Wrench.Pro

2016 Ford Taurus Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2016 Ford Taurus carries 4 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering turbo/supercharger and rear. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Rearview camera failure pending recall parts.” Ford uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) to determine when oil changes are due based on actual driving load — not just mileage. Ford's published cap is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. The schedule below reflects Ford's Normal service intervals; F-Series trucks and Super Duty have additional towing-specific items.

4 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Campaign #16V925000 · Dec 22, 2016

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

SUSPENSION:REAR

Campaign #20V072000 · Oct 2, 2020

Issue: Ford 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.

Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts become available, which is currently expected to be the end of September 2020. The recall began October 28, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or Lincoln customer service at 1-800-521-4140. Ford's number for this recall is 20S04.

STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM

Campaign #25V611000 · Dec 9, 2025

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S91.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign #25V695000 · Oct 13, 2025

Issue: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Ford Taurus.

Reported to NHTSA

Rearview camera failure pending recall parts

BACK OVER PREVENTION

33 NHTSA complaints · 2022-01 → 2026-08

“I own a 2016 Ford Taurus Limited that is covered under Ford Safety Recall 25SA9 / NHTSA Recall 25V-695 for the rearview camera. I received the recall notification in October 2025 stating that a remedy was not yet available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11755923
“I was backing up in a parking lot when the backup camera suddenly inverted and I nearly ran over a small child. It now only works about 40% of the time and usually the image is inverted or scrambled. This is dangerous”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11482978
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received a recall notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V6950000 (Back Over Prevention); however; the recall remedy parts were not available. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera displayed a blurry image”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11707871

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

B-pillar trim detachment under structure recall

STRUCTURE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2025-11 → 2026-07

“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V611000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11753126
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the passenger's side door exterior B-Pillar trim was detaching. Additionally, while in reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a blue image or the message "Camera Unavailable" was displayed on the screen”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11710983
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V611000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11697966

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear suspension toe link failure

SUSPENSION

5 NHTSA complaints · 2020-08 → 2026-04

“Bushing of the driver side rear toe link (aka lateral link, toe arm, etc.) separated, causing the rest of the toe link to disconnect from the tire. Images are available but the original part has been taken by the mechanic”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11732495
“2016 Ford Taruas SEL Both Rear Toe Links went bad at around 64,000 miles The car is incontrollable on bumpy roads, which causes the car to veer very hard into the next lane or off the road”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11512448
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed over a dip in the roadway, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear of the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11543127

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel or exhaust odor entering cabin

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2016-08 → 2022-03

“THIS NEW 2016 TAURUS SHO HAS A STRONG FUEL, OIL OR CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS WITH OR WITHOUT THE AC RUNNING. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I MUST DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10905029
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10899182
“Smell of gas inside and outside of 2016 Ford Taurus while driving and while not driving. Dealer hasn't done anything to correct the problem despite consumer's on going requests both at the dealership and corporate executive level”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11456738

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power steering assist failure or lockup

STEERING

8 NHTSA complaints · 2018-09 → 2025-06

“Rack and pinion malfunctioned causing vehicle steering to pull to one side, eventually causing steering wheel to lock up making it almost impossible to steer vehicle. Problem confirmed by dealer, happened under 60k miles, however vehicle was passed year for factory warranty”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11543517
“The future that failed on my vehicle was the epas or electronic power assisted steering. This feature failed while I was on the freeway at upwards of 65 mph the steering wheel locked and I was unable to turn the steering wheel”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11488701
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was a loose steering bolt”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11669222

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine water pump and coolant system failure

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

7 NHTSA complaints · 2018-05 → 2025-11

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11654572
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11593733
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11091157

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Turbocharger oil line leak

ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-05 → 2023-11

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11556641
“I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUE TO A STRONG SMELL OF PROPANE/NATURAL GAS. THE SERVICE WRITER INFORMED ME THAT THE SMELL WAS REALLY BAD BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT SHE COULDN'T GET ME IN UNTIL TUESDAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10990946
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11329522

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic Motorcraft oil per the IOLM, or every 7,500-10,000 miles. EcoBoost engines require full synthetic; Coyote 5.0L V8 specifies SAE 5W-30.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate tires every 10,000 miles, or with every other oil change. F-150 4x4 owners should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain bias wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid level every 10,000 miles. Front pads on F-150 and Explorer typically last 40,000-60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Ford specifies brake fluid replacement on an inspection basis, but moisture testing every 3 years is recommended. Replace if reading exceeds 3% water content.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. EcoBoost turbocharged engines are sensitive to airflow restriction — don't extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford 6R80, 10R80, and 8F transmissions use Mercon LV fluid rated 150,000 miles under normal service. Severe service (towing, plowing) drops this to 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD models)

Every 60,000 mi

F-150 4x4 and Bronco 4x4: replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Motorcraft XL-12 — do not substitute generic transfer case fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 100,000 mi

F-Series and Expedition: replace rear axle fluid every 100,000 miles, or 50,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip rear ends require friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on Coyote 5.0L, EcoBoost 2.7L/3.5L, and 2.3L are rated 100,000 miles. EcoBoost engines: never exceed the interval — gap erosion causes coil failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (Dex-Cool compatible) coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Older trucks with Yellow Motorcraft coolant: 50,000 miles throughout.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. On F-150, located behind the glove box; on Escape and Explorer, accessed from the passenger footwell.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

33 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

4

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Ford Taurus reflects Ford's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →