FaultScore

Ford Taurus airbag problems

890 of the 23,971 complaints filed about the Ford Taurus are about the airbag system — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.

890

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

590

Crashes

7

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

1989 Taurus 1 0.1%
1990 Taurus 43 4.8%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

1991 Taurus 57 6.4%
1992 Taurus 50 5.6%

Median failure at 146,000 miles

1993 Taurus 65 7.3%

Median failure at 136,200 miles

1994 Taurus 42 4.7%

Median failure at 110,540 miles

1995 Taurus 62 7.0%

Median failure at 136,000 miles

1996 Taurus 46 5.2%

Median failure at 90,061 miles

1997 Taurus 42 4.7%

Median failure at 70,374 miles

1998 Taurus 39 4.4%

Median failure at 100,013 miles

1999 Taurus 40 4.5%

Median failure at 91,500 miles

2000 Taurus 90 10.1%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2001 Taurus 66 7.4%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2002 Taurus 50 5.6%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2003 Taurus 49 5.5%

Median failure at 58,000 miles

2004 Taurus 21 2.4%

Median failure at 57,500 miles

2005 Taurus 28 3.1%

Median failure at 63,500 miles

2006 Taurus 21 2.4%

Median failure at 72,000 miles

2007 Taurus 7 0.8%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

2008 Taurus 15 1.7%

Median failure at 114,250 miles

2009 Taurus 6 0.7%

Median failure at 59,500 miles

2010 Taurus 11 1.2%

Median failure at 52,500 miles

2011 Taurus 8 0.9%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2012 Taurus 3 0.3%

Median failure at 100 miles

2013 Taurus 11 1.2%

Median failure at 41,000 miles

2014 Taurus 5 0.6%

Median failure at 42,250 miles

2015 Taurus 5 0.6%

Median failure at 18,500 miles

2016 Taurus 4 0.4%

Median failure at 26,392 miles

2017 Taurus 2 0.2%

Median failure at 56,800 miles

2019 Taurus 1 0.1%

What owners said

2004 Ford Taurus Douglas, MA

AIR BAGS

Airbags seats and seatbelts useless for 6'8" 375lbs adult man. I sit within 6" of the steering wheel airbag the seatbelt goes across my bicep not my shoulder and the seat itself only goes up to the middle of my back, the head rest is between my shoulders. Why is there no exemption for giants and airbags and seatbelts? By having these "safety features" in my vehicle, my life is put in more danger than other people that are normal sized. If I ever get into an accident and the airbags or seatbelt injure me I will be suing you for forcing me to use these dangerous for me things. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL WHEN YOU ARE A GIANT, and your regulations make being in a car more deadly to me.

NHTSA complaint #11724033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Ford Taurus at 142,000 miles Wantagh, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had failed to unbuckle and was previously repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously rear-ended on several occasions, and the air bags did not deploy. The contact had sustained severe back injuries that had become permanent. The contact had received medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene on each occasion. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the vehicle experienced sudden and unintended acceleration. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle responded as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

NHTSA complaint #11714414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Ford Taurus East Stlouis, IL

AIR BAGS

Hhhghjonbb

NHTSA complaint #11698309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford Taurus at 99,000 miles Fort Wayne, IN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering wheel clock spring was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 99,000.

NHTSA complaint #11695054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Taurus Washington, MI Crash 6 injured 2 killed

AIR BAGS

Unknown. Car was going 100 mph. Driver, my son , was killed in this car accident. This year make AND model is known for throttle acceleration issues with brake afail override non existent until later models. Case number [XXX] sterling heights police department INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11666028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Ford Taurus Hamilton, NY Crash

AIR BAGS

Airbags failed to deploy in a right front collision with a deer. Banged head off steering wheel. GEICO repaired over 8000 in damage. Took 19 days to repair.

NHTSA complaint #11647554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Ford Taurus Reno, NV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Vehicle was involved in a collision with major front end damage and no airbags deployed. The brakes have been soft or spongy. I have not seen any leaks for the brake issue. I have bled the brakes several times the master was replaced by the original owner.

NHTSA complaint #11647520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford Taurus Fullerton, CA Crash 1 killed

AIR BAGS

On June 23, 2024 this 2004 Ford Taurus was in a front end collision at freeway speeds of 60 mph or higher. The driver airbag did not deploy and the driver died as a result of severe trauma to head and chest.

NHTSA complaint #11602400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Taurus Waterford, MI

AIR BAGS

UNKNOWN

NHTSA complaint #11591972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Taurus Waterford, MI

AIR BAGS

Upgrades allowed a low MPG.

