Ford Taurus Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2002 draws 4.25 complaints per run and the 2004 1.94, a 2.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 82.1% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Suspension, with 2,578 complaints, typically at 6.3 years.

Ford Taurus years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Ford Taurus — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2019	1.31	17	13	yes
2018	1.44	49	34	yes
2017	1.48	43	29	yes
2016	1.78	82	46	yes
2015	3.74	269	72	yes
2014	3.16	221	70	yes
2013	5.04	569	113	yes
2012	2.09	69	33	yes
2011	3.25	172	53	yes
2010	3.26	176	54	yes
2009	1.64	54	33	yes
2008	3.04	152	50	yes
2007	3.65	113	31	yes
2006	5.54	266	48	yes
2005	5.85	632	108	yes
2004	1.94	306	158	yes
2003	3.76	1014	270	yes
2002	4.25	1208	284	yes
2001	2.94	837	285	yes
2000	3.26	943	289	yes
1999	3.92	658	168	yes
1998	2.66	412	155	yes
1997	3.48	616	177	yes
1996	3.42	626	183	yes
1995	3.67	943	257	yes
1994	3.15	747	237	yes
1993	3.09	1253	405	yes
1992	1.76	531	301	yes
1991	2.34	498	213	yes
1990	1.82	289	159	yes
1989	1.9	408	215	yes
1988	1.5	254	169	yes
1987	1.43	189	132	yes
1986	1.49	73	49	yes

ROWS 34·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2002 Taurus asks a median $2,300, against $3,500 for a 2003, the next model year: about 34% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 6 Ford Taurus years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2002, 1999, 2003; the three worth hunting are 2004, 2001, 2000.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Ford Taurus — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	633	5.2%	covered
1 year	686	10.9%	covered
2 years	846	17.9%	covered
3 years	1074	26.8%	you pay
4 years	1450	38.8%	you pay
5 years	1617	52.2%	you pay
6 years	1438	64%	you pay
7 years	1389	75.5%	you pay
8 years	987	83.7%	you pay
9 years	658	89.1%	you pay
10 years	465	93%	you pay
11 years	307	95.5%	you pay
12 years	214	97.3%	you pay
13 years	149	98.5%	you pay
14 years	115	99.5%	you pay
15 years	64	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 17.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 82.1% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 30% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Suspension at 6.3 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Ford Taurus — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Suspension	2578	6.3 yrs	39	4
Engine And Engine Cooling	2209	5.2 yrs	21	101
Power Train	2201	5.3 yrs	54	9
Vehicle Speed Control	1698	6.3 yrs	194	19
Electrical System	1210	5.3 yrs	16	192
Steering	1096	5.8 yrs	59	30
Service Brakes	979	4.7 yrs	124	6
Structure	836	6.3 yrs	22	9

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Taurus's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 3.1 for the Taurus.

FIG.05·Ford Taurus — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Taurus	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Dodge Charger	5,784	133	1983–2026
Chrysler 300	6,171	86	1999–2026
Kia K5	486	21	2021–2026
Hyundai Sonata	16,220	152	1989–2026
Chevrolet Impala	10,373	98	1981–2026
Lincoln Continental	2,687	80	1981–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Ford Taurus

Recalls179 campaigns Fuel economy26 mpg best Common problems20,089 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space46 cu ft Used prices2,192 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1986–2019

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ford Taurus reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.1 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Taurus years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2002, 1999, 2003. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2004, 2001, 2000. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Taurus problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Suspension, typically at 6.3 years, followed by Engine and Engine Cooling.

Will the warranty cover Taurus problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 17.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 30% of the complaints here.

Is the Taurus more reliable than the Dodge Charger?

Yes: 3.1 complaints per production run for the Taurus against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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