2016 Ford TAURUS: complaints, problems and recalls

PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2X - 07/16TH AND 07/18/2016 - WHILE TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70MPH, ACCELERATION CEASED - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON, HAVE TO PULL OVER, SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, DRIVE FOR 1 MORE PROBLEMS REOCCUR AGAIN. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS. VEHICLES WAS PURCHASED 04/15/2016 HAD 216 MILES ON THE TITLE...CURRENTLY HAS 9,650 MILES.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885415 at NHTSA ↗

UPON HARD ACCELERATION, CABIN IS FILLED WITH STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL / EXHAUST. AC IS IN THE AUTO MODE AND RECIRCULATION IS NOT ENGAGED. MUST ROLL ALL WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE CABIN OF FUMES. VERY SIMILAR TO SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED WITH FORD EXPLORER. INCIDENCE FIRST OCCURRED MAY 13, 2016 (DATE OF DELIVERY) AND HAS HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY UPON HARD ACCELERATION. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 10000 MILES AND CONTINUING TO HAVE ISSUE. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY.

Owner-reported narrative. 16 miles reported. Look up ODI 10899182 at NHTSA ↗

THIS NEW 2016 TAURUS SHO HAS A STRONG FUEL, OIL OR CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS WITH OR WITHOUT THE AC RUNNING. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I MUST DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. OF COURSE, WHEN IT IS RAINING, I MUST BREATHE IN THE FUMES BECAUSE THE WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP. SO FAR, IT IS CAUSING IRRITATION TO THE EYES AND THROAT. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BUT THEY SAID THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE" THE FUEL SMELL AND THAT IT IS PROBABLY JUST NEW CAR OR PLASTI…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10905029 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT YOU CANNOT SEE CORNERS WHEN MAKING TURNS. I BELIEVE THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. WHEN DRIVING ON DARK ROADS, YOU TRULY CANNOT SEE WHAT YOU ARE TURNING INTO UNTIL YOU MAKE THE TURN. THIS WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE DEALER AND IT APPEARS THE DEALER AND FORD ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAVE REDESIGN HEADLIGHTS FOR SOME OF THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF CORRECT THIS ON CARS ALREADY ON THE ROAD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928693 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR KEEPS SLIPPING OUT OF PLACE. THE DOOR HAS DIFFICULTIES OPENING AS IT CATCHES AGAINST THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND MAKES A SNAPPING SOUND. THE DOOR HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP BUT WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE NEWER VEHICLES AND THEY DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD BE RESOLVED. MAY LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THE LADY WHO WORKS AT FORD SAID THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX A LOT OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF F…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11085112 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2016-12-22 (December 22, 2016)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Consequence: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

Reported: 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.

Reported: 2025-09-12 (September 12, 2025)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Consequence: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S91.

Reported: 2025-10-13 (October 13, 2025)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.