Ford Taurus Steering Problems
Owners have filed 995 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Ford Taurus across 24 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (295). The words owners use most often: “steering assist” (14% of reports).
- 995steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 50mention a crash
- 26mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,650typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering assist: mentioned in 137 of 995 complaints (14%)
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 134 of 995 complaints (13%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Ford Taurus at $1,650, and half of them between $1,250 and $2,700.
Based on 50 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2025), 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 steering problems happen?
Based on 540 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 995 complaints, 50 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 26 an injury.
Ford Taurus steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Taurus | 1 | 2% | 155,498 |
| 2017 Taurus | 3 | 7% | 119,000 |
| 2016 Taurus | 9 | 11% | 28,300 |
| 2015 Taurus | 50 | 18% | 60,450 |
| 2014 Taurus | 64 | 28% | 77,000 |
| 2013 Taurus | 295 | 50% | 95,000 |
| 2012 Taurus | 17 | 22% | 96,500 |
| 2011 Taurus | 25 | 13% | 99,700 |
| 2010 Taurus | 41 | 20% | 102,500 |
| 2009 Taurus | 1 | 2% | 101,000 |
| 2008 Taurus | 35 | 20% | 46,500 |
| 2007 Taurus | 5 | 3% | 143,500 |
| 2006 Taurus | 5 | 2% | 106,000 |
| 2005 Taurus | 7 | 1% | 97,025 |
| 2004 Taurus | 13 | 3% | 80,000 |
| 2003 Taurus | 12 | 1% | 87,500 |
| 2002 Taurus | 18 | 1% | 86,000 |
| 2001 Taurus | 20 | 2% | 42,850 |
| 2000 Taurus | 29 | 2% | 68,500 |
| 1999 Taurus | 106 | 12% | 57,800 |
| 1998 Taurus | 40 | 7% | 56,500 |
| 1997 Taurus | 59 | 8% | 90,000 |
| 1996 Taurus | 101 | 12% | 106,000 |
| 1995 Taurus | 39 | 3% | 128,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Steering
Model years: 2017
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
Risk: If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S23.
Steering:electric power assist system
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Complete power steering failure p07ae:09-c8 after recall complete 6/29/26
The power steering system is continually giving Power Steering Assist Failure and Service Advance Trac. The code U3000 was identified by Ford technician. This code is found in a Ford recall 15S18, my VIN is not included in this recall. The power steering quits working while the car is driving. The…
Mechanic told us while replacing the suspension that the steering rack has to be replaced.
Unknown
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the electric power steering suddenly failed without prior warning. The steering pulled sharply to the right, but the driver managed to maintain control and steered the vehicle safely into a soft dirt field on the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Tauruss have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 995 owner complaints about steering 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 steering?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Ford Taurus?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,650 (half paid between $1,250 and $2,700), from 50 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Ford Taurus?
The most frequent phrase is “steering assist”, in 137 of 995 complaints, followed by “rack pinion” (134).
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)
- Electrical System problems (888)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (683)
- Visibility problems (643)
- Air Bags problems (615)
See all Ford Taurus problems.