Complete buying guide for the Ford Taurus: best years, worst years, common problems, recall history, and reliability trends across all model years.
The Ford Taurus spans 5 model years in the NHTSA database, with 396 total consumer complaints and 20 safety recalls on record. That works out to an average of approximately 79 complaints per model year. This buying guide is designed to help you identify the best and worst model years, understand the most common problems owners report, and make a more informed purchasing decision backed by official NHTSA safety data rather than anecdotal reviews.
If you are shopping for a used Ford Taurus, the model years to prioritize are 2019, 2018, 2017, which have the fewest owner-reported complaints. The years to approach with more caution are 2015, 2016, 2017, which have significantly higher complaint volumes. The difference between the best and worst years can be dramatic — the worst year has 236 complaints compared to just 9 for the best year. This gap often correlates with specific manufacturing issues, design changes, or component suppliers used during those production years.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported problems with the Ford Taurus involve Back Over Prevention System Failure, Exterior Trim Detachment, Windshield Wiper System. These are the components and systems that owners have flagged most often in their NHTSA complaints. If you are inspecting a used Ford Taurus, have a mechanic pay special attention to these areas. Some issues may be covered under existing recalls or extended warranties, so check the recall history for your specific model year before purchasing.
These Ford Taurus model years have the fewest complaints and best reliability:
These model years have the most complaints and known issues:
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 9 | 2 | 55/100 |
| 2018 | 40 | 4 | 5/100 |
| 2017 | 40 | 4 | 5/100 |
| 2016 | 71 | 4 | 5/100 |
| 2015 | 236 | 6 | 85/100 |