2016 Ford Taurus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the rearview camera, which goes blank, freezes, or shows an upside-down or distorted image when reverse is selected; many of these complaints were filed after a recall notice arrived and parts were still unavailable. A smaller but consistent group covers turbocharger oil line leaks and coolant loss, sudden loss of power steering assist, exhaust or fuel-like odors inside the cabin, and rear toe link failures. Reports arrive at very different mileages, from near-new vehicles with cabin odors to cars past 100,000 miles with fluid leaks and suspension trouble.

1. 1
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera blank, distorted, or inverted

   • 37 complaints (43%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the rearview image going black, blue, or white, freezing, flipping upside down, or dropping out intermittently when reverse is engaged, sometimes with a camera unavailable message on the screen. Several say the dealer confirmed the camera needed replacement but the part was unavailable or discontinued. Many complaints were filed after receiving a recall notice for the camera, stating that parts were still backordered and no repair timeline was given. Reported from roughly 29,000 to more than 130,000 miles, with many complaints filed without a mileage figure, and a large share submitted in late 2025 and 2026 after the recall notice.

   Recall 25V6950002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Put the car in reverse and confirm the image is upright, steady, and free of blank or frozen frames, then check with a dealer whether recall 25V695000 has actually been completed on that VIN rather than just scheduled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner. I received a letter regarding a safety recall dated October, 2025. We are now in January of 2026. I am unable to see, safely, and,without the recalled backup camera feature working, to operate the car safely, when backing up the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11710163, filed 2026-01

   “Ford has a recall on back up cameras and I believe my 2016 model should be included in this recall. My camera works about 50% or more of the time, a pop up warning shows camera not working. the recall is for other models in year 2016 but not my model”

   NHTSA complaint #11688845, filed 2025-09
2. 2
   Engine

   Turbo oil line leaks and coolant loss

   • 8 complaints (9%)
   • median 66,264 mi at 5.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners report oil leaking from the lines feeding the turbocharger, sometimes with a burning oil smell and smoke from the engine bay, and in some cases the vehicle was towed. Other complaints describe coolant loss with overheating, a cracked coolant reservoir found during routine service, and oil mixing with coolant. Several owners say the dealer told them their VIN was not covered by the related turbo oil tube recall even though the failure matched it. Mostly reported between about 38,000 and 124,000 miles, with the cracked coolant tank noted during scheduled maintenance.

   Recall 16V9250003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the turbo oil supply and return lines and the coolant reservoir for residue or cracks, look for oil stains under the front of the engine, and ask whether recall 16V925000 applies to the VIN and was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Oil leak from turbo line, was showing recall affected 2016 Ford Taurus sho reference 16s463 but when I call dealer and look up VIN my car is not showing to be included. However, I keep getting a burning oil smell and car in shop right now and oil line that goes to one of the turbo charges is leaking and fire hazard.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329522, filed 2020-06, 45,000 miles

   “my vehicle's oil lines to the turbo charger failed and caused a huge oil leak and my car was smoking all over the highway. I had the vehicle towed to a nearby service station recommended by AAA. After discovering the issue, the repairman indicated there was a recall on this exact issue. However, I was never notified by Ford of the recall. When I called Ford I was informed that the recall only applied to vehicles built between Oct and Nov 2016. My vehicle was built in April. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11556641, filed 2023-11, 124,015 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Sudden loss of power steering assist

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • median 40,250 mi at 6.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy or locking, with a power steering assist warning on the instrument panel, sometimes at highway speed and sometimes at low speed or during a turn. Owners report needing to pull hard on the wheel to get off the road, and one vehicle was towed. Dealers are described as finding a loose steering bolt or a power steering control module fault, and in some cases the problem returned after repair. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 63,000 miles, sometimes appearing without any warning light beforehand.

