The 2012 Ford Taurus has a elevated safety risk profile with 2 recall campaigns and 78 NHTSA complaints. Before buying, verify that all recalls have been completed. It's free at any dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

16V2470002016-26-04

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

View at NHTSA

14V2850002014-29-05

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles manufactured November 24, 2008, through February 28, 2014, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. When used in areas that use road salt, the license plate lamp assembly may experience an electro-chemical reaction and corrosion as a result of water intrusion.

This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

Across 1 model years, 78 owners have filed complaints about the 2012 Ford Taurus. STRUCTURE issues top the list, so ask the seller about this area specifically during your inspection.

01Structure15

02Steering14

03Exterior Lighting10

04Electrical System7

05Engine5

78 total across 1 model years (2012–2012)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Ford Taurus Fuel Economy

20–22mpg combined

17-18city

24-28hwy

$2,000-$2,200/yr

Across 4 configurations, the 2012 Ford Taurus returns 20–22 MPG combined. Choose the thriftier option if you're commuting; the sportier setup if you're not counting gallons.

By Trim

Taurus FWD - Automatic 6-spd

22mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

18 city28 hwy~$2,000/yr-1/10 Poor

Taurus FWD - Automatic (S6)

21mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

18 city27 hwy~$2,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Taurus AWD - Automatic (S6)

20mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

17 city25 hwy~$2,200/yr-1/10 Poor

Taurus AWD - Automatic (S6)

20mpg

3.5L 6-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

17 city24 hwy~$2,200/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2012 Ford Taurus

35States

29%in top 3

11% of the market sits in Michigan, though listings span 35 states. Expand your search and you'll find more options at better prices.

MIMichigan

7211%

FLFlorida

6210%

TXTexas

467%

ILIllinois

437%

DCWashington DC

325%

PAPennsylvania

295%

OHOhio

264%

MOMissouri

254%

OKOklahoma

203%

MDMaryland

193%

MNMinnesota

183%

AZArizona

183%

GAGeorgia

163%

IN13

NC13

DE12

NJ12

CA11

NE10

WA10

KY10

VA9

NY9

IA8

WI8

CO7

TN7

MA6

AL6

NH6

OR6

UT5

CT5

RI4

NM4

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2012.

2012 Ford Taurus Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 2012 Ford Taurus a good car to buy?

The 2012 Ford Taurus has 2 recalls on record. There are 2 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is structure, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2012 Ford Taurus?

NHTSA shows 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Ford Taurus. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 2012 Ford Taurus?

Depending on configuration, the 2012 Ford Taurus delivers 20–22 MPG combined. Choose wisely. The full comparison shows how engine choice affects your wallet.

What are common problems with the 2012 Ford Taurus?

STRUCTURE is the number-one complaint area for the 2012 Ford Taurus, based on 78 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.