Ford Taurus Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 888 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Ford Taurus across 25 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (97).
- 888electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 16mention a crash
- 17mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Ford Taurus at $900, and half of them between $330 and $1,100.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2002–2022), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 466 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 888 complaints, 16 mention a crash, 91 a fire, 17 an injury.
Ford Taurus electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Taurus | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2018 Taurus | 7 | 14% | 34,500 |
| 2017 Taurus | 11 | 25% | 31,800 |
| 2016 Taurus | 6 | 7% | 50,000 |
| 2015 Taurus | 31 | 11% | 94,000 |
| 2014 Taurus | 29 | 13% | 90,000 |
| 2013 Taurus | 59 | 10% | 75,500 |
| 2012 Taurus | 16 | 20% | 32,000 |
| 2011 Taurus | 47 | 25% | 39,350 |
| 2010 Taurus | 19 | 9% | 40,500 |
| 2009 Taurus | 4 | 6% | 1,850 |
| 2008 Taurus | 13 | 7% | 116,000 |
| 2007 Taurus | 29 | 19% | 55,000 |
| 2006 Taurus | 25 | 8% | 82,000 |
| 2005 Taurus | 28 | 4% | 87,000 |
| 2004 Taurus | 26 | 7% | 104,000 |
| 2003 Taurus | 97 | 8% | 75,000 |
| 2002 Taurus | 42 | 3% | 71,000 |
| 2001 Taurus | 37 | 4% | 59,737 |
| 2000 Taurus | 62 | 5% | 87,270 |
| 1999 Taurus | 51 | 6% | 82,811 |
| 1998 Taurus | 34 | 6% | 103,000 |
| 1997 Taurus | 62 | 8% | 82,500 |
| 1996 Taurus | 57 | 7% | 85,000 |
| 1995 Taurus | 95 | 8% | 80,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:ignition; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 2017, 2018
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems. The keys for these vehicles may be able to be removed from the ignition when transmission is not in the PARK position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: If the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C02.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Model years: 2006
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles built for one specific fleet customer were modified for optional hands-free cellular phone operating capability. To provide this functionality, a special overlay wire harness was installed that inadvertently did not include the circuits for passenger air bag deactivation indicator (padi) lamp function. As a result, these vehicles do not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.'
Risk: The padi lamp will fail to illuminate and the air bag warning lamp in the cluster will stay illuminated.
Fix: The fleet customer was notified and all vehicles have been repaired. The recall began on april 28, 2006.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle warranty consda domla Vehicle was left new Battery salf failure Washer pump soco failure ranso 2503 miles and it diplo isvrecancy
Complete power steering failure p07ae:09-c8 after recall complete 6/29/26
Malicious use of AI. Vehicle was shut down in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the road, right on the crest of a hill, just around a curve in the middle of the night, at approximately 12:00 AM. I had to wait for about 5.5 hrs for a tow truck.
Rear camera not working. Recall was almost 2 years ago. They keep saying itâs a safety issue but no solution yet
The car regularly starts without pressing the brake down first. The car has they key but says no key detected and drives with or without it. This is a push start ignition car.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Tauruss have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 888 owner complaints about electrical system for the Ford Taurus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Taurus electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Ford Taurus?
Owners report a typical cost of $900 (half paid between $330 and $1,100), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
Other Ford Taurus problems
- Suspension problems (2,734)
- Power Train problems (1,895)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,800)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,312)
- Steering problems (995)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (683)
- Visibility problems (643)
- Air Bags problems (615)
See all Ford Taurus problems.