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ProblemsByVin File / 2018-FORD-TAURUS NHTSA data synced 4 days ago
2018 · Ford

Ford Taurus problems

Light NHTSA footprint — 44 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.8 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2018 Taurus?
Generally reliable

Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.

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.

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Top trouble spots 5 categories with 3+ complaints

body
7 reports · fails ~78,250 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
electrical
6 reports · fails ~19,000 mi · avg $850
moderate
suspension
6 reports · fails ~50,415 mi · avg $900
severe
powertrain
5 reports · fails ~67,500 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
engine
4 reports · fails ~104,167 mi · avg $3,100
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2018 Taurus's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2018 Taurus?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2018 Taurus · brakes
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Taurus. Upon inspection of his vehicle, the contact was informed by a mechanic at the dealer that the passenger’s side rear brake pad had been severely worn and was close to making metal-to-metal contact with the rotor. Due to the failure, the…
12/23/2021 · at 24,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11444846.0
2018 Taurus · powertrain
After exiting thruway after driving 10-15 minutes, car shuts off at a stop sign/traffic light. notice on screen right hand side state transmission not in park. I put car into park then restart vehicle. This has happened three times in last 6 months. Taken to dealer and they…
2018 Taurus · steering Crash
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving up a ramp at 65 mph, the transmission, brakes, steering, and engine became inoperable, and the vehicle shut down and crashed into the side railing. The vehicle tipped on its side. There were no warning…
11/24/2023 · at 155,498 mi · NHTSA ODI #11556686.0
2018 Taurus · body
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Taurus. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V611000 (STRUCTURE) and 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while washing the vehicle,…
View all 44 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2018 Ford Taurus? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 2 of 2

severe NHTSA 20V072000 February 10, 2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.
severe NHTSA 18V141000 March 1, 2018

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems

If the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C02.

Common questions

Is the 2018 Ford Taurus reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 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 2018 Ford Taurus?

On the NHTSA data, the 2018 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 7.8/10 — above the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. 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 2018 Ford Taurus?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is body, with 7 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 78,250 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The body is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 78,250 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 2018 Ford Taurus?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 44 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,500, 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.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Ford/Taurus. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Ford. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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