2018 Ford Taurus: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
48 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Taurus, which score 31, 45 and 37 on 589, 234 and 269 owner complaints. Buy a 2016 to 2019, which score 83, 86, 85 and 93 on 80 or fewer complaints each, or a 2012 at 82, and accept that those scores rest on medium or low evidence. Read the full note on the model page. 2018 specifically: a year the record favours — 48 complaints, score 85/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Ford Taurus and Flex: the years to avoid, including 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 48 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 6.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, the passenger’s side B-pillar trim had detached. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V611000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An appointment was scheduled by the manufacturer to another local dealer…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V611000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door B-pillar trim had detached. The dealer was made aware of the failure but conf…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Taurus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V611000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the front driver’s side B-pillar trim was loose. Several local dealers were contacted on several occasions. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of t…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 18V141000 | Electrical System:Ignition | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford Taurus vehicles equipped with mechanical key ignition systems. The keys for these vehicles may be able to be removed from the ignition when transmission is not in the PARK position. |
| 20V072000 | Suspension:Rear | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension. |
| 25V611000 | Structure:Exterior Trim | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Taurus vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. |
| 25V695000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 19 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,250
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Structure11 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Back Over Prevention11 complaints · typical job: Reversing camera or park-sensor replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$420–$940
- Unknown Or Other8 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Suspension7 complaints · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle (4.0 h labour + parts)$780–$1,580
- Power Train7 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Electrical System7 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
Other Ford Taurus years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Ford Taurus?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Structure (11 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Ford Taurus a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 48 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Ford Taurus's most common problem?
11 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 Ford Taurus sit in the Structure group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is body, subframe or corrosion repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,070–$2,920 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 Ford Taurus cost to run per year?
About $5,154 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $25,770 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 Ford Taurus have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Ford Taurus, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/03/2018. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2018 Ford Taurus really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Thin evidence — 48 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 48 NHTSA complaints on record (6.0/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (8.0/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality