2010 Ford Taurus recalls and problems

The 2010 Ford Taurus has 3 safety recalls and 204 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
204
Crashes / fires
17 / 5
Injuries / deaths
16 / 2

Recalls may cover only some 2010 Ford Taurus vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2010 Ford Taurus recalls

Recall 16V-247: Air Bags

Reported Apr 26, 2016 · 695 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

Recall 15V-040: Structure

Reported Jan 28, 2015 · 194,889 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: Ford 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.

Risk: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.

Recall 14V-285: Exterior Lighting

Reported May 29, 2014 · 183,425 vehicles affected · Ford Motor Company

Problem: Ford 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.

Risk: This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08. Note: Under program 14R01, Ford will notify owners in non-corrosion states, and, at the customer's request, dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly.

2010 Ford Taurus problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Steering41
Engine37
Power Train36
Vehicle Speed Control25
Service Brakes, Hydraulic19
Electrical System19
Service Brakes14
Unknown or Other13
Engine and Engine Cooling11
Air Bags11
Structure11
Seats7

Most reported parts

  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 8
  • Structure › Body — 5
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 2
  • Structure › Body › Door — 2
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages — 2
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl) — 1
  • Suspension › Rear — 1
  • Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 46,500 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2010 Ford Taurus complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · reported Jun 10, 2025
Unknown. Car was going 100 mph. Driver, my son , was killed in this car accident. This year make AND model is known for throttle acceleration issues with brake afail override non existent until later models. Case number [XXX] sterling heights police department INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Steering · at 31,000 miles · reported Sep 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while making a right turn, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that the "Power Steering Assist Failure" message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,000.
Air Bags · reported Feb 25, 2024
O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting. Dealership had the vehicle non-recall. Seat belt light appeared and Agent was contacted. System is collected for revisiting my claim.
Structure · reported Jul 8, 2023
While driving on the hwy my moonroof exploded. Which cldve caused a accident due to the shock and fear it caused from the very loud gunshot like sound when exploding out of no where..for reason that was done by myself..
Power Train · at 117,000 miles · reported Dec 20, 2022
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated on its own at high speed without any warning, causing the vehicle to airborne and struck his neighbor's home. The contact desperately pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The contact's wife had severe injuries and sought medical attention. The vehicle was towed but the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 117,000.

Other Ford Taurus years

Compare all Ford Taurus years · All Ford models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Ford Taurus have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2010 Ford Taurus: 16V-247 (air bags), 15V-040 (structure), 14V-285 (exterior lighting). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2010 Ford Taurus?

Owners report steering problems most often (41 reports), followed by engine (37). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 46,500 miles.

Are Ford recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Ford dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.