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2013 FORD TAURUS

2.0L I4 EcoBoost•FWD•AUTOMATIC•gas•turbo
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$13,116 maintenance + known platform issues
~$2,623/yr · 220¢/mile equivalent · $4,929 maintenance + $5,587 expected platform issues
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3.5L V6 EcoBoost
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2013 Taurus is a solid full-size sedan undermined by serious transmission cooling issues and EcoBoost engine carbon/cooling problems. The 6F transmission is the platform's Achilles heel, with cooling system failures leading to catastrophic transmission damage.

Transmission Oil Cooler Failure Leading to Transmission Destruction

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission slipping or shuddering, Milky or pink transmission fluid indicating coolant contamination, Sudden loss of gears or no movement, Overheating transmission, Check engine light with transmission codes
Fix: The internal transmission oil cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant and trans fluid to mix. This contaminates the transmission and destroys clutches and seals. Requires new radiator, complete transmission flush or rebuild, and all cooler lines. If caught early (just cooler failure), 4-6 hours labor. If transmission is damaged, add 12-18 hours for rebuild or replacement.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 if caught early; $3,500-5,500 with transmission rebuild

EcoBoost Carbon Buildup and Intake Valve Deposits

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and misfires, Loss of power and poor acceleration, Increased fuel consumption, Check engine light with misfire codes P0300-P0304, Hard starting when engine is warm
Fix: Direct injection EcoBoost engines accumulate carbon on intake valves with no fuel wash. Requires walnut blasting or manual cleaning of intake valves, often involves intake manifold removal. 4-6 hours labor for proper cleaning.
Estimated cost: $500-900

Water Pump and Thermostat Housing Leaks (EcoBoost)

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant puddles under vehicle, Low coolant warnings, Overheating or temperature fluctuations, Visible coolant seepage from front of engine, Sweet smell in cabin or under hood
Fix: EcoBoost water pumps and plastic thermostat housings crack and leak. Water pump is 3-4 hours, thermostat housing 2-3 hours. Smart to replace both together if one fails, plus hoses. Timing cover removal required on some configurations.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200 depending on which components fail

Power Steering Electric Assist (EPAS) Failure

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Complete loss of power steering assist, Intermittent heavy steering, Steering message or warning light, Whining or grinding noise from steering column, Hard steering especially at low speeds
Fix: Electric power steering motor or control module fails. This was subject to recall but many units fail outside recall scope. Requires steering column removal and EPAS unit replacement. 3-4 hours labor plus expensive module.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000

EcoBoost Piston Ring Failure and Oil Consumption

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (quart per 1,000 miles or worse), Blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Carbon fouling of spark plugs, Loss of compression and power, Check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: Early EcoBoost engines suffer piston ring land cracking and stuck rings from carbon. Requires complete engine disassembly, new pistons, rings, and often cylinder honing. 18-25 hours labor for proper rebuild. Some shops opt for used/remanufactured engine swap at similar cost.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000 for rebuild; $3,500-5,500 for used engine swap

PTU (Power Transfer Unit) Fluid Leak and Failure (AWD Models)

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Fluid leak from front of transmission area, Grinding or whining noise from front differential, Shuddering during acceleration, AWD malfunction warning, Binding sensation in tight turns
Fix: PTU seals leak and unit runs dry because Ford scheduled no fluid changes. Leads to bearing and gear failure. Requires PTU replacement or rebuild, subframe drop helpful for access. 6-8 hours labor. Preventive fluid changes every 30k miles can avoid this.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800

Rear Suspension Bushing and Toe Link Failures

Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking from rear over bumps, Rear end feels loose or unstable, Uneven or rapid rear tire wear, Steering wheel not centered after alignment, Pulling to one side
Fix: Rear lower control arm bushings and toe links wear prematurely. Was subject to recall for some VINs but remains a common wear item. Toe links are 2-3 hours, control arm bushings 3-4 hours. Alignment required after.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000 including alignment
Owner tips
  • Inspect transmission fluid color every oil change—pink or milky means cooler failure, act immediately
  • AWD models: change PTU fluid every 30,000 miles even though Ford says lifetime—prevents $2,500 failure
  • EcoBoost owners: use Top Tier gas and occasional Italian tune-up to minimize carbon buildup
  • Check for open recalls on your VIN, especially EPAS steering and fuel pump
  • Consider aftermarket transmission cooler bypass to eliminate internal radiator cooler failure risk
Pass unless you find one with documented transmission cooler replacement and PTU services—the cooling system design flaw makes these a gamble, especially over 80k miles.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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