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Ford Taurus loss of power problems

316 of the 16,905 owner complaints about the Ford Taurus describe sudden loss of power, most of them for the 2013 model year.

owner complaints
316
worst model year
2013
typical repair cost reported
$2,200
typical mileage
77,500
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Apr 16, 2026 · Fuel system · MD

There is a recall on 2014 Ford Taurus’ but my VIN does not pop as one that is effective, yet I have all the symptoms. My fuel pump control module, and other various parts of my fuel pump keep failing. Completely lost power in my gas pedal today while on the highway. Couldn’t speed up or do anything. Once I came to a stop, the car wouldn’t start. It would just crank but no turnover. This fuel pump issue has happened 3 times now, but my car is not listed up the recall list. I feel that this is a safety issue and falls under all the same issues that others are having. Can provide receipts showing the previous repairs.

Filed Jan 8, 2026 · Steering · 100,000 miles · UT

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact used force to steer to the right or left. The message "Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, there were no issues with the operation of the power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with power steering failure. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer in Orem, where it was confirmed that the power steering had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). However, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Aug 18, 2025 · Steering · 153,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000.

Filed Jun 25, 2025 · Steering · 56,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was a loose steering bolt. The dealer performed an undisclosed repair, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact's son diagnosed the vehicle using a code reader and retrieved a diagnostic trouble code for the power steering control module. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

Filed Apr 17, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · MN

Started my car up then put it in drive, when my traction control light turned on, and my power steering assist light also turned on my dashboard as I was driving out of my on street parking spot. I lost all power to my steering wheel , and was unable to turn it so I could attempt to safely move back over to far right lane, as I was in downtown traffic. This is so scary and terrifying. It's my second car ever which I worked really hard for. I tried to turn car off, and restart it like Google said, but it was the same loss of steering. The car is sitting at my parents house.

Filed Jan 16, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · CO

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. The vehicle would not start or crank, just a flash across all of the electronics, the lights go dark, then illuminate again as if normal. This is an extremely dangerous situation, the vehicle had not notified me that the motor had stopped turning; not a check engine light or ring at all, and shortly after that the power brakes stop working. This is very dangerous for motorists because of the lack of notification from the vehicle, and the incredibly weak breaking ability. If the vehicle had been moving at highway speeds, any sort of traffic, I could've ended up injured or dead, and even worse, killed another driver. The vehicle was towed to the nearest town where it would be inspected by a dealership; they reported to have found coolant in the oil and that the vehicle needed a new motor. No other details have been confirmed, and the problem has not been reproduced by the dealership. It is unknown if the dealership inspected the braking system.

Filed Sep 19, 2024 · Steering · 150,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The contact drove to the residence, where the steering wheel seized. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence. The mechanic determined that the electric power steering gear had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Jul 26, 2024 · Steering · 162,892 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving 20-25 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road by using physical strength to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 162,892.

Filed Feb 12, 2024 · Steering · 160,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact had to use an excessive amount of force to steer the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure was self-corrected; however, the failure reoccurred and became more consistent. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed the failure might be related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and it was confirmed the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Feb 5, 2024 · Steering · 95,000 miles · UT

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH, a message indicating a power steering failure was displayed, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed. The dealer determined that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced, and the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Related recalls

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/superchargerReported December 22, 2016 · 1,163 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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 tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Risk
An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

Recall number 16V925000 · Recall details

Engine and engine coolingReported March 2, 2004 · 399,926 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain vehicles, the air filter paper in these vehicles can smolder or burn.
Risk
This can lead to damage to the air induction system on these vehicles and/or an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the air filter element. Owner notification began on march 10, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.

Recall number 04V105000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fanReported December 21, 2001 · 695,260 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: taurus/sable vehicles equipped with 3.0l and 3.8l engines and mustang vehicles with 3.8l and 5.0l engines. It is possible for the engine cooling fan bearing to seize.
Risk
Should this occur, excessive heat could be generated which could melt the fan motor electrical connector. Components inside the cooling fan motor could ignite potentially resulting in an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the engine cooling fan assembly and install a circuit breaker. If the cooling fan is inoperative, the fan and motor assembly will be replaced. Owner notification began december 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.

Recall number 01V390000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fanReported February 25, 1997 · 75,200 vehicles affected
What is wrong
These vehicles are originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, iowa, minnesota, nebraska, north dakota, and south dakota. The vehicles involved are 1992-1994 tempo/topaz vehicles with 3.0l engines; 1994 tempo/topaz with 2.3l engines; 1992-1995 taurus/sable with 3.8l engines; 1994-1995 taurus/sable with 3.0l engines and 1992-1994 lincoln continental vehicles with 3.8l engines. During high winds, heavy, blowing and drifting snow, and low temperatures, the engine cooling fan can become blocked or frozen with snow. The fan motor may not rotate and could overheat.
Risk
This condition can cause smoke or flames from the fan and/or shroud, the fan electrical wiring, or the fan motor resulting in a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install an electrical jumper harness containing an automatic resetting circuit breaker to protect the fan motor low speed circuitry from overheating.

Recall number 97V019000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Taurus loss of power

Which Ford Taurus years have sudden loss of power problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2013 (65 complaints), 1996 (27 complaints) and 1997 (24 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix sudden loss of power on the Ford Taurus?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,200 (median of 23 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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