FaultScore

Ford Taurus door lock problems

125 of the 23,971 complaints filed about the Ford Taurus are about the doors, latches and locks — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1994.

125

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

3

Crashes

1

Fires

Doors, Latches & Locks complaints by model year

1986 Taurus 3 2.4%
1988 Taurus 2 1.6%
1989 Taurus 5 4.0%
1990 Taurus 4 3.2%
1991 Taurus 7 5.6%
1992 Taurus 3 2.4%
1993 Taurus 6 4.8%
1994 Taurus 13 10.4%

Median failure at 146,000 miles

1995 Taurus 9 7.2%
1996 Taurus 12 9.6%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

1997 Taurus 4 3.2%
1998 Taurus 7 5.6%
1999 Taurus 6 4.8%

Median failure at 62,000 miles

2000 Taurus 10 8.0%

Median failure at 74,000 miles

2001 Taurus 10 8.0%

Median failure at 68,275 miles

2002 Taurus 1 0.8%

Median failure at 110,000 miles

2003 Taurus 5 4.0%

Median failure at 101,000 miles

2004 Taurus 7 5.6%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

2005 Taurus 4 3.2%

Median failure at 74,500 miles

2006 Taurus 1 0.8%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2009 Taurus 1 0.8%

Median failure at 99 miles

2010 Taurus 1 0.8%

Median failure at 8,000 miles

2013 Taurus 1 0.8%

Median failure at 225,000 miles

2014 Taurus 2 1.6%

Median failure at 85,065 miles

2017 Taurus 1 0.8%

Median failure at 5,000 miles

What owners said

2013 Ford Taurus at 225,000 miles Indian Head, MD

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

The contact rented a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the driver's side door failed to close as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the rental company regarding the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.

NHTSA complaint #11672853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford Taurus at 86,000 miles Boca Raton, FL

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that upon being pulled over by local police, he became aware that his rear license plate lamp was out. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard wind noise in the interior of the vehicle. After a visual inspection, he became aware that the rear driver's side door latch mechanism failed to secure the door closed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failures, the contact related them to NHTSA Campaign Number 20V331000 (Exterior Lighting) and NHTSA Campaign Number 14V285000 (Latches, Locks, Linkages), but the VIN was not included in either recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 86,000.

NHTSA complaint #11546973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford Taurus at 84,131 miles Boca Raton, FL

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side door failed to close fully. The contact also noticed corrosion inside the license plate light. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V285000 (Exterior Lighting) and Manufacturer Recall Number: 20S30/15S16/16S30 however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,131.

NHTSA complaint #11527222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford Taurus at 5,000 miles Katy, TX

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the keypad lock detached from the driver’s side door. The contact also stated that whenever it rained, he was not able to enter the vehicle using the keypad lock. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the keypad lock needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to a local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA complaint #11424624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Ford Taurus at 110,000 miles Milwaukee, WI

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *DT

NHTSA complaint #11118162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford Taurus at 182,000 miles Blacklick, OH

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE, THE DOOR LATCH BECOMES STUCK AND THE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH AND CLOSE PROPERLY AND THE DOOR FLIES OPEN. THE PASSENGER DOOR LATCH WILL DO THE SAME THING. SO YOU HAVE TO DRIVE HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT UNTIL THE DOOR LATCH/SENSOR DECIDES TO UNFREEZE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU MAY THINK THE DOOR IS SHUT BECAUSE THE SENSOR LIGHT GOES OFF AND THEN YOU START TO DRIVE AND THE DOOR FLIES OPEN. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE, SEVERAL MODEL YEARS FROM 1997 AND UP OF THE TAURUS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING AS WELL AS THE MERCURY SABLE AND A FEW OTHER OLDER FORD MODELS. I JUST READ ONLINE THAT THEY RECALLED 2010-2013 FOR DOOR LATCH ISSUES. PLEASE MAKE THEM EXTEND THE RECALL FOR OLDER FORD TAURUS BEFORE SOMEBODY DIES OR GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA complaint #10679633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Taurus Albrightsville, PA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

WHEN IT IS COLD OUT AND YOU TRY TO CLOSE THE DRIVERS DOOR IT WILL NOT LATCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH. THE DANGER IN THIS IS THAT IF YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT THE DOOR DID NOT LATCH WHEN YOU CLOSED IT THEN IT COULD OPEN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT. I HAVE 2 FORD TAURUS'S FROM THIS SAME YEAR. MY OTHER ONE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE LATCH ENDED UP BEING REPLACED IN THAT ONE. (THAT WAS ABOUT 2 YRS AGO) WHEN IT STARTED HAPPENING WITH THIS ONE, ABOUT A MONTH PRIOR TO THE DATE ABOVE) I STARTED LOOKING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES.

NHTSA complaint #10670874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford Taurus at 185,000 miles Broomfield, CO

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2001 FORD TAURUS DOOR LOCK NOT LATCHING DURING WINTER WEATHER. VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY SAFETY ISSUE, VERY MUCH SO WHEN THEIR IS ICE AND SNOW ON THE ROADS. ATTENDING WORK AND APPOINTMENTS IS MANDATORY. HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT WHILE DRIVING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AFTER MINIMAL RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. THE NEWS & MEDIA MUST BE ALERTED AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.

NHTSA complaint #10505920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford Taurus at 85,000 miles Oregon, WI

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH NOT LATCHING.

