2018 Ford Taurus
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 11 of 48 complaints (23%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 44 in 2017 to 48 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2018 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,300 | 2,700–3,300 | 2,950–3,300 | 2,950–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–23 | 19–23 | 19–21 | 19–21 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–20 / 24–29 | 16–20 / 24–29 | 16–18 / 24–27 | 16–18 / 24–26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 387–473 | 386–468 | 423–471 | 428–471 | |
| Complaints filed | 80 | 44 | 48 | 15 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Taurus have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Ford Taurus?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 11 of 48 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Ford Taurus get?
EPA rates it 19–21 MPG combined across 5 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Ford Taurus?
EPA estimates $2,950–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 471 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 17 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 467 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 18 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Large Cars | 17 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 467 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Large Cars | 18 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · Campaign 25V695000 · Oct 14, 2025
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
STRUCTURE:EXTERIOR TRIM · Campaign 25V611000 · Sep 12, 2025
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Consequence: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 20V072000 · Feb 11, 2020
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 18V141000 · Mar 5, 2018
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems. The keys for these vehicles may be able to be removed from the ignition when transmission is not in the PARK position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Consequence: If the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C02.
