Fuel System complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 2% | 6,000 miles |
| 2017 | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2016 | 7 | 8% | 113,000 miles |
| 2015 | 73 | 26% | 76,000 miles |
| 2014 | 71 | 31% | 82,000 miles |
| 2013 | 107 | 18% | 80,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 3% | 78,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 2% | 85,000 miles |
| 2010 | 11 | 5% | 37,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% | 106,000 miles |
| 2008 | 8 | 5% | 93,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 5% | 85,000 miles |
| 2006 | 18 | 6% | 92,000 miles |
| 2005 | 41 | 5% | 100,000 miles |
| 2004 | 16 | 4% | 112,000 miles |
| 2003 | 24 | 2% | 73,000 miles |
| 2002 | 27 | 2% | 71,000 miles |
| 2001 | 23 | 2% | 125,000 miles |
| 2000 | 66 | 6% | 67,000 miles |
| 1999 | 35 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 1998 | 13 | 2% | 59,000 miles |
| 1997 | 33 | 4% | 144,000 miles |
| 1996 | 19 | 2% | 120,000 miles |
| 1995 | 53 | 4% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
When fueling car will not take more fuel around 15 gallons leaving the fuel tank short 4 to 5 gallons. Fuel guage shows full but it's misleading because the tank is not really full. Also the information in the dashboard "miles to empty" is erroneous because your are missing around 4-5 gallons of fuel. In order to be able to fuel the vehicle to the 19 gallons fuel capacity, you need to continue forcing the fuel until you are really full.
my vehicle's oil lines to the turbo charger failed and caused a huge oil leak and my car was smoking all over the highway. I had the vehicle towed to a nearby service station recommended by AAA. After discovering the issue, the repairman indicated there was a recall on this exact issue. However, I was never notified by Ford of the recall. When I called Ford I was informed that the recall only applied to vehicles built between Oct and Nov 2016. My vehicle was built in April. I feel that this issue couldn't have been limited to that small window of time, obviously Ford is not sharing the appropriate information with NHSTA. I had to pay $3000 to fix my vehicle for a problem that Ford is well aware this vehicle is still having. I'm deeply disappointed in Ford.
Occasionally engine surges when in gear when brake is pressed.Car must be put in neutral and key turned iff. This happens only on occasionaly.I understand Ford has extended Throttle body warranty on this part to ten years on my ModelI visited local dealer who ran my VIN and advised there was no information on an extended warranty in his system.He said take it up with Ford.Ford customer service refered me back to the dealer.Can you assist in confirming Ford has extended the coverage to 10 years and if so how to proceed as Ford has denied any knowledge.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that after an oil change at a local dealer, the contact was informed that the auxiliary battery wiring harness was failing and needed to be replaced. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that this failure was a series of failures of the vehicle. The contact previously had the fuel pump and the fuel tank mounting bolts replaced. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V621000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V605000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that she had not found a recall for the auxiliary battery wiring harness. The contact stated that the dealer had diagnosed the failure of the wiring harness but that the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the service vehicle soon warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to violently shake and stall. The contact managed to coast the vehicle off the freeway into a parking lot where the contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the engine was still running. The vehicle resumed normal operation prior to the failure. The vehicle was having a service check for the oil change at an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle, however, was unable to duplicate the issue. The vehicle then was taken to the dealer where a second diagnostic test was performed, and it was determined the throttle body actuator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull off to the side of the roadway and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that at other times while starting the vehicle, the engine was sputtering as if the vehicle was going to stall. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel pump was failing and needed to be replaced. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V621000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that on several occasions the vehicle failed to immediately start-up. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel pump control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump control module was replaced but after retrieving the vehicle, while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle stalled. During the failure, the message "Check Fuel Inlet" was displayed. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V621000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 140,000.
I'm not having any success with my local Ford Dealership or with Ford Customer Service getting my car covered under the Customer Satisfaction Program. I have fuel system issues, I need to replace both cats and 2 bad sensors, halfshaft, fuel system, and braking issues. The dealership said to contact Ford and Ford says it's the dealership's problem. If they don't fix it, I'm done with Ford. If they can't stand behind their products and their dealerships won't help the customers, then my loyalty is done. I've already had to replace a poorly designed PTU at my expense and now this, buyer beware on Interceptors. Let's hope I don't have any other issues. No one seems to be willing to help and I'm beyond frustrated with this experience.
Related recalls (7)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI Ecoboost engines and 2013-2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicles.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel PEM part number and replace the fuel PEM, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016.
Fuel system, gasoline
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured on July 24, 2015. During vehicle production, the fuel tank attachment bolts may not have been properly tightened.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Fuel system, gasoline
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03.
Show 2 more recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles previously serviced under Ford service bulletin 97-17-9 from August 1997 through December 1997. These vehicles were inadvertenly equipped with an 18-gallon fuel tank rather than the 16-gallon as specified.
Remedy: Dealers will install the correct fuel tank.
Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system
The fuel pressure regulator located on the fuel rail in the engine compartment has a vacuum diaphragm that was damaged during manufacture of the regulator.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel pressure regulator. Those regulators produced during the suspect time period will be replaced.
NHTSA investigations
Engine stalling ffv
On October 11, 2006, public citizen petitioned odi to investigate reports of engine stalls caused by e85 fuel in certain model year (my) 2003 - 2005 Ford taurus flex-fuel vehicles (ffv). Odi's review of the petition and other available data found a low stall rate attributable to e-85 fueling and that the main concerns,prolonged engine start and rough idle during cold engine startup at winter temperatures, were…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Taurus years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (107), 2015 (73), 2014 (71), 2000 (66) and 1995 (53) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 18% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Ford Taurus fuel system problems?
Yes — 7 recalls, including 16V-621 (fuel pump, Aug 25, 2016); 15V-812 (fuel system, gasoline, Dec 2, 2015); 15V-605 (mounting, Sep 28, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Taurus fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles; 19% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery › fuel pump (95 mentions), followed by the storage › tank assembly (46).
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.