Ford Taurus problems
74 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 7 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
I don't even know where to begin. Every problem you could imagine with this car only ay 69k miles after fords pathetic powertrian warranty expires. I bought this car at 66k miles spent 20 grand after tax and only made one payment besides the down payment. First off the ptu…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that water was leaking from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that oil and water had mixed inside the engine due to a defective engine gasket. Upon investigation, the…
My fuel system went off all kinds of error coming on car stops while running on the highway
The headlights are designed such that you cannot see corners when making turns. I believe this is incredibly dangerous. When driving on dark roads, you truly cannot see what you are turning into until you make the turn. This was discussed with the dealer and it appears the…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2016 Ford Taurus reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Ford Taurus is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2016 Ford Taurus?
On the NHTSA data, the 2016 Ford Taurus does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Ford Taurus?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 10 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 55,532 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 55,532 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford Taurus has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Ford Taurus?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 74 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.