NHTSA complaint #11574103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Taurus Waterford, MI

AIR BAGS

O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting. Dealership had the vehicle non-recall. Seat belt light appeared and Agent was contacted. System is collected for revisiting my claim.

NHTSA complaint #11573851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Taurus Waterford, MI

AIR BAGS

O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting.

NHTSA complaint #11573857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Taurus Waterford, MI

AIR BAGS

O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting.

NHTSA complaint #11573858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Ford Taurus Saint Joseph, MO Crash

AIR BAGS

My son was in an accident to where the whole front end was smashed and neither airbag deployed

NHTSA complaint #11559353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Taurus at 40,000 miles Chicago, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH making a left turn a vehicle collided with the front passenger side of the vehicle. The steering wheel air bag deployed violently. The contact sustained face and left arm inquiries from the air bag. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a lot where it was determined destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11529132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Ford Taurus Lawrenceburg, KY Crash

AIR BAGS

Airbag deployed but did not inflate. Had 2 large holes in it

NHTSA complaint #11527389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Ford Taurus Greenwood, SC

AIR BAGS

The front airbag light keeps coming on.

NHTSA complaint #11510185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Taurus Waynesville, OH Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to his back and neck and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11507830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford Taurus Jasper, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

Someone pulled out in front of me as I was slowing down to make a left turn. I T-boned their vehicle while going 35mph, resulting in a total loss for my 2000 Ford Taurus. (This was in 2018 so it was not a new car). My driver steering wheel airbag DID NOT deploy. I was wearing my seat belt. I still have chest pains when I sneeze and cough, even 4 years later (in November 2022, at time of writing), and in the last year (2021) received a cortisone shot in my left shoulder. I was offered a neck brace in the ambulance and was prescribed an arm sling in the hospital. I was diagnosed with whiplash. I believe I was given pain medication. Someone from the NHTSA in Indiana contacted me and we spoke briefly about it that week, so this may have been previously reported to this agency. I only found out this week that the 2000 Ford Taurus had a history of airbag issues, which is why I bring this up now. I think the car has already been scrapped, so no chance of examination unfortunately. As above, my safety was in jeopardy. Had I been going faster, I could have died. (Apparently someone DID die from a faulty Taurus front airbag.) I, to this day, have chest pain down to my elbows when I sneeze or cough. My doctor says it's a musculoskeletal strain. Ford has not issued recalls for airbags. The vehicle was declared totaled on scene by the police officer and then towed by a towing service. The towing service said the undeployed airbag was "a ticking time bomb" and really unsafe to attempt to repair. I sent pictures to the at-fault driver's insurance, so it was also inspected by insurance. I do not remember any seeing warning messages. I would have checked any unfamiliar warnings or dash lights. Side note: For number of injured, I think I was the only one to take an ambulance. At-fault driver first hesitated to call 911, but eventually did. There were two people in his car, including himself: driver, and passenger in front seat.

NHTSA complaint #11494852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Ford Taurus Virginia Beach, VA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I turned left after stopping at a four-way stop sign intersection. I crashed into a parked car waiting its turn but I did not see until I was upon it and it was too late to swerve away. My car's air bags inflated. My wrist was broken. My car was declared totaled by my insurer although I could not have been speeding since I had just stopped at the four-way stop sign, waited my turn, and turned my car left onto a street that runs slightly downhill. I am still trying to comprehend how my wrist on my right hand was broken since both of my hands were on the steering wheel at the point of impact but a trip to the emergency room proved my suddenly limp and suddenly pain-filled arm meant I had broken my wrist. It is not the first time I have been in my 2016 Ford Taurus and not noticed a car until it was close upon me-- typically though a car(s) has approached me from my rear right and I noticed it in a split second and avoided an accident; but this is my first collision accident in decades. I need to point that fact out. I don't know if the car has a blind spot. I don't know if the air bag broke my wrist. I don't know why my wrist was broken because both of my hands were on the steering wheel during my collision on May 9, 2022. There were not any warning messages that I recall seeing or hearing. My insurer acquired right of attorney over my vehicle and towed it away. To my knowledge, no one has inspected the car but I suspect there are actually several blind spots in the 2016 Ford Taurus. I owned a 1998 Ford Taurus before I bought my 2016 Ford Taurus but never had a collision in my 1998 Ford Taurus or any of the problems I've just described.

NHTSA complaint #11476768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford Taurus problems