2005 Ford Taurus

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

64/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 774 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Taurus, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Vehicle speed control	403	52%
Power train	80	10%
Vehicle speed control	26	3%
Engine and engine cooling	20	3%
Air bags	19	2%
Unknown or other	18	2%
Power train	16	2%
Vehicle speed control	14	2%
Vehicle speed control	13	2%
Structure	13	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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 s
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

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 ext
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

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, an
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

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 failu
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

DESIGN FLAW - STATION WAGON REAR TAILGATE OPENING LEVER AND ROD TO LOCK IS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

RANDOM AND SPORADIC ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

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.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

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
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2005 Ford Taurus. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Service brakes 16E026000

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, Brake

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

Fix: 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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	57	average
Longevity est.	68	good
Maintenance	73	good
Depreciation	85	excellent
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	38	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 9% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 14% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 45% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 89% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 57: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 68: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2005 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 73: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2005 Ford Taurus?

Owners have filed 774 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 403 of them (52%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2005 Ford Taurus reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 57/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2005 Ford Taurus last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 68/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2005 Ford Taurus?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.