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2013 Ford Taurus: common problems and reliability
· 6th generationOne of the worst Taurus years.
One of the Ford Taurus years to avoid. All Taurus years
590 owner complaints, most about steering. 9 recalls.
Should I buy a 2013 Taurus?The 2013 Ford Taurus has 590 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are steering and fuel/propulsion system. Owners most often flag internal water pump failure: often leaking externally behind the alternator and occasionally mixing coolant into the oil.
Safety record for the 2013 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2013 Ford Taurus vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Taurus years only. How we score it
Is 2013 a good year for the Taurus?
Across the 24 Taurus model years we track, complaint volume runs from 17 (2019) to 1,471 (2002). With 590 complaints, the 2013 Taurus sits above the model's median of 318.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2013 Taurus
structure:body:door
Campaign 15V040000Ford 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.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 16V621000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles. A component within the fuel pump electric module (PEM) may overheat causing a loss of electrical power to the fuel pump.
steering:electric power assist system
Campaign 15V340000Ford 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 have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
exterior lighting
Campaign 14V285000Ford 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 District of Columbia. When used in areas that use road salt, the license plate lamp assembly may experience an electro-chemical reaction and corrosion as a result of water intrusion.
Show 5 more recalls
fuel system, gasoline
Campaign 15V812000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
power train:axle assembly:axle shaft
Campaign 14V393000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles manufactured September 2, 2010, to November 30, 2013; 2013-2014 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured August 25, 2011, to November 30, 2013; and 2013-2014 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured September 12, 2011, to November 30, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the halfshaft retention circlip may not have been properly installed, and as a result, the halfshaft may move outward and disengage from the linkshaft while driving and without prior warning.
fuel system, gasoline
Campaign 13V227000Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
latches/locks/linkages
Campaign 13V270000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety locks may change from an activated position to a deactivated position without notice.
suspension:rear
Campaign 20V072000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
What owners report on the 6th generation Taurus
Owners of the 2009-2019 Taurus generally describe it as a comfortable, spacious, and quiet highway cruiser that is reliable when maintained, but the ownership experience is heavily shadowed by two recurring mechanical fears: the internal water pump and the PTU on all-wheel-drive models.
- Very frequentInternal water pump failure
Often leaking externally behind the alternator and occasionally mixing coolant into the oil.
- RecurrentPTU (power transfer unit) failure or fluid degradation on AWD models
- RecurrentRough cold shifts and transmission mount wear on the 6-speed automatic
- RecurrentCoolant leaks traced to the water pump weep hole area near the alternator or AC compressor
- RecurrentOil pressure warning light and beeping
Sometimes traced to a leaking oil pressure switch on 3.5/3.7 engines.
Owner insights for the 6th generation Taurus. Read the full 6th generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Taurus listings typically run $9,114–$14,953 across 2010 to 2019 model years.
Other Taurus model years
Compare every Taurus year side by side to see how 2013 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Taurus against its rivals
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