Should I buy a 2014 Ford Taurus with documented lighting problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented lighting 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.

2014 Ford Taurus lighting problems

moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$250

When does it fail?

Of the 11 lighting complaints filed for the 2014 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.

0-25k

0 (0%)

25-50k

1 (100%)

50-75k

0 (0%)

75-100k

0 (0%)

100-125k

0 (0%)

125-150k

0 (0%)

150k+

0 (0%)

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

Among the 8 model years of Ford Taurus in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.

No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 14V285000 May 29, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles manufactured November 24, 2008, through February 28, 2014, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia

This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08. Note: Under program 14R01, Ford will notify owners in non-corrosion states, and, at the customer's request, dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly.

The failure pattern owners describe

Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Taurus has documented headlight issues ranging from poor illumination during night driving to complete electrical failures, plus moisture intrusion and odd interactions with turn signals. If you're buying used, get a thorough night-driving inspection and check headlight clarity before purchasing.

Owners consistently report inadequate headlight performance on the 2014 Taurus, with the most serious complaint describing severely limited light output during night driving. One owner states the lights create a sharp line between illuminated road surface and surrounding darkness, pointing downward on slopes and leaving front quarter areas pitch-black during turns—a major safety hazard. Another owner notes headlight cover haze that dims output by roughly half after a few years, an ongoing problem they suspect causes nighttime accidents.

Complete headlight electrical failures have occurred at 24,000 and 87,999 miles, with both driver and passenger headlamps going dark simultaneously in one case. A dealer inspection failed to identify the root cause. One owner found a rear license plate lamp out at 86,000 miles.

Moisture and corrosion issues appear in lighting assemblies—one owner discovered corrosion inside the license plate light at 84,131 miles, and another found significant moisture in both headlight lenses despite the vehicle being garage-parked. Finally, one owner reports an unusual glitch where activating the right turn signal causes the headlights to flash, persisting for months.

Some complaints reference NHTSA campaign numbers for exterior lighting, but the affected vehicles' VINs were not included in those recalls.

Same Ford Taurus lighting reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012

Failure modes owners describe

Headlight dimming and poor illumination

Owners report severely limited headlight output during night driving, with a defined line between light and darkness. When driving on even slight slopes, lights point down into the immediate road only, eliminating forward visibility and reaction time. No peripheral lighting on front quarter, creating complete darkness when turning onto intersecting roads or driveways. One owner notes headlight covers become dimmed by approximately 50% after a few years, suspected ongoing problem.

When: Night driving; covers dim over time after a few years

Symptoms owners cite: Very limited light output during night driving; Defined line between projected light and surrounding darkness; Lights point down into road when on slight slopes; No forward visibility or reaction time for obstacles; No peripheral lighting toward front quarter; Complete darkness when turning; Headlight cover haze/dimming over time

Headlight electrical failure

Multiple owners report complete headlight failures. One owner experienced both driver and passenger side headlamps becoming inoperable along with instrument panel at 24,000 miles while driving at 60 mph. Another owner experienced driver side headlamp failure after air bag and engine warning lights illuminated at 87,999 miles. Local dealer unable to diagnose the cause in one case.

When: At 24,000 miles and 87,999 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Headlights failed to illuminate properly in dark and rain; Driver and passenger side headlamps became inoperable; Instrument panel became inoperable; Driver side headlamp failure; Failure without warning

Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle taken to McGrath Ford (Cedar Rapids, IA) but unable to diagnose; not repaired

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case Number 13344376 opened; manufacturer stated no recall and recommended second opinion at another dealer

Rear license plate lamp failure

Owner discovered rear license plate lamp was out when pulled over by police. Contact associated this with NHTSA Campaign Number 20V331000 (Exterior Lighting) but VIN was not included in recall.

When: At 86,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Rear license plate lamp out

Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Associated with NHTSA Campaign Number 20V331000 (Exterior Lighting) but VIN not included; Case opened with manufacturer

Moisture and corrosion in lighting assemblies

Two owners report moisture issues in lighting. One owner found corrosion inside license plate light. Another owner found large amounts of moisture in both left and right headlight lenses while vehicle was parked inside garage.

When: Mileage 84,131

Symptoms owners cite: Corrosion inside license plate light; Moisture in left and right headlights; Large amounts of moisture inside lens

Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; dealer notified but did not diagnose or repair

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Associated with NHTSA Campaign Number 14V285000 (Exterior Lighting) and Manufacturer Recall Number 20S30/15S16/16S30 but VIN not included

Turn signal causing headlight flash on right turn

Owner reports that activating the right turn signal causes headlights to flash simultaneously. Issue occurs whether vehicle is in motion or stopped and has been ongoing for months.

When: Ongoing for months

Symptoms owners cite: Headlights flash when activating right turn signal; Occurs in motion or stopped; Described as annoying

Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

lighting · 45,000 mi · filed 12/30/2018

Their is moisture in my headlights, left and right headlights show large amounts inside of lens. The vehicle is parked inside my garage .

Had lighting trouble with your 2014 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 lighting problem on the 2014 Ford Taurus?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?

Based on the 11 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 65,426 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover lighting 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/2014/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.