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 contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V925000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which he linked to the failure. The…
2016 Ford Taurus engine problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 engine complaints filed for the 2016 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Taurus has documented engine cooling failures (water pump, coolant tank cracks) that appear to be design defects rather than isolated cases, with owners facing $4,500+ repair costs and difficulty getting manufacturer support. Additional concerns include turbocharger oil leaks, loss of acceleration with warning lights, exhaust odors, and at least one incident of dangerous unintended acceleration.
Owners report multiple engine and cooling system failures on 2016 Taurus models. The most consistent complaint involves water pump and coolant system failures: owners describe coolant leaks, engine overheating, and cracked coolant tanks occurring across the model line. One owner cited a design flaw in the 3.5-liter twin turbo engine where the water pump is mounted inside the motor, requiring expensive replacement ($4,500 reported). A cracked coolant tank was found during scheduled maintenance and described as a known recurring problem on both Taurus and Explorer.
Turbocharger oil line failures caused major leaks and engine smoking; one owner paid $3,000 for repair but learned of an existing recall he was never notified about. An engine gasket failure mixed oil and water internally.
Other engine-related issues include loss of acceleration at highway speed with simultaneous warning light illumination, rotten egg odor from the exhaust during hard acceleration, and one serious incident of unintended acceleration that resulted in collision and 150+ feet of uncontrolled travel.
Owners report difficulty obtaining manufacturer support—some were denied Goodwill Assistance, told their VINs fell outside recall scope, or never notified of applicable recalls despite matching failure modes.
Same Ford Taurus engine reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Coolant pump failure
Coolant pump fails internally, causing coolant leaks and engine overheating. One owner reported the pump was replaced at the dealership after diagnosis at approximately 66,500 miles. Another narrative describes the 3.5-liter twin turbo design with the water pump located inside the motor, creating a design flaw that leads to leaks; repair cost cited as $4,500.
When: 66,500 miles; another at 62,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine overheating at various speeds; coolant leaking from vehicle; smoking from engine area
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant pump replacement required; one owner cited $4,500 repair cost for water pump replacement on 3.5L twin turbo
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner was offered Goodwill Assistance consideration but was later denied. Another owner stated Ford is aware of the design flaw in the 3.5-liter twin turbo but has not contacted owners regarding the known issue. No formal recall identified by owners.
Turbocharger oil line failure
Oil lines to the turbocharger failed, causing a major oil leak and engine smoking while driving on the highway. Owner was told by service station that a recall existed for this issue but was not notified by Ford. Manufacturer claimed the recall only applied to vehicles built between October and November 2016, though the owner's vehicle was built in April 2016.
When: Unknown mileage; vehicle built April 2016
Symptoms owners cite: oil leak; vehicle smoking on highway; huge oil leak
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid $3,000 to repair turbocharger oil line failure at service station
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford acknowledged a recall for this issue exists but claimed it only applies to vehicles built Oct-Nov 2016. Owner's vehicle (built April 2016) was excluded despite identical failure mode.
Engine gasket failure with oil and water mixing
Defective engine gasket caused oil and water to mix inside the engine, resulting in water leaking from the vehicle. Owner discovered NHTSA Campaign Number 16V925000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) but his VIN was not included in the recall scope.
When: 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: water leaking from vehicle; oil and water mixed inside engine
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not repaired; owner referred to NHTSA hotline
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign 16V925000. Owner was referred to NHTSA hotline.
Cracked coolant tank
Technician discovered cracked coolant tank during scheduled maintenance. Owner states this is a consistent problem affecting 2016 Taurus and Explorer models, presenting risk of fire, skin burns, electrical shorts, and premature engine failure.
When: Unknown mileage; found during scheduled maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: cracked coolant tank
Repairs/costs cited: Cracked coolant tank identified; repair not detailed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response mentioned
Loss of acceleration with warning lights
While traveling at highway speed (70 mph), the engine lost acceleration. Check Engine, Airbag, and Service lights illuminated simultaneously. Issue occurred twice within two days (7/16 and 7/18/2016). Problem resolved by shutting off the engine and restarting, but recurred.
When: 9,650 miles; vehicle purchased 4/15/2016; incidents 7/16 and 7/18/2016
Symptoms owners cite: loss of acceleration at highway speed; check engine light; airbag light; service light
Codes mentioned: Check Engine, Airbag warning, Service warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle driven to Ford dealer with Check Engine light remaining; no repair details provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response detailed
Rotten egg smell and exhaust odor
Upon hard acceleration, the cabin fills with a strong rotten egg smell resembling exhaust fumes. AC in auto mode with recirculation not engaged could not prevent odor entry. Owner notes similar issue reported with Ford Explorer. Problem occurred consistently from delivery onward.
When: 10,000 miles; issue began May 13, 2016 (date of delivery)
Symptoms owners cite: strong rotten egg smell in cabin on hard acceleration; exhaust-like odor; fume odor
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle at dealership; repair details not provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response detailed
Unintended acceleration
Vehicle accelerated unexpectedly during normal driving in two separate incidents. At a busy intersection, applying brakes caused acceleration instead of deceleration. Vehicle accelerated again out of control while turning into a strip mall, resulting in collision with curb, guard rail damage, and 150+ feet of uncontrolled travel before stopping.
When: Unknown mileage; incidents within single drive session
Symptoms owners cite: unintended acceleration at intersection; vehicle accelerated when brakes applied; uncontrolled acceleration while turning
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response mentioned
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I was approaching a very busy intersection and when I applied my brakes the car actually accelerated. I was able to stop before hitting the vehicle in front of me. I proceeded about a mile down the road and as I was turning into a strip mall the vehicle suddenly accelerated again. This time out of control. I when through the turn and hit a large curb and then ran into the guard rail. I ripped the…
my vehicle's oil lines to the turbo charger failed and caused a huge oil leak and my car was smoking all over the highway. I had the vehicle towed to a nearby service station recommended by AAA. After discovering the issue, the repairman indicated there was a recall on this exact issue. However, I was never notified by Ford of the recall. When I called Ford I was informed that the recall…
water pump stopped working and car over heated
Had engine trouble with your 2016 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 engine problem on the 2016 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 55,532 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2016/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.