denied warranty assistance citing expired powertrain warranty. Dealership acknowledged ongoing issue ('this is an issue that has been going on') and documented case number.
Transmission hard shifts and loss of lower gears
Transmission loses ability to access lower gears; exhibits hard, jolting downshifts accompanied by loud slamming into gear. Vehicle becomes sluggish and difficult to control during deceleration.
When: At 80,200 miles during highway driving and construction zone descent.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of low gears (1, 2, 3); Loud, hard jolting shifts during downshift; Vehicle sluggish and difficult to stop; Delayed shift engagement (slamming into gear after several seconds)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement completed at owner expense; cost described as 'costly' but specific amount not stated.
Park-to-roll/shift-lever seizure
Vehicle rolls or shifts unexpectedly from Park; gear shift lever seizes in Park position. One instance resulted in vehicle rolling backward while parked, causing injury.
When: At approximately 39,400–86,000 miles; at least one instance occurred while vehicle was unattended in Park.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls forward or backward despite being in Park; Gear shift lever seizes or will not move from Park; Warning lights may illuminate (specific lights vary)
Repairs/costs cited: Shift lever seized in one case; vehicle not repaired in either case. One dealership declined to diagnose, citing VIN not included in recall 14V393000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated VIN not included in NHTSA recall 14V393000 (Powertrain). Manufacturer did not assist.
Engine stall without warning
Engine stalls suddenly while driving on highway or city streets with no prior warning lights. Vehicle requires restart; no codes or lights may appear before or after event.
When: At 73 mph on straight highway and 98,000 miles. No mileage provided in other instances.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine stall; Complete loss of power; No warning indicator lights before failure (some cases); Vehicle will not restart immediately
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealership identified faulty fuel control module; owner's vehicle (3.5L V6 Limited) not included in recall 16V621000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall coverage for affected VINs.
Front driver-side tie rod / suspension failure
Front driver-side tire seized and separated from tie rod while vehicle in motion at low speed, nearly causing crash and resulting in passenger injury.
When: At approximately 72,000 miles during 30 mph city driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Tire seized and came completely off tire rod; Loss of steering control / vehicle stability
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but did not assist. VIN not included in recall 14V393000 (Powertrain).
Hesitation/sputtering on turns with throttle body malfunction
Vehicle hesitates to accelerate and sputters when making left or right turns, as if attempting to stall. Throttle body replacement does not resolve issue.
When: Failure mileage not stated in narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation during acceleration; Sputtering on turns; Attempted stall during turns
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced by dealer; failure persisted after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure.
Crank-no-start with fuel smell
Vehicle exhibits crank-no-start condition accompanied by fuel odor. Associated with loss of power in lower gears and hesitation during acceleration.
When: Timing not specified; vehicle had 52,000 miles or higher mileage at time of reporting.
Symptoms owners cite: Crank-no-start condition; Fuel smell; Loss of power in lower gears (1, 2, 3); Hesitation during acceleration from standstill
Repairs/costs cited: Specific repair not mentioned; owner hopes Ford will address issues.
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 36 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 29 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 42,500 and 87,000 miles, with the median around 72,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,500; a quarter make it past 87,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.