Was driving and the accelerator/has pedal stopped working. A wrench indicator came on. The engine stopped working. I pulled to the side of the road and the engine started shaking. I turned the engine off then restarted it. It functioned fine. This happened twice in 2 days. It's the electronic throttle body. Ford won't fix the issue for free. It has 44k miles on it. An obvious…
2015 Ford Taurus electrical problems
moderate 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
When does it fail?
Of the 23 electrical complaints filed for the 2015 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2015 Taurus electrical problems are widespread and serious: stalling without warning, power loss while driving, and backup camera failures create safety hazards that dealers often fail to diagnose. Multiple owners report unresolved fuel pump issues despite recalls, and the car can develop corroded batteries, faulty turn signals, and throttle problems—often with denied warranty coverage.
Owners describe a pattern of dangerous electrical failures in 2015 Taurus vehicles. The most alarming: sudden stalling while driving with zero warning lights—one owner stalled twice in normal traffic, another stalled three times even after a dealer fuel pump module replacement. Two separate owners lost all electrical power momentarily while on the highway.
The backup camera is a widespread complaint: multiple owners report it turning on and off randomly or showing a black screen with "contact dealer" error messages, forcing them to rely on mirrors while backing up.
Fuel system issues appear in multiple forms: one owner's fuel gauge reads wrong (showing fuel when the tank is empty, dropping from half to empty in minutes), another couldn't start the car due to a failing fuel pump control module. At 44k miles, one owner's accelerator stopped working with an engine shake—Ford refused the warranty claim.
Other recurring electrical gremlins: the start/stop button assembly fell into the dashboard on an Avis rental, making the car inoperable. A radio cycling on and off by itself. Alarm going off repeatedly when closing passenger doors. Left turn signal dead due to body control module failure (confirmed by independent shop). One owner's cracked battery at 70k miles corroded engine bay wiring—the same owner reported identical failure on a previous 2015 Taurus.
Dealers often cannot diagnose these problems, claiming diagnostic computers show no faults while owners face bills of $975+ out of pocket.
Same Ford Taurus electrical reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Stalling while driving
Engine cuts off without warning while vehicle is in motion, leaving driver with no power steering or braking assist. Owners report it happens during turns or highway driving. No check engine light or warning precedes the event.
When: During normal driving; one complaint notes 140k miles; another at 2 years of ownership; another stalled 3 weeks after fuel pump module replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off suddenly; No warning lights before stall; Vehicle slows and stops; Can recur multiple times for same owner
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid out-of-pocket for fuel pump electric module replacement; another owner replaced fuel pump module at dealer, but stalling continued
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2013-2015 Taurus fuel pump electric module recall exists, but not all affected VINs included. Dealer diagnostics show no codes found.
Loss of electrical power while driving
All electrical power cuts off momentarily while vehicle is moving on highway. Power returns after waiting a few minutes. Separate from complete stalling events. Creates safety hazard.
When: Occurred twice over 2-year span for one owner
Symptoms owners cite: All electrical power lost briefly; Power unexpectedly restored after waiting minutes; Occurs on highway at speed
Fuel pump control module failure
Fuel pump control module fails, preventing engine start or causing intermittent no-start condition. One owner stranded 5 hours away from home.
When: Intermittent; one occurrence noted at unknown mileage; another owner reports intermittent issue
Symptoms owners cite: No start condition; Intermittent starting failure; No warning lights or prior indication
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $975 for fuel pump and electrical repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to TAKATA recall but specific module replacement did not resolve issue for all owners
Accelerator/throttle body malfunction
Accelerator pedal stops responding while driving. Engine shakes when issue occurs. May be electronic throttle body fault. Owner states obvious manufacturer defect at 44k miles.
When: At 44k miles; occurred twice in 2 days for one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal unresponsive; Engine shaking; Wrench indicator light illuminates; Engine stops working temporarily
Repairs/costs cited: Ford would not cover repair under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford declined warranty claim
Backup camera intermittent or non-functional
Rear-view camera fails intermittently or completely. Screen shows blank/black or error message 'contact the dealer.' Has affected multiple vehicles in this cluster. Creates safety risk when backing up.
When: 5-6 years of ownership for one; failed 08/13/2021 for another; over 6 months of intermittent failure for another
Symptoms owners cite: Camera screen goes black; Blank display or no image; Intermittent on/off cycling; Error message on screen; Beeping warning still works but no image
Repairs/costs cited: One owner quoted high repair cost by independent mechanic and chose not to repair; no other repairs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford has had many previous recalls for backup cameras but affected VINs not included in recalls
Check engine light illumination with no diagnosis
Check engine light turns on and remains on. Read at auto store but owner cannot afford full diagnostic at dealership. Remains unresolved.
