Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2005 Ford Taurus, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Ford Taurus year.
23.6 mpg average · 20–32 range · EPA says 20
Over 5 years this costs $4,250 more in fuel than an average new vehicle.
NHTSA lists 1 recall for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: Bosch Brake Components LLC (Bosch) is recalling certain aftermarket replacement front brake pads, models Bosch QuietCast BC598 and BP765, Bosch Blue BE598 and BE598H, Prostop PD598 and PD765M, Duralast Gold DG598, Duralast MKD598, Stop Master ST598, UltraStop ULT598, UltraLife MX598 and MX765, BrakeBest MKD765, and Prostop Platinum PGD598. These brake pads, manufactured October 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015 are intended for use on 2001-2007 Ford Taurus, 2001-2005 Mercury Sable, 1995-1999 Ford Taurus SHO, 1995-2002 Lincoln Continental, and 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII vehicles. The brake pad shim may shift out of position causing the shim to contact the brake disc resulting in damage to the disc.
Risk: A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Bosch will instruct the owners how to have the affected brake pads replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2016. Owners may contact Bosch customer service at 1-888-715-3616.
Campaign 16E026000

NHTSA frontal crash test
2 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2005 Ford Taurus 4-DR.
The parts named most often across 774 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
13 crashes · 1 fire · 7 injured · 1 death
1 fire
9 crashes · 11 injured · 1 death
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
2 complaint-reported fatalities on this model.
I was on my way to work. When I came to the stop sign to turn on the main road. I felt my car jerk. I thought it was weird and kept driving anyways. Then I noticed the resistance was gone from the gas pedal and it went straight to the floor. So I came to the stop light and kept my foot on the brake. When the light turned green and I had let go of the brakes. My car was accelerating on its own. I had to keep pumping the brakes so I wouldn't crash or hurt anyone. I managed to pull into a mechanic's shop and asked for help. The mechanic told me that it was my cruise control and that it wasn't disengaging. So he had to disconnect it from my car.
For a while now I have noticed that intermittently when barely stepping on the accelerator pedal, the car will accelerate but continue to speed up even with my foot off of the accelerator. I have to step on the break extremely hard to come to a stop, and car will still be doing around 40mph when at a complete stop or light. The check engine light has been on, and I have taken it to a mechanic twice, one of the times he had it for a month trying to figure out what that light is about, checking everything possible, but I am not sure if that light has anything to do with the accelerator.
On December 10, 2020 I acquired tis particular automobile. In the calendar year following, I have been advised of and experience "sudden acceleration" and other anomalies . I have found further oil pan plug bolt, and today 02/10/2022 the Complaint of other owners. Particularly airbag sudden inflation and brake shift Interlock and no airbag operation. This is presumed to be a collision sensor relationship. I am in the process of restoration and replacement of the affected components. I have difficulty in data and trouble shoot information on the website and brand dealership. (Napa, Adv.auto parts, auto zone, orielly, salvage yards. I have spent $163.50 at Ford dealer charged me. I spent $269.70 at the American automobile association. No repairs have taken place by these people who have been advised that the manufacturer of the vehicle is alerts for further information and details of the job description and replacement parts for airbags components and sensors and clockspring set. I have been advised to contact the seller and demand replacement at no cost to me. To top it all off, Mercury and Ford plants keep duping each other and me for more money on a known defective product and vehicle.A Holdover surplus of one brand to another brand. These being as 2004 Mercury Sable airbag module and 2005 Ford Taurus airbags components and sensors and clockspring and sudden acceleration by cruise control modules and defects. Help please. Truth and reliable information on cost and parts source. Parts source and retailers. Thank you very much. Loyal to the end of living. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently from 45 mph to 65 mph. The contact stated the accelerator pedal was not being depressed during the failure. The brake pedal was depressed to slow the vehicle to a stop. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and inspected under the hood. The contact noticed that the cruise control cable was jammed up into the accelerator cable which caused the accelerator cable to open. The contact moved the cruise control cable back into the correct position and drove back to their residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.
DESIGN FLAW - STATION WAGON REAR TAILGATE OPENING LEVER AND ROD TO LOCK IS INOPERATIVE.
RANDOM AND SPORADIC ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.
THE CAR WAS STARTED THEN IT WAS BEING SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF, BEFORE GETTING IT IN TO DRIVE (MADE IT TO NEUTRAL).THIS HAPPENED IN THE DRIVEWAY.
MY CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE GAS. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST 4 TIMES A WEEK WHILE I AM DRIVING AND HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 50 MPH. I CAN MAKE THE ENGINE REV/ACCELERATION STOP BY QUICKLY TAPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED BECAUSE MY MECHANIC THOUGHT THIS WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM BUT THE RANDOM SEF-ACCELERATION HAS CONTINUED AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING MORE FREQUENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON OFF AND ON FOR A FEW YEARS BUT HAS INCREASED IN FREQUENCY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHILE IN SERVICE WITH THE CONTACT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN ASKED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSED TO CHECK THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE SHIFTED INTO REVERSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH THE BUSINESS FRONT GLASS DOOR AND CAME TO A STOP ON A STREET. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE CONTACTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000.
STARTED RECENTLY, WHEN I START THE CAR THE RPMS REV WAY UP. PAST 3000. WHILE DRIVING I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO RIDE THE BREAK OR PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I LITERALLY CAN DRIVE MILES AT 45 MPH AND NEVER TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT WOULD SHOOT UP PAST 3000 RPMS . THIS CAR'S GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. *TR
[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2 TIMES SINCE SEPT. 2018 THE CABLE UNDER HOOD TO ACCELERATOR CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. THE MOST RECENT I WAS DRIVING IN A SUBDIVISION AT 10 MPH.THE RPM'S INCREASED DRASTICALLY. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS ISSUE AND FORD NEEDS TO FIX IT. I GOT THIS FROM MY ELDERLY MOTHER AND I AM JUST THANKFUL IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING.
Showing 12 of 774 complaints.