The Lemon Index2012 Ford Taurus.
The 2012 Ford Taurus is better than average by owner complaints: 37 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 51, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about body structure, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 20 to 22 mpg combined. The best Ford Taurus year is 2004.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 79 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Taurus year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 100K miles on the car (51 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 5
- airbags 2016
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
- steering 2015
The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
- body structure 2015
In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Show all 5 recalls
- lights 2014
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.
- fuel system, gasoline 2013
In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 53 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Intermittent ikt
- No service action is recommended for this condition
- Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Taurus 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Ford Taurus reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 51; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Taurus year by this measure since 2010 is 2018.
What are the most common 2012 Ford Taurus problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are body structure (35%), lights (24%) and electrical (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Ford Taurus have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Taurus get?
20 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Ford Taurus safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Ford Taurus problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 10,000 and 100,000 miles. The middle report was at 41,500 miles, from 51 complaints.
Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2012 Ford Taurus cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Ford Taurus have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Taurus year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works