2012 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls

2012 TAURUS THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2012 TAURUS HAVE A VERY SHARP SHORT CUTOFF THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY GREATLY. THIS CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED ON A HIGHWAY OR BACK ROAD WHERE THERE IS NO BACK LIGHTS OR OTHER VEHICLES PRESENT. THE CUTOFF PROJECTS A BLACK LINE THAT FLOATS UP AND DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS HYPNOTIC. IF THERE WAS A BIKE OR PERSON WALKING AHEAD ON THE SHOULDER YOU WOULD NEVER SEE THEM IN TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A EYELID THAT DROPS DOWN OVER THE BULB WHEN IN THE DIM MODE.WHEN USING THE BRIGHTS, THE LIGHTS ARE FINE. BECAUSE OF…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10437238 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PRODUCE A COMPLETE AND FULL LIGHT FIELD IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL DISTINCT "FINGER SHADOWS" PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LIGHT FIELD, RESULTING IN VERY POOR NIGHT VISION. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE VERY DISTINCT UPPER HORIZONTAL "CUT-OFF" OF THE PROJECTED LIGHT BEAM. THE VISIBILITY PROBLEM IS EVEN WORSE DURING RAINY NIGHTS. LOCAL FORD DEALER REPLACED ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES UNDER WARRANTY, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445485 at NHTSA ↗

2012 TAURUS THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2012 TAURUS HAVE A VERY SHARP SHORT CUTOFF THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY GREATLY.THIS CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED ON A HIGHWAY OR BACK ROAD WHERE THERE IS NO BACK LIGHTS OR OTHER VEHICLES PRESENT.THE CUTOFF PROJECTS A BLACK LINE THAT FLOATS UP AND DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS HYPNOTIC.IF THERE WAS A BIKE OR PERSON WALKING AHEAD ON THE SHOULDER YOU WOULD NEVER SEE THEM IN TIME.THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY AN EYELID THAT DROPS DOWN OVER THE BULB WHEN IN THE DIM MODE.WHEN USING THE BRIGHTS, THE LIGHTS ARE FINE.BECAUSE OF ONCO…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445837 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AND WITH A PASSENGER WEIGHING 115 POUNDS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. WHEN THE SEATING IS ADJUSTED THE WARNING LIGHT GOES OFF AGAIN. FORD TAURUS DOES NOT HAVE AN INDICATION TO SAY IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ACTIVATED OR NOT. EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT ACTIVATED (NO PASSENGER IN SEAT) THE AIR BAGS INDICATOR STAYS DARK. SO WHEN A THE PASSENGER IS ON THE SEAT THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THE AIR BAG HAS TURNED ITSELF OFF AS IT…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456725 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 05/31/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE WINDOW SHATTERED, GLASS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE FRONT SEAT. UPDATED 06/06/12. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456982 at NHTSA ↗

03/24/2012. 1ST FAILURE MILEAGE APPROX.1,450: DRIVING ON I-95S AT APPROX. 70 MPH, RAINING CONDITION, WIPERS IN USE, HEADLIGHTS ON. SUDDENLY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT DARK, WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, ENGINE CUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR FROM MIDDLE LANE TO ROAD SIDE AND BRAKED. PUT CAR IN PARK, LIGHTS STILL OUT, ENGINE WOULD NOT START. IN LESS A MINUTE, ON THE MIDDLE INSTRUMENT GAUGE A GREEN LIGHTED MESSAGE DISPLAYED: "POWER ACCESSORIES..." FOR A VERY SHORT TIME. THEN CAR RESTARTED. FORD SERVICES COULD NOT FIND ANY PROB…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473489 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH DETECTED NO TROUBLE CODES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO NEITHER DUPLICATE THE FAILURE NOR LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,700.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490300 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD ADJUST TO BRIGHTEN THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800..... UPDATED 03-28-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A VERY SHARP SHORT CUT OFF THAT LIMITS VISIBILITY GREATLY. THE CUT OFF PROJECTS A BLACK LINE THAT FLOATS UP AND DOWN ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS HYPNO…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496779 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-03-27 (March 27, 2013)

Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks may not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks may also leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2014-05-29 (May 29, 2014)

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.

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

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08. Note: Under program 14R01, Ford will notify owners in non-corrosion states, and, at the customer's request, dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly.

Reported: 2015-01-28 (January 28, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. 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.

Consequence: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.

Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.

Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)

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."

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

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.