2013 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
583 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 425 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 286 of 583 complaints (49.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 292 | 50.1% |
| Engine operation | 82 | 14.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 46 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 4.1% |
| Braking behavior | 22 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 286 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 96 |
| Engine | 69 |
| Electrical System | 57 |
| Power Train | 43 |
| Unknown Or Other | 37 |
| Suspension | 25 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 18 |
Steering: 286; Fuel/Propulsion System: 96; Engine: 69; Electrical System: 57; Power Train: 43; Unknown Or Other: 37; Suspension: 25; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 45 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 102 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 103 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 103 |
| 150,000 and above | 40 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 45; 50,000 to 74,999: 102; 75,000 to 99,999: 103; 100,000 to 149,999: 103; 150,000 and above: 40
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (103). 158 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 46 |
| 2017 | 61 |
| 2018 | 73 |
| 2019 | 89 |
| 2020 | 65 |
| 2021 | 45 |
| 2022 | 31 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2012: 3; 2013: 11; 2014: 13; 2015: 26; 2016: 46; 2017: 61; 2018: 73; 2019: 89; 2020: 65; 2021: 45; 2022: 31; 2023: 34; 2024: 46; 2025: 29; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 292 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 82 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 46 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10482522 · 2012-10-29 (October 29, 2012)
ENTERING STREET FROM PARKING AREA, POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. WARNING ON DASH STATED ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILED. WITH DIFFICULTY, STEERED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. TURNED CAR OFF. WHEN CAR RESTARTED, FAILURE SELF CORRECTED. APPEARS TO BE FAILURE OF COMPUTER CONTROL OF ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10658905 · 2014-11-18 (November 18, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AROUND A CURVE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" MESSAGE CAME UP. AS WELL AS THE " STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT". WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. I COULDN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. I SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. IT WAS LIKE THE WHEEL HAD COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. JUST SO HAPPEN THERE WERE NO CARS CLOSE BEHIND ON I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10658905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637623 · 2014-09-19 (September 19, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SERVICE WRENCH WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED AS IF IT WOULD STALL. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10704669 · 2015-04-09 (April 9, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. UPON MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND ATTEMPTED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/29/15*CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10704669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536755 · 2013-08-22 (August 22, 2013)
ON SATURDAY, AUG 17TH, OUR 2013 FORD TAURUS POLICE INTERCEPTOR (SEDAN) VIN:[XXX] WAS STOPPED AT A PLACE OF BUSINESS AND TURNED OFF. INITIALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE PREMISES BY A WRECKER AND TAKEN TO GRIFFIN FORD CO IN THOMASVILLE, GA. THIS DATE, AUG. 22, 2013, I SPOKE WITH A SERVICEMAN AT GRIFFIN FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT WHEEL AXLE HAD BROKEN AND THAT THE REPAIR PART WOULD BE BACK-ORDERED (PLACED ON AN EMERGENCY NEED BASIS), BUT NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563928 · 2014-02-11 (February 11, 2014)
HAD ISSUES WITH LIGHTS NOT WORKING. TOOK IT TO GET IT FIXED. THEY "FIXED" IT. HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER. WENT BACK IN TO GET FIXED. LATER WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE BACK TRUNK CAUGHT ON FIRE. BUMPER WAS MELTED AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK LID. ITEMS INSIDE WERE FINE. IF IT WAS BEING DRIVEN, I'M SURE THE DRIVER WOULD BE DEAD. THE FIRE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE GAS TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10563928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643329 · 2014-10-08 (October 8, 2014)
RODENT CHEWED THROUGH WIRING HARNESS FOR O2 SENSOR. SAME THING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER FORD TAURUS 2013 AT MY WORK. FORD DEALER THAT MADE THE REPAIRS SAID THAT THEY ARE SEEING A SPATE OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,198 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10658913 · 2014-11-18 (November 18, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE CAR LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T TURN. THE CAR GAVE A "SERVICE POWER STEERING" AND " STEERING ASSIST DEFAULT" AT THE TIME OF THE WHEEL LOCKING UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR JUST STOPS WHERE YOU ARE. IT WON'T TAKE GAS OR ANYTHING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT IT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A WEAK BATTERY. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER FORD VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. I T…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10658913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10572512 · 2014-03-14 (March 14, 2014)
WHILE BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM WORK,DOWN A CITY STREET, SHE YELLED OUT TO ME TO WATCH OUT...DEER! AUTOMATICALLY, I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT IN PEOPLE YARDS AND WOODED ARE,THEN LEFT, ONLY TO FIND THEM JUST SLIGHT TO MY RIGHT FORM THE CENTER OF OUR CAR. AT THIS POINT I KNEW THE BRAKES WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. HOWEVER THESE HALOGEN PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS HAVE A DECENT PATTERN, BUT ARE LIKE HAVING TWO CANDLES. WHY IS IT MY 2006 MERCURY MONTEGO HAD FACTORY HID HEADLIGHTS AND NOW 7 YEARS LATER THEY WENT BACKWARDS, AS OTHER CARS ARE NOW USING LED HEADLIGHTS…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,122 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10578748 · 2014-04-09 (April 9, 2014)
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKES HAVE BEEN ACTING UP AND WILL MAKE A LOUD CLUNK WHEN YOU GO TO STOP, THE TIRE AND BRAKES SMELL HOT, TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC ON SUNDAY SAID A CALIBER WAS RUSTED AND IT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY CALLED DEALERSHIP TOOK IT IN TO LIBERTY FORD IN BRUNSWICK OHIO. THEY SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR DUE TO THE WEATHER WE HAVE IN OHIO THAT IT WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 360. 00 FOR THE 2 PARTS PLUS LABOR, REALLY A 2013 YEAR CAR WITH UNDER 25,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10852455 · 2016-03-30 (March 30, 2016)
THE VEHICLE HAS THE 3.5L NON-TURBO ENGINE, HAS ABOUT 35,000MI, WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE, AND IS FULLY STOCK (HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY MANNER. WHEN AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 20MPH MOST OF THE TIME) AND CERTAINLY LESS THAN 40MPH) AND ALSO AFTER MAKING A SLIGHT TURN (NOT A FORCEFUL ONE) AFTER HAVING INITIALLY APPLIED PRIOR TO THE TURN AND THEN RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DURING THE TURN FOLLOWED WITH A RE-APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND THE RPMS WERE NOTICED TO LOCK IN THE 1200-1500RPM…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,719 miles reported. Look up ODI 10852455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10935292 · 2016-12-14 (December 14, 2016)
CAR STALLED TRAVELING 75 MPH DOWN A BUSY INTERSTATE. INITIALLY FELT LIKE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. AFTER GETTING THE CAR OFF THE ROAD IT CONTINUED TO RUN WITH A SPUTTER. IT WOULD NOT DRIVE WITHOUT DYING. CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A REPAIR. POST INSPECTION THE 2013 TAURUS WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL NUMBER 16V621000. PARTS WERE INEXPENSIVE, LABOR WAS NOT.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,691 miles reported. Look up ODI 10935292 at NHTSA ↗