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2012 Ford Taurus problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Ford Taurus. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 23% of relevant complaints.
Better than 82% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 19%).
Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 65 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Taurus concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (23%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 39% and the 2013 scores 33%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Ford Taurus years
Of the 9 Ford Taurus years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (23%). The worst is the 2010 (42%), the best the 2017 (23%). By volume, the 2012 drew 79 complaints (15 drivetrain), against 187 for the 2011 and 590 for the 2013.
Ford Taurus years to avoid and best years →
2010 Taurus problems · 2011 Taurus problems · 2012 · 2013 Taurus problems · 2014 Taurus problems · 2015 Taurus problems · 2016 Taurus problems · 2017 Taurus problems · 2018 Taurus problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Ford Taurus
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Ford Taurus fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Ford Taurus involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: 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…
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Ford Taurus? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 15 of 65 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Taurus concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (23%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Ford Taurus?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Ford Taurus is steering: 17 of 79 complaints (22%) name it, followed by electrical system (16) and structure (16). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 23% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Ford Taurus reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 23% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 82% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 9 Ford Taurus years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Ford Taurus?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Ford Taurus involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 13V109000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford Taurus years are better?
The 2012 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Ford Taurus years we track (23%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-taurus
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.