Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact's mother owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, several unknown warning lights illuminated when turning off the vehicle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the dashboard. In addition, the gear shifter had seized in park(P). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle had several previous ongoing failures. The contact stated that the failure started shortly after the vehicle was purchased in 2013. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
On 7/31/2022, and also about a month ago, my 2013 Ford Taurus Limited stalled out while driving and the wrench light came on. The car limped along until I could pull it over, but this could have been serious as I was on the highway doing 65mph just 2 minutes prior to it. It stalled coming up the upramp here in Phoenix. I got it into the parking lot, and gave it gas and nothing at all, the engine just sputtered as the wrench light was on. I turned it off for 2 minutes, and restarted and able to get home 4 minutes away. This is the 2nd time this has now happened, and this is a huge safety concern. Ford Taurus had recalls on the Powertrain Control Module for other years of the Taurus, but I do not want to pay for this fix as this is a Ford safety issue for my model year 2013. I could have caused an accident on the highway if this stalled like this. Who do I contact to get this looked at. …
Please allow submission of additional information regarding issues with my 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor. As stated on the previous complaint filed on 1/9/2024, I got my car service at AutoNation Ford Service Center on 12/16/2023, and I brought it back to the service center on Saturday, 12/23/2023 because of the car's poor performance and engine had laminated on 12/17/2023. I went to pick up the car on Thursday 12/28/2023 in the morning, the Ford representative said the car is fine, and there is nothing wrong with the car. I say thank you and drive off. So, I am driving the car for about 5 minutes, it feels sluggish. Then the engine light comes on, I make a U turn and return the car to AutoNation Ford for service. …
While traveling down the highway and without warning, we lost the ability to accelerate. We had to coast over to the shoulder of the road and there was no response when pressing the gas pedal. The vehicle then began to sputter and the check engine light came on. We restarted the vehicle and the check engine light was off, and the car responded when the gas was pressed. Later on I was turning through an intersection and again the engine stopped responding. I coasted very slowly through the intersection, turned on the hazard lights and sat slightly off the road. I restarted the car several times and this time the check engine light stayed on. I checked the code and it showed "Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) system, actuator stuck open". I looked on the internet and saw that many of the 2009-13 Ford Escape owners had experienced these symptoms as well. …
Just recently, my power steering started to fail when it's in 'S' gear (I just started using it a few weeks ago). The steering wheel gets catchy and can be difficult to control, especially going around corners. It's intermittent and it didn't start until I started to use the 'S' gear. I had the power steering checked by a mechanic and they said it's functioning properly. I do believe my car should be included in this recall before the steering goes out and something catastrophic happens. By the way, now that I've stopped using the 'S' gear, the glitchy steering issue has subsided.
Car keeps throwing wrench light on and looses all power while driving. Car has been back to dealership and they can not find any issues. Researching it seems to be a big on going issue with the 13 ford vehicles. I'm going to be in a major accident with this car and I'm still paying on it.
I have a check engine light on my dash. I have several codes. I have problems with the car like the fuel pump, catalytic converter not functioning efficiently, steering, etc. I know Ford has problems with its cars.
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. …
15V340000 14V393000 20V072000 15V812000 16V621000 13V270000 15V040000 13V227000
While driving to a dr apptointment I was on the freeway at about 70 MPH when the car stalled, I lost acceleration and a wrench light came appeared. Fortunately I was near an exit where I was able to get off the freeway, and find a gas station, as I idled into the gas station at about 2-3 MPH. I shut the car off and restarted it, and operation returned to normal for about a week. Then today, as I was driving my kids to school and was in the turning lane to enter the freeway it did the same thing, not once but twice in a span of 15 miles. Again fortunately I was able to pull off onto the shoulder and restart the vehicle. Out of fear I took all back roads home incase it happened again, which it did. …
Related recalls
Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft
Ford 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…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to make sure that the halfshaft is properly retained. If it is not, dealers will replace the linkshaft and also replace the halfshaft if it shows evidence…
Transmission complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Ford Taurus, 8% of the model year's 585 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Ford Taurus transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-393 (axle shaft, Jul 2, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Taurus transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 4 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.