Model year guide

2012 Ford Taurus

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Ford Taurus is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 435 on record.

2012 Ford Taurus — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Ford Taurus at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints78
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined21 mpg
Typical price$13,765

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Ford Taurus recalls 5

Structure:body:door NHTSA Campaign #15V040000 · 28/01/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #14V285000 · 29/05/2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles manufactured November 24, 2008, through February 28, 2014, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the Dist…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08. Note: Under program 14R01, Ford will notify owners in non-c…

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #15V340000 · 02/06/2015

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 ha…

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 …

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #16V247000 · 26/04/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly NHTSA Campaign #13V109000 · 27/03/2013

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.

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 Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Ford Taurus common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Lane Departure
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Back Over Prevention
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

2012 Ford Taurus safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Ford Taurus MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,988

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Ford Taurus worth?

Low
$9,600
Typical price
$13,765
High
$19,100

From 432 comparable 2012 Ford Taurus listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Ford Taurus costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,940
Depreciation (5 yrs)$11,400
Total$26,340
Per mile$0.35

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($13,765) with the same model 5 model-years older ($2,359), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Ford Taurus trims & engines on record

Trims
SEL · SE · SHO · Limited
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 263 hp · 3.5L 6-cyl 365 hp

2012 Ford Taurus vehicles on record

Other Ford Taurus model years

2012 Ford Taurus — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Ford Taurus have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2012 Ford Taurus. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford Taurus?

Based on 78 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, electrical system, vehicle speed control.

What is the 2012 Ford Taurus safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Ford Taurus an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Ford Taurus get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Ford Taurus at about 21 mpg combined (18 city / 26 highway).

How much is a 2012 Ford Taurus worth?

Comparable 2012 Ford Taurus listings run roughly $9,600–$19,100, typically around $13,765 (from 432 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.