   What to check: Ask whether the electronic power steering has ever been diagnosed or repaired, and during a test drive check for heavy steering, assist warnings, and any steering noise at low speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power steering on this unit failed making it impossible to steer the vehicle. I was advised that this issued occurred at low speeds and as a result no accident was reported. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership for repairs. Do not have the invoice for this repair at the time of sending this complaint. If you need it I will get it for you.”

   NHTSA complaint #11131885, filed 2018-09, 24,501 miles

   “The future that failed on my vehicle was the epas or electronic power assisted steering. This feature failed while I was on the freeway at upwards of 65 mph the steering wheel locked and I was unable to turn the steering wheel. After pulling off of the freeway at slow speeds I was able to give a, very hard like pull to the steering wheel in the direction that I needed it to go. When this feature failed the notification on my dash showed electronic power assisted steering failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11488701, filed 2022-10
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Exhaust and fuel odors inside the cabin

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe strong exhaust, fuel, or propane-like odors entering the cabin while driving or idling, sometimes strong enough that windows have to be rolled down, and one report mentions a stall shortly after the smell appeared. Dealers are described as unable to duplicate the smell or as calling it a normal new-vehicle smell. One owner says a service bulletin for a similar odor was mentioned but the vehicle was not repaired. Reported at very low mileage, from the first few hundred miles up to about 18,000 miles, sometimes under hard acceleration.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive with the climate control on fresh air and again with the A/C on, including a hard acceleration run, and note any exhaust, fuel, or sulfur smell in the cabin; ask whether any odor-related bulletin was applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This new 2016 Taurus sho has a strong fuel, oil or carbon monoxide fumes entering the cabin while driving. This occurs with or without the AC running. The fumes are so strong that I must drive with the windows down. Of course, when it is raining, I must breathe in the fumes because the windows are rolled up. So far, it is causing irritation to the eyes and throat. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10905029, filed 2016-09, 200 miles

   “I took my car into the service department due to a strong smell of propane/natural gas. The service writer informed me that the smell was really bad but that it should be safe to drive and that she couldn't get me in until tuesday. I buckled my 2 year old in the car seat and left the dealership/service department. The service write stated that there was a TSB out on the car and it could be a possible leak in the ptu. But should be that big of deal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10990946, filed 2017-05, 18,260 miles
5. 5
   Suspension

   Rear toe link fracture and wheel misalignment

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a loud noise from the rear over a dip or bump and, on inspection, a rear wheel shifted inward, with the dealer diagnosing a fractured rear toe link and the opposite side also failing. One owner reports the toe link bushing separated completely, disconnecting the link from the wheel, with loss of control afterward. Complaints describe the affected parts as ones the manual does not list for routine replacement, and one owner says the dealer was unaware of a related recall. Reported roughly between 48,000 and 102,000 miles, sometimes on vehicles that had seen several winters of road salt.

   Recall 20V072000

   What to check: Have the rear toe links and their bushings inspected for corrosion or play, listen for rear-end clunks over bumps on a test drive, and confirm whether recall 20V072000 applies to the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my car to dean sellers Ford with a premature right rear bearing failure that was covered by the warranty on my 2016 Taurus sho. While at the dealer, I was informed that the toe rear toe link required replacement. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11343653, filed 2020-08, 48,000 miles

   “Bushing of the driver side rear toe link (aka lateral link, toe arm, etc.) separated, causing the rest of the toe link to disconnect from the tire. Images are available but the original part has been taken by the mechanic. Bushing likely failed from corrosion, though this vehicle only spent 4 of its 10 years in a heavily salted environment. The toe link is also intended to last the life of the vehicle and is not mentioned in the recommended maintenance per the vehicle manual. After the toe link separated control of the vehicle was lost. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11732495, filed 2026-04

Buying note. On this model year, verify recall completion by VIN for the camera, turbo oil line, B-pillar trim, and rear toe link campaigns rather than relying on a notice alone, and treat an upright, steady reverse image, clean turbo lines, and firm power steering as the main things to confirm before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.