U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Ford TAURUS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

80 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

56,483 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 46 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Back Over Prevention is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 80 complaints (26.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	9	11.3%
Braking behavior	8	10.0%
Transmission and shifting	3	3.8%
Engine operation	3	3.8%
Electrical and battery issues	3	3.8%
Fuel system concerns	1	1.3%

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.

Back Over Prevention

Unknown Or Other

Engine

Steering

Fuel/Propulsion System

Electrical System

Suspension

Air Bags

Back Over Prevention: 21; Unknown Or Other: 14; Engine: 12; Steering: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Electrical System: 6; Suspension: 5; Air Bags: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 34 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.

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 7; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2025: 19; 2026: 20

Pattern summary

Back Over Prevention leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 11131878 · 2018-09-27 (September 27, 2018)

THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE LOCKED UP MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEIR WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Owner-reported narrative. 19,766 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11131885 · 2018-09-27 (September 27, 2018)

THE POWER STEERING ON THIS UNIT FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS ISSUED OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS AND AS A RESULT NO ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. DO NOT HAVE THE INVOICE FOR THIS REPAIR AT THE TIME OF SENDING THIS COMPLAINT. IF YOU NEED IT I WILL GET IT FOR YOU.

Owner-reported narrative. 24,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131885 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11013400 · 2017-08-07 (August 7, 2017)

ON JULY 27 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AT 75 THE CAR SHUT OFF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND IT SCARED THE H OUT OF HER AND ME I TOOK IT OUT OF DRIVE AND TRIED TO START IT ,I TRIED THREE TIME FINALLY IT STARTED. NO TROUBLE TILL YESTERDAY AT THE AIRPORT GOING UP THE PARKING RAMP IT QUIT AGAIN I WAS DRIVING I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE CAUSE WE WERE GOING UP HILL AND TRIED TO START IT TOOK THREE TIMES AND IT STARTED UP AGAIN .WE DROVE HOME 100 MILES NO TROUBLE. I AM TAKING IT IN TOMORROW TO THE DEALER. JUST THOUGHT I NEEDED TO TELL SOMEONE. I CASE SOMETHING …

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013400 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11206158 · 2019-05-08 (May 8, 2019)

DEALERSHIP HAS IDENTIFIED THE REARS BRAKES ARE IN 3MM OR LESS ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ON A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM THAT HAS 5MM OR GREATER ON THE FRONT PADS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11206158 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11291507 · 2019-12-27 (December 27, 2019)

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. EVERY PROBLEM YOU COULD IMAGINE WITH THIS CAR ONLY AY 69K MILES AFTER FORDS PATHETIC POWERTRIAN WARRANTY EXPIRES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 66K MILES SPENT 20 GRAND AFTER TAX AND ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT BESIDES THE DOWN PAYMENT. FIRST OFF THE PTU FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED AFTER 2K MILES WITCH IS A REALLY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE WITCH WAS A $900 PART THOUGH FORD. HAD THIS REPLACED AND NOT ONLY 7 DAYS LATER AND BARELY 1K MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO OVERHEAT DAMAGING THE MOTOR.. NOW I HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11697966 · 2025-11-06 (November 6, 2025)

The contact owns a 2016 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 the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R), the back over prevention screen turned off. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was confirme…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11697966 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10990946 · 2017-05-22 (May 22, 2017)

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A STRONG SMELL OF PROPANE/NATURAL GAS. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT SHE COULDN'T GET ME IN UNTIL TUESDAY. I BUCKLED MY 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR SEAT AND LEFT THE DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE WRITE STATED THAT THERE WAS A TSB OUT ON THE CAR AND IT COULD BE A POSSIBLE LEAK IN THE PTU. BUT SHOULD BE THAT BIG OF DEAL. WE STARTED TO TRAVEL HOME THE CAR STALLED, ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR, AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,260 miles reported. Look up ODI 10990946 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11394272 · 2021-02-02 (February 2, 2021)

THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE FAILED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO START, STEER, OR BRAKE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED BUT NOT MOVING. IT STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO START AGAIN. I KNOW THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR EARLIER MODELS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE REPAIR INVOICES, BUT AM CURRENTLY UNABLE TO UPLOAD THEM TO THE WEBSITE.

Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11394272 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11091157 · 2018-05-01 (May 1, 2018)

DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FOUND CRACKED COOLANT TANK. CONSISTENT PROBLEM ON 2016 TAURUS AND EXPLORER. CRACKED COOLANT TANK PRESENTS RISK OF FIRE, SKIN BURNS, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SHORTS AND PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. 66,029 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091157 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11665084 · 2025-06-05 (June 5, 2025)

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts, and the battery was replaced by an independent mechanic. The contact stated that soon after the battery replacement, while attempting to make a U-turn, the steering wheel seized with the “Power Steering Assist" message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle into a parking lot. The contact stated that a Mobile mechanic arrived at the scene and the contact was informed that the vehicle …

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11665084 at NHTSA ↗