Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 64 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Ford Taurus, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and airbags categories. 14 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2009 | 2 | 3 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 4 |
| Jun 2009 | 5 | 9 |
| Jul 2009 | 2 | 11 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 12 |
| Oct 2009 | 2 | 14 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 15 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 16 |
| Feb 2010 | 2 | 18 |
| Mar 2010 | 3 | 21 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 22 |
| Aug 2010 | 2 | 24 |
| Sep 2010 | 2 | 26 |
| Nov 2010 | 2 | 28 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 29 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 30 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 31 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 32 |
| Jul 2011 | 1 | 33 |
| Jun 2012 | 2 | 35 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 36 |
| Oct 2012 | 1 | 37 |
| Dec 2012 | 1 | 38 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 39 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 40 |
| Apr 2013 | 3 | 43 |
| Sep 2013 | 1 | 44 |
| Dec 2013 | 1 | 45 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 46 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 47 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 48 |
| Apr 2016 | 1 | 49 |
| Jul 2016 | 2 | 51 |
| Dec 2016 | 1 | 52 |
| Mar 2017 | 2 | 54 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 55 |
| Aug 2017 | 1 | 56 |
| Jul 2019 | 1 | 57 |
| Aug 2019 | 1 | 58 |
| Oct 2019 | 1 | 59 |
| Jan 2020 | 1 | 60 |
| Nov 2020 | 1 | 61 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 62 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 63 |
| Sep 2023 | 1 | 64 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Every couple weeks when driving slowly around a corner, the brakes will all of a sudden come on & stop my car. If I had anyone behind me, I would have had several collisions, by now. My mechanic has looked at the brakes, wheels, etc., & cannot find the problem. I am VERY concerned about this defect. PLEASE HELP!
Car shop replaced front suspension struts 1/23/19. I told owner that made the clunking noise ever worse. Kevin said well, your car needs lower control arms, bushings, &engine mount. Had that done by same car shop on 9/16/2019. I told Kevin that did not take care of clunking noise. I took car to an auto shop where I moved to for maintenance. They told me my struts were bad. Called Kevin in Fayetteville & the struts were going out of warranty later that week. I drove up there & the replaced struts on 1/27/2020, under warranty but charged me labor. The clunking continued. Around 6/29/2022, my car steering locked up while I was driving on a busy street. I turned the car off & waited a minute to restart. It drove properly then. I took it to auto shop & the owner said the struts were bad. This would be the 3rd set of struts since 1/23/2019. This car shop owner told me the problem read the strut bearings and they’d never been replaced. Owner said that is the base component of strut replacements. According to my invoices, I don’t see a charge either time for “strut bearing”. I’ve filed a Complaint with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office in Little Rock. I asked for money reimbursement for all the charges from Kevin so I can have the local car shop (being the same one that told me strut bearings not being done) was do this 3rd set of front struts. The response to AR Attorney General from Kevin is a joke! I have all documents pertaining to this.
On 4 separate occassions, my 2009 Ford Taurus limited automatic transmission dropped out of gear while I was accelerating slowly away from a stop The times they have occurred Is from a stop sign into traffic. It dropped out of gear at about 5 mph and made a growling noise. . I put my foot on the brake. When I started it again everything worked fine. . I was leaving a parking lot and I had reached a speed of 5-15 mph when there was no longer any gear, then it slammed into gear for a moment, went a few feet, then dropped out again, then slammed into gear again. I was able to coast to the curb in a residential area and turn the engine off. Fortunately no traffic was coming.Another time I pulled into traffic and slipped out of gear Iwas able to back up only and parked it. Then several hours later I started the engine again and had no further trouble. so far. I was checking out recalls and service bulletins on it today and I found that other owners reported similar problems. If I had been pulling out into traffic and my transmission failed the way it did, there could easily have been an accident. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE !!!!!!!
WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 FORD TAURUS 83,000M THE BREAKS HARD STOP ON ITS OWN, IT WAS HARD ENOUGH THAT IF ME AND MY PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING OUR SEAT BELTS IT WOULD HAVE SMASHED HIS FACE INTO THE DASH AND MY FACE INTO MY STEERING WHEEL, WE WERE ON A SIDE STREET TURNING LEFT AND AS I WAS ACCELERATING THE BREAKS HARD STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE OTHER TIME THE BREAKS HARD STOPPED WAS WHILE TURNING RIGHT ONCE AGAIN ACCELERATING AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED ON A VERY BUSY MAIN STREET. THERE WAS A TIME I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN/OFF ON ITS OWN I WAS DRIVING 40MPH I HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND START IT AGAIN WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL GOING OVER 35MPR. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT ON IT IS VERY DANGEROUS PLEASE FIX. THANK YOU
THIS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN AN ACCIDENT AND NO AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED. IT WAS TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, WHEN A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500 TURNED IN TO THE VEHICLE FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION LEFT TURN LANE. THE DRIVER DOOR HAD TO BE CUT OPEN TO EXTRACT THE DRIVER. SO THE CAR WAS MOVING AND THE IMPACT KNOCKED THIS CAR IN TO ANOTHER VEHICLE AS WELL.
WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE IT WILL RANDOMLY STALL OUT OR SHUT OFF. DASH LIGHTS COME ON, AND STEERING LOCKS UP. BOTH TIMES SHE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT RAN AND DROVE NORMAL AGAIN. SHE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HER TWICE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. SHE HAS ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS. BOTH TIMES SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR.
THE CAR HAS LOW MILES FOR THE YEAR 42K. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN ERRATIC, HARD SHIFTING, HOLDING GEARS FOR TOO LONG. A NEW PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPENING, IN THE MORNING CAR CLUNKS EXTREMELY HARD INTO SECOND GEAR. I WENT TO ACCELERATE ONTO A BUSY ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION BANGED SO HARD IT STARTLED US AND LOST POWER. THERE'S A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THIS BECAUSE IT LOST ALL POWER AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY AN APPROCHING CAR. AFTER DOING SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF FORD TAURUS MODEL. THE FORD COMPANY IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 23K MILES ON IT. AS OF TODAY, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY IN TRAFFIC.
THE AC BLOWS HOT AIR ON THE DRIVER SIDE & COLD AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS BAD. IT'S VERY HARD TO GET TO AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE YEARS AND MODELS OF FORDS. ESPECIALLY TAURUS MODELS. PLEASE FORCE FORD TO FIX THEIR MISTAKES INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE OWNERS PAYING UPWARDS OF 600 BUCKS TO HAVE IT DONE.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Use pigtail harness service part numbers 3U2Z-14S411-ZEA or CU2Z-14S411-FA, as both parts are interchangeable. Refer to Wiring Diagram, Cell 5 for recommended splicing procedures.
EQUIPMENT
Replacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or modifying original SYNC/Navigation parts to provide additional features is not recommended nor supported on any Ford, Mercury or Lincoln vehicle. Only approved Genuine Ford accessories or originally installed systems are supported and certified to function correctly with other vehicle systems. If you suspect a system has been modified, the following resources can be used to verify original equipment: Monroney Label (Window Sticker), Professional Technician Society (PTS) OASIS tab select SYNC or HVBOM. For Genuine Ford accessories use: PTS Workshop Tab select Dealer Installed Accessory or Accessory Installation.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved from FMCDealer - Parts and Service - Parts Product Line Information - Keys/Entry Devices - Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Access to this site is granted through Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES) and Dealer Principal, General Manager or Parts and Service Director can authorize users. Once authorized the retrieval process for master code can be obtained. The master code for the Accessory Keyless Entry Keypad cannot be retrieved from the body control module(BCM) with a diagnostic tool.
