2015 Ford taurus/approx 7850miles on car/6 months old....vehicle went into limp home mode at highway speed. Especially in the hands of a less experienced driver, this could cause major confusion, and possibly a major rear end collision and it is a safety concern that proves this problem still exists with this part, even though the NHTSA has "closed the file" and accepted Ford's explanation. The…
2015 Ford Taurus powertrain problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 14 powertrain complaints filed for the 2015 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
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2015 Taurus powertrain exhibits recurring safety defects: sudden loss of acceleration on highways (often with warning lights but no stored diagnostic codes), transmission valve body overheating, vibration issues dealers won't address, and in rare cases transfer case separation or Park disengagement. Multiple owners report dealerships unable or unwilling to diagnose or repair these faults.
The 2015 Taurus powertrain catalog reads like a failure chain. Most consistent complaint: sudden power loss at highway speed—owner hits 70 mph, engine cuts out, wrench light pops with "See Manual" message. Restart clears it temporarily. Problem repeats within minutes or later that day, sometimes multiple times per trip. Owners emphasize the safety hazard: you're losing acceleration mid-merge in rush-hour traffic or unable to exit the highway quick enough.
Dealerships struggle here. They can't reliably reproduce the failure, computer doesn't store the codes, so they shrug and send you home. One owner lists throttle body part AT4Z-9E926-B and notes NHTSA closed its file on this despite ongoing complaints.
Secondary issues: transmission valve body overheating and failing (one instance at 58,344 miles, refusal of warranty coverage); transfer case separating from the transmission entirely at 45 mph with loud bang; excessive vibration at idle and highway speeds that dealers claim is normal; one case where the car popped out of Park, rolled backward, and pinned a passenger. Abnormal grinding tied to a recall campaign for which parts remain unavailable at dealerships.
The consistent thread: owners take these vehicles to Ford dealers, dealers either cannot find the problem or refuse to work on it, and the failure repeats.
Same Ford Taurus powertrain reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of Engine Power / Throttle Response Failure
Engine suddenly loses acceleration or power output during highway driving. Vehicle enters limp-home mode or complete power loss. Wrench light and 'See Manual' warning illuminate. Issue resolves temporarily after engine restart but recurs unpredictably.
When: Highway speeds (45-70 mph); one occurrence at 7,850 miles (6 months old); another at 42,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration with no warning; No limp-home mode in some cases; others report limp mode; Wrench warning light with 'See Manual' message; Vehicle coasts safely to roadside after restart; Failure repeats multiple times on same trip; Occurs during deceleration and various speeds
Codes mentioned: PCM Communication Error, Throttle body code
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to isolate problem in several cases; computer does not store all codes. Owner suspects throttle body part AT4Z-9E926-B.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA file closed and accepted Ford's explanation per complaint #3; however, owners report issue persists
Transmission Valve Body Assembly Failure
Transmission valve body assembly fails due to excessive heat exposure in its location. Vehicle loses power transfer capability and may fail to operate reverse gear.
When: 58,344 miles on vehicle purchased used with 35,115 miles; transmission-related issues reported at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Reverse gear fails; unable to reverse in emergency; Loss of power transmission; Violent shaking when loss of acceleration occurs
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership refused warranty coverage. Owner reports well-maintained vehicle.
Transfer Case Detachment from Transmission
Transfer case mechanically separates from transmission during normal driving, causing loud bang and complete power loss. Transmission damaged in process.
When: Unspecified mileage; occurred while driving at 45 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang without warning; Complete loss of power; Transfer case detaches from transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Transfer case and transmission both damaged; requires major repair
Abnormal Grinding Noise from Powertrain
Abnormal grinding sound emerges from vehicle without warning during driving at various speeds. Related to NHTSA Campaign 20V692000 (powertrain) recall.
When: Mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal grinding noise from vehicle; Noise persists after dealer inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Recall part AT4Z-9E926-B unavailable at dealership (Kunes Country Ford, Antioch IL). Dealer inspection performed; vehicle deemed safe to drive but noise continued.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V692000 exists for this part; however repair parts unavailable
Vibration at Idle and Highway Speeds
Vehicle exhibits excessive vibrations at idle and highway speeds (60-70 mph), particularly during deceleration and low-speed driving. Dealer claims vibration is normal for model despite owner's prior Taurus having no such issue.
When: Occurs intermittently at idle, deceleration, and 60-70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vibrations at idle; Vibrations at 60-70 mph; Vibrations during deceleration; Vibrations at low speeds (intermittent)
Repairs/costs cited: No fault codes present. Multiple dealerships refused diagnostic work or repair, claiming vibration is normal or vehicle must be actively vibrating during inspection.
Engine Stall in Wet Conditions with Wrench Light
Vehicle stalls during rain while wrench warning light and 'Check Manual' light illuminate. Failure is intermittent and dealer cannot reproduce it.
When: Approximately 42,000 miles; occurs while driving in rain at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls; Wrench warning light illuminates; Check Manual light illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure on two separate occasions. Vehicle remained at dealership unrepaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and provided case number; owner referred to NHTSA
Park Disengagement / Transmission Shift to Neutral
Vehicle disengages from Park gear and rolls backward down hill after engine shutdown, with no one in driver's seat. Resulted in collision with tree and injury to passenger.
When: Occurs when passenger shuts off engine from front passenger seat
Symptoms owners cite: Car pops out of Park; Vehicle rolls backward without driver input; Passenger pinned under door sill after collision
Repairs/costs cited: Safety hazard; resulted in accident and injury
RPM Surge Followed by Complete Power Loss
RPMs suddenly surge and then vehicle loses all power. Engine light illuminates. Vehicle may remain stuck in lower gear (second gear) and unable to upshift after restart.
When: Occurred on city street and highway at unspecified mileages
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs suddenly surge; Complete loss of power; Engine light illuminates; Vehicle stuck in second gear after restart
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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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 2015 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 7,850 and 42,000 miles, with the median around 9,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,850; a quarter make it past 42,000. 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/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.