NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Ford Taurus Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Ford Taurus has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 774 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Ford Taurus, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2005 Ford Taurus owner complaints

Owners have filed 774 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Taurus, describing incidents dated January 25, 2005 to November 4, 2022.

Most-cited components

Vehicle Speed Control 529 complaints
Power Train 123 complaints
Engine 107 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 41 complaints
Service Brakes 36 complaints
Electrical System 28 complaints

Of the 774 complaints on file, 40 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 774 complaints, owners report 28 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11547998 · Filed October 3, 2023
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…
ODI #11487791 · Filed October 4, 2022
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…
ODI #11451326 · Filed February 10, 2022
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…

Read all 774 complaints

Owner-reported

2005 Ford Taurus mileage at failure

696 of the 774 complaints on file for the 2005 Ford Taurus give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Vehicle Speed Control	Median 95,000 miles	Middle half 70,000–120,000 miles	Based on 478 complaints
Power Train	Median 85,000 miles	Middle half 60,000–100,000 miles	Based on 116 complaints
Engine	Median 95,000 miles	Middle half 70,000–120,000 miles	Based on 97 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System	Median 100,000 miles	Middle half 75,000–120,000 miles	Based on 38 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005 Ford Taurus in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE12-005: Stuck throttle
Closed October 22, 2012
Defect Petition DP06-005: ENGINE STALLING FFV
Closed December 28, 2007

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Front Brake Pad Shims May Shift and Contact Disc

NHTSA #16E026000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Disc — Pads · NHTSA notice

Reported April 1, 2016 · Robert Bosch LLC

Potentially affected: 49,635 vehicles

Repair completion: 5.88% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified May 26, 2016

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A damaged or broken brake disc may reduce a vehicle's braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2005 Ford Taurus 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

2 investigations

2005 Ford Taurus 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

2 investigations

774 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Ford Taurus.

Vehicle Speed Control; Engine; Forward Collision Avoidance

ODI #11547998

Incident: November 4, 2022 · Filed: October 3, 2023

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.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11487791

Incident: October 4, 2022 · Filed: October 4, 2022

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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11451326

Incident: February 10, 2022 · Filed: February 10, 2022

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).

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11427597

Incident: August 3, 2021 · Filed: August 3, 2021

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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11405200

Incident: January 1, 2011 · Filed: March 28, 2021

DESIGN FLAW - STATION WAGON REAR TAILGATE OPENING LEVER AND ROD TO LOCK IS INOPERATIVE.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11403747

Incident: March 8, 2021 · Filed: March 18, 2021

RANDOM AND SPORADIC ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.

Air Bags

ODI #11385609

Incident: December 23, 2020 · Filed: December 30, 2020

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.

Vehicle Speed Control; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11383695

Incident: December 16, 2020 · Filed: December 16, 2020

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.

Vehicle Speed Control; Service Brakes

ODI #11378424

Crash

Incident: October 5, 2020 · Filed: December 8, 2020

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.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11330729

Incident: May 1, 2020 · Filed: June 25, 2020

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

Other Ford Taurus model years

Check your 2005 Ford Taurus VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Taurus at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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