Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On the 24th February, 2022, I was driving my 2014 Ford Taurus taxi cab on the highway to go pick up a client. I saw a dash light indicating slippery road and suddenly, I could not control the steering of the car. All attempts to control the steering proved futile, and the car kept swerving on both sides, till it hit the divider between the roads. This is the second time that this incident is happening to me. The first incident resulted to a minor damage, and the car was taken to the shop for fix. With the second incident from last month, this resulted to my car being totaled. I am lucky and grateful to be alive. I spoke to my son and learned that there was a recall on the 2014 Ford Taurus. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated, lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver coasted to the side of the road, inspected the vehicle, and became aware of coolant leaking underneath the vehicle. The driver was able to add coolant to the reservoir, restarted the vehicle, and drove to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the water pump and timing chain had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The dealer diagnosed that the water pump and timing chain needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while his son was stopped at the drive-thru, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The contact's son turned off the vehicle and waited for the engine to cool down before restarting. Upon inspection under the hood, the contact discovered that there was no coolant in the coolant reservoir. The contact added coolant to the coolant reservoir, but the failure recurred while driving and there was coolant leaking onto the ground while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that she and her husband noticed that the coolant in the radiator was low. The contact added coolant to the reservoir and noticed two days later that the coolant level was low again. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the water pump was failing and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
The contact's aunt owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that his aunt noticed a puddle of fluids underneath the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant was leaking from the water pump. The contact was informed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case number was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to immediately restart and experienced rough driving and would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the water pump was faulty causing water to leak onto the air compressor. The contact was informed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine overheated and the vehicle stalled. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the coolant reservoir level was low. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Water pump failure causing a major leak. Because the vehicle is designed to have the water pump run on the timing chain and the oil pan right underneath the water pump, the coolant leaks right into the oil pan and coolant enters the engine. I was driving on a back road and had to abruptly pull over on the side of the road because the driver assist screen said "engine coolant overheating." This was the first and only time this message appeared. There was smoke coming from under the hood. Numerous mechanics that I've spoken to said that if I drove it any longer, there's a good chance the engine could blow. So now I'm looking at a $3,000+ repair for this. Realistically, any other make and model (that was designed with common sense) with a failed water pump should cost $500-1,000. And won't run the risk of ruining your engine on top of it. …
This vehicle was sold to me with a not for sale in states requiring California emissions, no governor on the vehicle as well faulty lighting mechanisms. The fuel pump is fluctuating and the car is a danger to myself and those around me. I consulted with a independent licensed mechanic who confirmed these defaults. No warning lights no messages and the dealer did not point out these flaws. I discovered this issue after getting some routine maintenance done on the vehicle
Driving down CR 230 in Wyoming, the situation started if I have to estimate, 7 miles west of Woods Landing, I heard a metal on metal grinding noise from the engine bay, and a loss of power on the throttle. I look at my RPM gauge and notice it is a zero. No check engine light, all electronics working as normal along with the brakes, and I slow the vehicle down to 30 MPH. Shortly after noticing, I get a "Check Brake System" flash on my instrument panel cluster, also the light which illuminates for my parking brake turns on, and I lose power brakes, the brake pedal turned extremely stiff. I immediately look for a pull off zone, but because I had lost brakes I did not want to risk keeping the vehicle moving. I get the vehicle stopped on the side of the road, and instantly put it in park along with the parking brake and shut the vehicle off. …
Engine complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2014 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2014 Ford Taurus, 9% of the model year's 229 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2014 Ford Taurus engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2014 Ford Taurus, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Taurus engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.