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved from FMCDealer - Parts and Service - Parts Product Line Information - Keys/Entry Devices - Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Access to this site is granted through Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES) and Dealer Principal, General Manager or Parts and Service Director can authorize users. Once authorized the retrieval process for master code can be obtained. The master code for the Accessory Keyless Entry Keypad cannot be retrieved from the body control module(BCM) with a diagnostic tool.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
SOME 2007-2016 EDGE/MKX/FLEX/MKT/MKZ/MKS/TAURUS/TAURUS POLICE/EXPLORER/EXPLORER POLICE EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE 30-JUN-2016 MAY EXHIBIT A TICKING AND/OR KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVELINE AREA. TO IDENTIFY THIS NOISE, REFER TO WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM), SECTION 100-04, AND FOLLOW THE SYMPTOM CHART. IF THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE IS IDENTIFIED AS THE PTU AND/OR INTERNAL TO THE PTU, DISASSEMBLE PTU ASSEMBLY. REFER TO UPDATED WSM, SECTION 308-07. IF THE PTU IS DETERMINED TO BE REPAIRABLE, UTILIZE KIT GB5Z-7P258-A AND THE INCLUDED INSTRUCTION SHEET. FOR CLAIMING, USE CAUSAL PART 7P258 AND APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATIONS IN SECTION 07 OF THE SERVICE LABOR TIME STANDARDS (SLTS) MANUAL.
EQUIPMENT
REPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SYNC/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH EITHER AN AFTERMARKET SYNC/NAVIGATION KIT OR MODIFYING ORIGINAL SYNC/NAVIGATION PARTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEATURES IS NOT RECOMMENDED NOR SUPPORTED ON ANY FORD, MERCURY OR LINCOLN VEHICLE. ONLY APPROVED GENUINE FORD ACCESSORIES OR ORIGINALLY INSTALLED SYSTEMS ARE SUPPORTED AND CERTIFIED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY WITH OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS. IF YOU SUSPECT A SYSTEM HAS BEEN MODIFIED, THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES CAN BE USED TO VERIFY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT: MONRONEY LABEL (WINDOW STICKER), PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIAN SOCIETY (PTS) OASIS TAB SELECT SYNC OR HVBOM. FOR GENUINE FORD ACCESSORIES USE: PTS WORKSHOP TAB SELECT DEALER INSTALLED ACCESSORY OR ACCESSORY INSTALLATION.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 59.5 |
| 2018 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 63.7 |
| 2017 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 58.8 |
| 2016 | 79 | 4 | 0 | 62.6 |
| 2015 | 262 | 6 | 0 | 62.6 |
| 2014 | 228 | 5 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 2013 | 581 | 9 | 0 | 53.4 |
| 2012 | 78 | 5 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 2011 | 187 | 4 | 0 | 55.4 |
| 2010 | 204 | 3 | 0 | 53.0 |
| 2009Viewing | 64 | 0 | 0 | 41.4 |
| 2008 | 175 | 1 | 1 | 50.1 |
| 2007 | 149 | 1 | 1 | 42.6 |
| 2006 | 318 | 3 | 1 | 53.4 |
| 2005 | 774 | 1 | 2 | 48.1 |
| 2004 | 375 | 2 | 2 | 58.0 |
| 2003 | 1,223 | 4 | 4 | 57.0 |
| 2002 | 1,426 | 4 | 4 | 60.8 |
| 2001 | 1,037 | 10 | 8 | 65.9 |
| 2000 | 1,195 | 8 | 9 | 64.6 |
| 1999 | 874 | 7 | 2 | 59.8 |
| 1998 | 545 | 4 | 0 | 55.2 |
| 1997 | 770 | 5 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 1996 | 825 | 8 | 0 | 53.7 |
| 1995 | 1,205 | 6 | 4 | 62.3 |
| 1994 | 923 | 5 | 4 | 61.2 |
| 1993 | 1,557 | 8 | 13 | 61.8 |
| 1992 | 681 | 6 | 14 | 64.9 |
| 1991 | 649 | 5 | 14 | 63.5 |
| 1990 | 381 | 8 | 15 | 66.2 |
| 1989 | 562 | 7 | 17 | 67.9 |
| 1988 | 333 | 6 | 23 | 67.9 |
| 1987 | 255 | 9 | 26 | 70.1 |
| 1986 | 101 | 9 | 22 | 61.1 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.