Is the 2010 Ford Taurus a bad year?
203 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 47, 2.9× a quiet Taurus year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.9× the complaints of a quiet Taurus year, spread over 28k–100k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 Taurus owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 57,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 47 (23%) | 28k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 41 (20%) | 76k–109k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 36 (18%) | 8k–63k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 24 (12%) | 10k–69k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 19 (9%) | 10k–77k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 32 (16%) | 9k–54k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 57,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 203 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
On or around 10/14/2014 my Ford taurus sho 2010 suddenly lost power and started to shake and missfire. Had it towed to Ford griffin.
2010 taurus sho. Brakes roaring &/or grinding when applied medium to heavy. Brakes feel weak & slow to respond when applied.
I own a 2010 Ford taurus se. I purchased the car 2 years ago, I begin having problems with the engine approximately 4 months ago.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 57,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Ford Taurus: 3
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation. If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
When used in areas that use road salt, the license plate lamp assembly may experience an electro-chemical reaction and corrosion as a result of water intrusion. This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 35
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Ford Taurus. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket
On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A…
Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive…
Lincoln/ford: an overhaul transmission motorcraft kit, available for some vehicles, contains an incorrect valve bode separator plate and would need to discard…
Neighbouring years
2009 Taurus: 64 complaints, keep it · 2011 Taurus: 187 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Ford Taurus year
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Questions
Is the 2010 Ford Taurus a bad year?
203 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 47, 2.9× a quiet Taurus year. At 57,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.9× the complaints of a quiet Taurus year, spread over 28k–100k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Taurus?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (47), steering (41), transmission and drivetrain (36), speed control (24), electrical system (19). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 28k–100k miles.
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Taurus have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-247), Body structure (NHTSA 15V-040), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 14V-285). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.