RoadVitals

2016 Ford Taurus Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Nov 18, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 79 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2025

water pump stopped working and car over heated

NHTSA ID
11700194
Incident
Oct 22, 2025
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2025

Engine coolant over temperature

NHTSA ID
11664766
Incident
Oct 6, 2024
Engine
Filed Apr 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine overheated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, added coolant to the vehicle, and allowed the engine to cool down. The vehicle was taken to a Walmart, where the contact was informed that coolant was leaking from the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to tow the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing, and Goodwill Assistance could be considered. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the coolant pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer later informed the contact that no assistance would be provided and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 66,500.

NHTSA ID
11654572
Incident
Oct 31, 2024
Mileage
66,500 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 11, 2024

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 degree of failure and labor-intensive repair. Ford is well aware of this issue yet they have Not contacted my regarding this known issue. I now have my vehicle in the repair shop at Walker Ford in Clearwater being repaired and an invoice due of $4,500. I wish for your assistance to have this repair covered under the recall and or warranty. My vehicle has 62K miles.

NHTSA ID
11593733
Incident
May 31, 2024
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 24, 2023

my vehicle's oil lines to the turbo charger failed and caused a huge oil leak and my car was smoking all over the highway. I had the vehicle towed to a nearby service station recommended by AAA. After discovering the issue, the repairman indicated there was a recall on this exact issue. However, I was never notified by Ford of the recall. When I called Ford I was informed that the recall only applied to vehicles built between Oct and Nov 2016. My vehicle was built in April. I feel that this issue couldn't have been limited to that small window of time, obviously Ford is not sharing the appropriate information with NHSTA. I had to pay $3000 to fix my vehicle for a problem that Ford is well aware this vehicle is still having. I'm deeply disappointed in Ford.

NHTSA ID
11556641
Incident
Oct 11, 2023
Mileage
124,015 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that water was leaking from the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where he was informed that oil and water had mixed inside the engine due to a defective engine gasket. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V925000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which he linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ID
11496579
Incident
Nov 23, 2022
Mileage
38,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 25, 2021

WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 56.965 MILES AND GEAR OIL LEAK

NHTSA ID
11397956
Incident
Feb 13, 2021
Mileage
56,965 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Aug 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL EACH TIME IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN ACCELERATED AND THEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE LOUD NOISE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED BUT COULD NOT FINE A FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT COULD PROBABLY BE THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CUTTER FORD, INC, 98-015 KAMEHAMEHA HWY, AIEA, HI 96701, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING SOMEWHERE AND IT WAS VERY DARK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TIRE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. *JS

NHTSA ID
11351386
Incident
Mar 12, 2020
Mileage
34,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 18, 2020

OIL LEAK FROM TURBO LINE, WAS SHOWING RECALL AFFECTED 2016 FORD TAURUS SHO REFERENCE 16S463 BUT WHEN I CALL DEALER AND LOOK UP VIN MY CAR IS NOT SHOWING TO BE INCLUDED. HOWEVER, I KEEP GETTING A BURNING OIL SMELL AND CAR IN SHOP RIGHT NOW AND OIL LINE THAT GOES TO ONE OF THE TURBO CHARGES IS LEAKING AND FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329522
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
45,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 27, 2019

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. EVERY PROBLEM YOU COULD IMAGINE WITH THIS CAR ONLY AY 69K MILES AFTER FORDS PATHETIC POWERTRIAN WARRANTY EXPIRES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 66K MILES SPENT 20 GRAND AFTER TAX AND ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT BESIDES THE DOWN PAYMENT. FIRST OFF THE PTU FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED AFTER 2K MILES WITCH IS A REALLY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE WITCH WAS A $900 PART THOUGH FORD. HAD THIS REPLACED AND NOT ONLY 7 DAYS LATER AND BARELY 1K MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO OVERHEAT DAMAGING THE MOTOR.. NOW I HAVE A $400+ PAYMENT ON A VEHICLE THAT NEEDS OVER $9000 IN REPAIRS BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION AND THE DEALER WONT FIX IT BECAUSE I DIDNT BUY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY AND ITS OUT OF THE FACTORY 60K WARRANTY. NOTE THIS IS A 2016 (PERFORMANCE SEDAN) (SHO) AND THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST UNRELIABLE CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE I ALWAYS BUY FORD AND HAVE HAD ISSUES HERE AND THERE BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS BETWEEN BREAK DOWNS I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO DRIVE THE CAR 30 DAYS AND NOW OWN 6 YEARS WORTH OF PAYMENTS... THKS CAR HAS LITERALLY BROKE ME AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING TO MAKE IT RIGHT THERE WAS CLEARLY SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURE DEFECT WITH THIS CAR AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND BUY THIS CAR WITHOUT A SERIOUS WARRANTY BECAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD BETTER LUCK WITH THIS CAR IN EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME DRIVETRAIN BUT MINE CAN'T BE THE ONLY 16 SHO THAT HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS AND IM SURE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT IN HARDSHIP ON NOW NOT HAVING A CAR AND HAVE 20K IN AUTO LOAN DEBT. ALL THIS HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS CAR WAS BUILT TO BE ABLE TO USE ON THE TRACK AND COMPLETELY FAILED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED AND HOPE FORD WILL RECALL THIS MAJOR ISSUE IN THERE "PERFORMANCE VEHICLES"

NHTSA ID
11291507
Incident
Nov 25, 2019
Mileage
69,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS APPROACHING A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES THE CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PROCEEDED ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND AS I WAS TURNING INTO A STRIP MALL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AGAIN. THIS TIME OUT OF CONTROL. I WHEN THROUGH THE TURN AND HIT A LARGE CURB AND THEN RAN INTO THE GUARD RAIL. I RIPPED THE GUARD RAIL OFF AND STILL PROCEEDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 150 FEET ON THE GRASS BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.

NHTSA ID
11282783
Incident
Nov 27, 2019
Mileage
29,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 1, 2018

DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN FOUND CRACKED COOLANT TANK. CONSISTENT PROBLEM ON 2016 TAURUS AND EXPLORER. CRACKED COOLANT TANK PRESENTS RISK OF FIRE, SKIN BURNS, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT SHORTS AND PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11091157
Incident
May 1, 2018
Mileage
66,029 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2016

UPON HARD ACCELERATION, CABIN IS FILLED WITH STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL / EXHAUST. AC IS IN THE AUTO MODE AND RECIRCULATION IS NOT ENGAGED. MUST ROLL ALL WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE CABIN OF FUMES. VERY SIMILAR TO SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED WITH FORD EXPLORER. INCIDENCE FIRST OCCURRED MAY 13, 2016 (DATE OF DELIVERY) AND HAS HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY UPON HARD ACCELERATION. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 10000 MILES AND CONTINUING TO HAVE ISSUE. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY.

NHTSA ID
10899182
Incident
May 13, 2016
Mileage
16 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 18, 2016

PROBLEMS OCCURRED 2X - 07/16TH AND 07/18/2016 - WHILE TRAVEL AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70MPH, ACCELERATION CEASED - CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG AND SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON, HAVE TO PULL OVER, SHUT-OFF THE ENGINE, RESTART, DRIVE FOR 1 MORE PROBLEMS REOCCUR AGAIN. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS. VEHICLES WAS PURCHASED 04/15/2016 HAD 216 MILES ON THE TITLE...CURRENTLY HAS 9,650 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10885415
Incident
Jul 18, 2016
Mileage
9,650 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .