What 587 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Taurus

I experienced an unexplained and unexpected loss of power steering assist necessitating immediate (manual) steering effort, which resulted in a vehicle crash. I brought in the vehicle to a local independent service center (not Ford) for inspection and diagnosis and the mechanic reported a problem with the electric power assist system. I called Ford Customer Service and they reported "0" recalls on my vehicle. There are no warning lamps/messages that I am aware of. I would like a closer look (investigation) given that other exact year, make, and model Ford vehicles have experienced recalls on this specific component. Ford's number for a similar recall is "15S18".

NHTSA ODI 11507282

The contact's daughter owned a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact's daughter then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags were deployed upon impact. The contact's daughter suffered neck and shoulder bruising from the seat belt restraint as well as burns on her arms from the air bag deployment. No medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 221,000.

NHTSA ODI 11472007

The power steering assist and traction control have failed. The vehicle is available for inspection at any time. The safety of myself and passengers as well as other drivers on the road were affected by the failure to properly control the vehicle due to the power steering assist and traction control failing. The problem has been reported, reproduced and confirmed by Ford Motor Company. Ford is refusing to diagnose or remedy the failure with the excuse that the recall 15s18 (NHTSA Campaign: 15v340000) is VIN-specific even though Ford’s website states: “ Ford 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 vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer but they are demanding $150 JUST to diagnose the issue. If it is as simple as reprogramming the vehicle’s software, they said it would cost another $150 to do so. Warning lamp and message about the power steering assist failing occurred right before the hardware malfunction/failure which was on December 2nd 2021 with 106,200 miles on the vehicle. Somehow the VIN for my vehicle wasn’t included in the initial recall by Ford EVEN THOUGH it meets all the specifications of the make/model of the vehicles AS WELL AS the date range and factory location of manufacture of the vehicles included in this recall, Ford has refused to fix their defect.

NHTSA ODI 11443230

Good afternoon, I am writing this regarding an issue to the power steering. This issue is an ongoing danger to myself and drivers around me. The steering locks up an the wheel becomes very still and hard to turn. This issue has been determined by a local dealership. There have been no warning lamps to signal the issue which makes it more dangerous due to no warning prior to when the issue started. After doing some research, I have found that similar vehicles to mine have a recall. The same vehicles (2013 taurus) manufactured in Chicago between September 7, 2010- February 28, 2012 have the same failed components as mine except they are recalled and mine is not.

NHTSA ODI 11433250

The steering assist on my Ford Taurus sho police interceptor has failed. It has not been active for a while now. I have continued to drive the vehicle under these conditions despite the inconvenience it causes me. I am almost 45 years old. The wear this puts on my body, it's a shame. I fractured an elbow in an unrelated incident a couple years before I purchased this vehicle. It required a complete replacement with an implant. The pushing and pulling I've put on this has shortened the life of the implant. That I am with no doubt. But when this is your means to work, you have no choice but to adapt. Two months ago, I chose another vehicle to drive rather than to repair this one and "hope" for a recall. The problem my car has is identical to those recalled. The pictures I have added shows no doubt of that. I will not pay a cent to any dealership that represents a company that has chosen negligence over safety. It's hard to believe that manufacturers are given a choice in situations like this. A vehicle for the foundation that provides the public with safety and well being at that. I hope whoever reads this is able to take something away from it. Hopefully, it will push somebody in a different direction when time comes to purchase a new car that they're loved ones will be riding in. Maybe if a number of people have had enough of manufacturer's trying to compensate their losses by picking and choosing which cars to fix while making the average Joe pay out of pocket five times the actual cost of the repair, group together and push back against this dishonest entity.. a single voice, can be heard by a group of people that are able to do the right thing. For the people. By the people.

NHTSA ODI 11426360

I I PURCHASED THIS 2013 FORD TAURUS SHO AWD TWIN TURBO ABOUT 3 YRS AGO USED FROM THE FIRST OWNER SO I'M THE SECOND OWNER. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION. NO ACCIDENTS SUPER CLEAN TOTALLY LOADED EXCEPT NO NAV AND SCREEN CONTROLS FOR ALL THE OTHER CELL PHONE APPS AND I EVEN WENT FOR UPGRADE FROM SYNC 2 MY TOUCH W/NO NAV TO THE NEWEST SYNC 3 3.5 FROM A 2018 VEHICLE CHANGED EVERYTHING IT WORKS GREAT. I CAN TELL THE CAR WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY HIM HE PUT VERY NICE TSW WHEELS AND VERY EXPENSIVE CONTINENTAL CONTITRACK TIRES THAT ARE ABUT 300.00 A PIECE WEATHERTECH RAIN GUARDS MATS FRONT AND REAR AS WELL AS THE TRUNK.IT WAS SUCH A BEATIFUL CAR. I BOUGHT IT IN THE SUMMER,WHEN WINTER CAME ALL THE PROBLEMS STARTED FRONT SUSPENSION CREAKING STRUTS NO MORE BACK UP CAMERA WORKING BUT FUZZY AND UPSIDE DOWN.AND TO REPLACE IT 300.00 NOW AND THIS IS THE KICK IN THE ASS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 NEWBORN TWIN GRAND DAUGHTERS MY 6 YR OLD NIECE AS WELL AS MY 88 YR OLD MOTHER JUST EXITING OFF A JUG HANDLE THATS HOW YOU MAKE A LEFT TURN IN THE STATE OF NJ,AND IT'S A CIRCLE WELL SHE STRAIGHT INTO THE DIVIDER BLOWING OUT BOTH FRONT TIRES AND CRACKING THE LEFT FRONT RIM AND BENDING THE RIGHT ONE. LOWER FRONT BUMPER VALANCE AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE .I THANK GOD THAT MY FAMILY WASN'T KILLED.I'M FURIOUS AND I MAY BE TAKING LEGAL ACTION HOLDING FORD PERSONALLY LIABLE THE RECALL WITH THE STEERING NEEDS T BE TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD ALWAYS ON ITS NOT DRIVABLE AND UNSAFE

NHTSA ODI 11352695

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING 50 MPH ALL OF SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL GAVE UP. IT WENT LEFT AND OUT TO EXIT UP CURVE. THE ELECTRIC ASSIST LIGHT WENT ON AND ALSO TRACTION LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11229131

TAKATA RECALLI AM THE OWNER OF A 2013 FORD TAURUS THAT I BOUGHT IN 2016. IT WAS A 1 OWNER NO ACCIDENTS AND 36000 MILES ON IT. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS BY FORD OR THE DEALERSHIP. YOUR WEBSITE SAYS IT WAS FIXED SO I CANNOT SEE WHAT RECALL OUT OF THE EIGHT IT HAS. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING DOING MAYBE 15MPH AROUND A RIGHT HAND TURN, WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ALMOST FELL OFF FROM BEING DISCONNECTED AT THE HALF SHAFT AND LINK SHAFT. MY TRACTION STABILITY LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST CALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ENDED UP HITTING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD MINIMAL COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. BUT DUE TO ALL OF THE POWERTRAIN WORK NEEDING TO BE DONE FROM THIS THE BILL WAS OVER 5000$. I HAD TO CLAIM IT ON INSURANCE AND NOW I'VE BEEN PAYING 5000$ A YEAR OR INSURANCE ON A CAR WORTH MAYBE 8000. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THESE RECALLS UNTIL RECENTLY AND I AM UPSET I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BECAUSE IF I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT AT 55. I WOULD BE DEAD. THIS IS A HIDE SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE. I STILL HAVE THE REPAIR BILLS AND FOR HITTING A STOPLIGHT AT ROUGHLY 5MPH COULD NOT HAVE CAUSE THAT MUCH DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI 11222029

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD TAURUS. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM FRONT TO BACK. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO START. THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE 02 SENSORS FAILED AND THE FUEL PUMP HAD A LEAK. BOTH COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 10950372