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2016 Ford Taurus

Gas
Large Cars
6 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA80
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
2019201820172016

The 2016 Ford Taurus is sold in the U.S. as a gas large car with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Taurus FWD, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 80 complaints, most often about the back over prevention. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Taurus FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202923$2,700
Taurus FWDGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl182721$2,950
Taurus FWD FFVGasFWD3.5L 6-cyl182721$2,950
Taurus AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl turbo162419$3,300
Taurus AWDGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl172419$3,300
Taurus AWD FFVGasAWD3.5L 6-cyl172419$3,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37168, 37171, 37170, 37172, 37173, 37174.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Ford Taurus is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Back Over Prevention

25SA9
1,448,655 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskA rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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'
NHTSA campaign 25V695000reported Oct 13, 2025Ford Motor Company
▲high

Structure

25S91
101,944 vehicles
ProblemFord Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.RiskDoor trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V611000reported Sep 12, 2025Ford Motor Company
▲high

Suspension

20S04
211,207 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskA fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.FixFord 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 i
NHTSA campaign 20V072000reported Feb 10, 2020Ford Motor Company
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

16S46
1,163 vehicles
ProblemFord 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.RiskAn oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.FixFord 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V925000reported Dec 22, 2016Ford Motor Company

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
80complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 19 · 2026: 20

Most-cited components

Back Over Prevention26
Unspecified14
Engine12
Steering9
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Structure6

What owners describe

“Steering didn't work correctly which led to brakes not doing what I needed which led to slamming into a cement edge at a freeway exit or entrance. Seat belts locked up. Air bags did not deploy. Front passenger tire flat. Car towed next day. Ford dealership did NOTHING even when it was discovered Ford sold us a car with…”Mar 28, 2025 · Seat Belts · NHTSA owner report
“Occasionally engine surges when in gear when brake is pressed.Car must be put in neutral and key turned iff. This happens only on occasionaly.I understand Ford has extended Throttle body warranty on this part to ten years on my ModelI visited local dealer who ran my VIN and advised there was no information on an extend…”Dec 21, 2024 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report
“I have learned there is a known issue with the 3.5liter twin turbo V6 motor Water Pump. The "cyclone motor" design by Ford has a known problem with water pump leaking and must be replaced, costs are typically $4,500 as the engine has a known design flaw in that the water pump was placed Inside the motor causing a high …”Jun 11, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆11%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Taurus model years

B

2019 Ford Taurus

2 recalls · 15 complaints

D

2018 Ford Taurus

4 recalls · 48 complaints

D

2017 Ford Taurus

4 recalls · 44 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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