NHTSA complaint #10502624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford Taurus at 100,000 miles Shelton, WA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. AFTER SOME TIME, THE FRONT PASSENGER, REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS ALSO WOULD NOT RETRACT. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR LOCKS WITH THE KEY FOB THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10489181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford Taurus at 170,000 miles ST Paul, MN

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

VEHICLE DOORS WILL NOT LATCH WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 30 DEGREES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND WELL IS REPORTED THROUGHOUT MANY MODEL YEARS FOR FORD TAURUS. IT IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10484461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford Taurus at 152,000 miles ST Paul, MN

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

ONCE AGAIN MY DOOR LATCHES WILL NOT CLOSE WHEN THE WEATHER IS CLOSED. I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND HOLDING MY DOOR SHUT. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO THIS VEHICLE AND IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!

NHTSA complaint #10440125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford Taurus at 65,000 miles Eagan, MN

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

DOOR LATCH SWITCH STICKING.

NHTSA complaint #10378305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford Taurus at 60,000 miles West DES Moines, IA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ UPDATED 03/03/11

NHTSA complaint #10370540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Ford Taurus at 103,798 miles West Haven, CT

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT LAST DEC AND NOW AM EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, MY SIGNAL LIGHTS/HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND WAS TOLD THE WIRES AND HARNESS NEED TO BE REPLACED. HINGES THAT HOLD REAR WINDOW IN HAVE SNAPPED OFF, WINDOW HELD IN PLACE BY LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #10369307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Taurus at 8,000 miles OAK Grove, MN

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

DRIVER DOOR FAILS TO SEAL CLOSED, AJUSTED MANY TIMES AND ALLOWS FOR ROAD NOISE AND AIR TO ENTER THE CAR. FORD DEAL HAS WORKED ON VEHICLE X 6 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10368076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford Taurus Littlestown, PA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

I FIRST NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR DOOR OF MY 2001 TAURUS WAS NOT UNLOCKING WITH THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE, ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. THOUGHT THAT MAYBE ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THEN, ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. MY GRANDCHILDREN DO NOT TRAVEL IN THE FRONT COMPARTMENT OF MY CAR. NOR DO I HAVE VERY MANY PASSENGERS. ALSO, MY GRANDCHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN IN MY CAR MUCH IN THE PAST 14 MONTHS, AS THEY HAVE MOVED TO ANOTHER COUNTY. I THEN HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. HE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT HE COULD NOT ORDER THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE DOOR LOCKING ACTUATOR. THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK, BECAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER FORD TAURUS OWNERS WERE HAVING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. I'M SORRY THAT I DID NOT CONTACT YOU EARLIER. MY MOTHER HAD BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WEEK, AND I HAD LOTS OF CATCHING UP TO DO. ANYWAY, MY MECHANIC DID NOT RECOMMEND INSTALLING A USED PART, AS THE SAME THING WOULD VERY LIKELY HAPPEN. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I EXPLAINED THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME "SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, LADY ... BUT, YOU'RE ON OUR OWN". IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR BY WAY OF AUTOMATIC FEATURE, EITHER ON THE DOOR HANDLE OR THE HAND-HELD REMOTE. CHILDREN ARE NOT ALWAYS SWIFT IN BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK A CAR DOOR AND THEN OPENING THE DOOR IN AN EMERGENCY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. EVERYONE THAT I HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO HAS SAID, WITHOUT ME MENTIONING THE SAFETY ISSUE FIRST, THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10357216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Ford Taurus at 101,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

THE HOOD LATCH BEGIN TO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE HOOD FLEW UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY SMASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND COSTING OVER $2000 TO REPAIR EVEN WITHOUT THE OCCURRENCE OF A COLLISION. THE LATCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AS THE HOOD ELIMINATED VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10331447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Taurus at 62,000 miles Dayton Ohio, OH

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2005 FORD TAURUS SEDAN - REAR TRUCK WILL RELEASE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. WE BOUGHT THE USED VEHICLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2009, ON AT LEAST SIX OCCASIONS, THE REAR TRUCK LID OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNAL RELEASE BUTTON, A REMOTE RELEASE BUTTON AND AN INTERNAL SAFETY RELEASE STRING. ON EACH OCCASION NEITHER BUTTON WERE ACTIVATED. NO CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD ON EACH OCCASION. THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORTS OF THIS. RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) STRUT SYSTEM - ON COMPLETION OF AN ALIGNMENT OF FORD TAURUS, THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER) STRUT SYSTEM WAS DEEMED BROKEN. ALL OTHER SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WERE ALIGNED WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT SYSTEM COULD ONLY BE ALIGNED JUST OUTSIDE OF THE MAXIMUM SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, AND NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENT CAN BE MADE WITHOUT REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10303382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford Taurus at 99,000 miles Cleveland, OH

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS (BELOW 20 DEGREES). ONCE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN IT, SHE WOULD HAVE TO HOLD IT WITH HER LEFT HAND AND DRIVE WITH HER RIGHT BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE SUCH A LONG TIME TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. MOST RECENTLY, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ALSO EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. SHE HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,408. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. UPDATED 02/13/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HELD THE DOOR WITH HER RIGHT HAND, AND DROVE WITH HER LEFT HAND. UPDATED 02/16/10

NHTSA complaint #10302295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford Taurus problems