When: Since June for one owner (purchased March 2021)
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminated; No diagnosis obtained
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Limited warranty company refused to authorize diagnostic; gave rude service and blamed customer
Cracked battery with corroded wires
Battery cracks, causing wires to corrode throughout engine bay. Creates electrical failures. Same failure reported on another 2015 Taurus owned by same person.
When: At approximately 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery visibly cracked; Wire corrosion in engine
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired at Fairway Ford Inc; owner reported same issue on prior 2015 Taurus
Start/stop button assembly loose or defective
Engine start/stop pushbutton switch assembly falls backward into dashboard cavity when pressed, making vehicle inoperable. Design defect in mounting hardware.
When: Incident on Avis rental (2015 Ford Taurus)
Symptoms owners cite: Start/stop button falls into dashboard; Vehicle becomes inoperable; Switch assembly not secured properly
Body control module fault with turn signal failure
Body control module malfunction prevents left turn signal from operating. Confirmed by independent repair shop. Creates safety hazard during lane changes and turns.
When: Unknown timing
Symptoms owners cite: Left turn signal non-functional; Body control module faulty
Repairs/costs cited: Confirmed by independent repair shop
Wiring defects in headlights
Front headlight wiring faulty. Eventually repaired but not through warranty.
When: Faulty wiring present at purchase; fixed in December (purchased March 2021)
Symptoms owners cite: Faulty headlight wiring
Repairs/costs cited: Eventually fixed in December after purchase
Windshield washer pump failure with rust
Windshield washer fluid pump fails. Electrical lining at pump top is rusted, preventing operation.
When: At approximately 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield washer pump non-functional; Rust on electrical lining
Repairs/costs cited: Part replaced by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified
Fuel gauge malfunction
Fuel gauge reading is inaccurate. Engine cuts off but gauge shows fuel remaining. Gauge fluctuates between empty and half-tank during operation.
When: During operation
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge shows incorrect level; Engine stalls but gauge shows fuel; Gauge drops from half-tank to empty during 10 minutes of driving
Radio and electrical noise/interference
Radio turns off and on independently without driver input. Electrical noise in radio and phone systems. Described as sounding like potential electrical problem.
When: Intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Radio cycles off and on by itself; Electrical noise during radio/phone use; No warning lights
Adaptive cruise control and normal cruise control failure
Adaptive cruise control shuts off with error message 'Collision Warning Not Available / Adaptive Cruise Control Not Available.' When adaptive fails, normal cruise control also becomes inoperative.
When: Intermittent; occurred continuously for 2+ days
Symptoms owners cite: Adaptive cruise control shuts off; Error message displayed; Normal cruise control fails when adaptive is down; Intermittent function
Dash gauge and alarm system faults
Electronic mileage gauge stops working. Alarm activates repeatedly when passenger-side doors are closed, with no legitimate trigger.
When: Unknown timing
Symptoms owners cite: Electronic mileage gauge non-functional; Alarm triggers on passenger door closure; Multiple false alarm activations
Water intrusion into rear doors with rusting
Rear doors accumulate water inside, causing rust formation on both left and right sides. Related to broader electrical/body issues.
When: Unknown timing
Symptoms owners cite: Water in rear door cavities; Rust forming on door internals; Affects both sides
Dead or failing battery
Battery is severely discharged or fails shortly after purchase. One owner's battery was dead at first service visit one month after purchase.
When: One month after purchase (purchased March 2021) for one owner
Symptoms owners cite: Battery severely discharged; Battery failure
Abnormally loud noise from passenger side
Loud sound like gunshot comes from passenger-side area. Associated with radio turning off and on. Extremely startling to driver with cardiac condition.
When: At approximately 140,000 miles; occurred twice
Symptoms owners cite: Loud gunshot-like noise from passenger side; Radio cycles off and on during event; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair; diagnostic scheduled for January 2026
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Dashboard brightness causing eye strain
Dashboard blue lights reported as excessively bright and blinding. Owner had eyes examined by specialist to rule out vision problems.
When: Unknown timing
Symptoms owners cite: Overly bright blue dash lights; Blinding effect while driving
GPS intermittent failure
GPS system stops working intermittently. Dealer suggested replacing SD card as potential fix.
When: Intermittent over ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: GPS does not work intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suggested SD card replacement
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Ford taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while attempting to drive. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to koons sterling Ford (46869 harry byrd hwy, sterling, va 20164) and was diagnosed that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…
When driving on the highway using adaptive cruise control it will shut off and say 'collision warning not available/ adapted cruise control not available' it is intermittent but has not been working for 2 days now. As well as if not working normal cruise control doesn't work.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an abnormally loud sound. The contact stated that the sound came from the passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact stated that the sound sounded like a gunshot. In addition, the radio independently turned off and on. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Ford Taurus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 35,000 and 124,338 miles, with the median around 94,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 124,338. 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/2015/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.