2016 Ford Taurus Reliability
The 2016 Ford Taurus has 87 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about backup camera / back-over prevention and unknown or other. Compared with nearby Taurus model years (2014–2018), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Taurus's typical year, while the 2017 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
87
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2016 Ford Taurus complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 model year, filed between 2016 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Backup camera / back-over prevention | 30 | 34% |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 18% |
| Engine | 12 | 14% |
| Steering | 9 | 10% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 7 | 8% |
| Body structure | 6 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 7% |
| Suspension | 5 | 6% |
2016 Ford Taurus recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2016 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V925000 | Dec 22, 2016 | Engine & cooling — engine / gasoline / turbo/supercharger | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply… |
| 20V072000 | Feb 10, 2020 | Suspension — rear | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension. |
| 25V611000 | Sep 12, 2025 | Body structure — exterior trim | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. |
| 25V695000 | Oct 14, 2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — sensing system / camera | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a… |
How the 2016 compares with nearby Taurus years
Verdicts compare these Taurus model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 235 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2015 | 284 | 6 | Backup camera / back-over prevention | Avoid |
| 2016 (this page) | 87 | 4 | Backup camera / back-over prevention | Caution |
| 2017 | 44 | 4 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2018 | 52 | 4 | Backup camera / back-over prevention | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2016 Ford Taurus
- Backup camera: shift into reverse and make sure the image comes up quickly and clearly every time.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2016 Ford Taurus can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2016 Ford Taurus reliability FAQ
Is the 2016 Ford Taurus reliable?
The 2016 Ford Taurus has 87 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about backup camera / back-over prevention and unknown or other. Compared with nearby Taurus model years (2014–2018), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Taurus's typical year, while the 2017 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2016 Ford Taurus problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Ford Taurus are backup camera / back-over prevention (30), unknown or other (16), engine (12), steering (9). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2016 Ford Taurus have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Ford Taurus, including 16V925000 (engine & cooling — engine / gasoline / turbo/supercharger) and 20V072000 (suspension — rear). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2016 Ford Taurus compare with the 2015 and 2017 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2015 has 284 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid); the 2017 has 44 complaints and 4 recalls (solid). The 2016 has 87 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2016 Ford Taurus?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Taurus research
Other Ford Taurus model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2016 Taurus, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.