DecodedCarsFord Taurus
15 model years from 2005 to 2019, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2005–2019
- Class
- Large Cars
- Latest engines
- 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo
- Best MPG
- 20–26 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2019)
- Recalls
- 19 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2013 (564)
- Fewest problems
- 2019
- Interest
- 14,076 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2019 Taurus in brief
The 2019 Ford Taurus is a large car offered with 2 engines (3.5L 6-cyl and 3.5L 6-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 203 inches long and 76 inches wide on a 113-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,229 lb (4dr Sedan AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 26 highway), 7% worse than the 2019 large car average of 22.6 MPG, for an estimated $3,200 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the back over prevention.
The Ford Taurus has 15 model years in our data, from 2005 to 2019.
Its most efficient year was 2015 at 26 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 20 to 26 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the steering (514), engine (260), fuel/propulsion system (229).
Buying used? 2019 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2015 is the year to avoid.
2013 has the most recalls (9); all years together count 19 campaigns and 1,980 owner complaints.
How the 2005 Taurus compares
The 2005 Ford Taurus is a large car offered with a 3.0L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 198 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 109-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,307 lb (4dr Sedan /Se/Sel).
About the Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile that was manufactured and marketed by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from 1985 to 2019. From 1985 to 2009, Ford marketed the Taurus alongside its rebadged variant, the Mercury Sable. Four generations of the high-performance version were also manufactured from 1988 to 1999 and 2009 to 2019.
From the Wikipedia article "Ford Taurus", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2019 Taurus pros & cons
Full 2019 details →What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
- Few owner complaints18 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 59 for similar models.
Watch out for
- Modest powerUp to 365 hp, versus about 485 hp for similar 2019 models.
- Emergency braking not standardAutomatic emergency braking is optional or limited to some trims.
Best and worst years to buy used
2019 Taurus
18 owner complaints · 2 recalls · 2 crash reports
NHTSA overall: ★★★★★
Year to avoid2015 Taurus
281 owner complaints · 6 recalls · 1 fire report · 10 crash reports
Most reported: Back Over Prevention
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 5 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Taurus changes by model year
- 2018
- Engine dropped: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG down from 23 to 21
- 2016
- Best combined MPG down from 26 to 23
- 2014
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
- 2013
- Engine added: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Best combined MPG up from 22 to 25
- 2010
- Engine added: 3.5L 6-cyl turbo
- Lightest version 373 lb heavier
- 2008
- Engine added: 3.5L 6-cyl
- Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl
- All-wheel or four-wheel drive now available
- Best combined MPG up from 20 to 22
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 15 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 21 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,229 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 18 |
| 2018 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 21 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,229 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 52 |
| 2017 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 23 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,229 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 44 |
| 2016 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 23 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,229 lb | ★★★★★ | 4 | 86 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 26 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,017 lb | ★★★★★ | 6 | 281 |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 26 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,017 lb | ★★★★★ | 5 | 225 |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 25 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,017 lb | Not rated | 9 | 564 |
| 2012 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 22 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,017 lb | Not rated | 5 | 61 |
| 2011 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 22 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,017 lb | Not rated | 4 | 133 |
| 2010 | 3.5L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo | 22 MPG | 203.1 in | 4,017 lb | Not rated | 3 | 110 |
| 2009 | 3.5L 6-cyl | 21 MPG | 202 in | 3,644 lb | Not rated | 1 | 25 |
| 2008 | 3.5L 6-cyl | 22 MPG | 202 in | 3,644 lb | Not rated | 1 | 128 |
| 2007 | 3.0L 6-cyl | 20 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 0 | 46 |
| 2006 | 3.0L 6-cyl | 20 MPG | 197.6 in | 3,336 lb | Not rated | 0 | 70 |
| 2005 | 3.0L 6-cyl | 20 MPG | 197.6 in | 3,307 lb | Not rated | 0 | 137 |
Alternatives to the 2019 Taurus
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Chevrolet Impala | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2019 Dodge Charger | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 5 |
| 2019 Dodge Challenger | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
| 2019 Chevrolet Malibu | 46 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2019 Chrysler 300 | 23 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2019 Toyota Avalon | 44 MPG | ★★★★★ | 5 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Ford. How we calculate this →