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2019 FORD TAURUS

3.5L V6 EcoBoost•AWD•AUTOMATIC•gas•turbo
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5-Year Cost of Ownership
$15,260 maintenance + known platform issues
~$3,052/yr · 250¢/mile equivalent · $6,774 maintenance + $5,886 expected platform issues
Compare this engine
vs
2.0L I4 EcoBoost
vs
3.5L V6
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2019 Ford Taurus represents the final year of this platform before discontinuation. While generally solid for a large sedan, the EcoBoost engines—especially the 2.0L—show catastrophic failure patterns related to carbon buildup and cooling system inadequacies that can grenade internals without warning.

2.0L EcoBoost Catastrophic Engine Failure (Carbon Buildup + Cooling)

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and misfires that progressively worsen, White smoke on cold start, Sudden loss of compression in one or more cylinders, Coolant consumption without visible leaks, Check engine light with multiple misfire codes
Fix: Direct-injection carbon buildup causes valve sealing issues leading to coolant intrusion into cylinders, washing cylinder walls and destroying piston rings. Often requires complete engine rebuild or replacement. 18-25 hours labor for rebuild, 12-15 hours for used engine swap.
Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000

Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking from radiator area, Pink or milky coolant in overflow tank (cross-contamination), Transmission slipping or erratic shifting, Engine overheating in severe cases
Fix: The cooler lines corrode where they connect to the radiator, and when they fail internally, coolant mixes with trans fluid—killing the transmission if not caught immediately. Requires trans cooler line replacement, full trans flush, and often radiator replacement. If contamination occurred, transmission rebuild is necessary. 4-6 hours for lines/flush, add 15-20 hours if trans is damaged.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (caught early), $4,500-6,500 (trans damaged)

3.5L EcoBoost Timing Chain Stretch and Phaser Failure

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise on cold start that lasts 3-10 seconds, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes (P0016, P0017, P0018), Reduced power and fuel economy, Rough idle especially when warm
Fix: Variable cam timing phasers fail or timing chains stretch, causing timing issues. Requires both timing chains, tensioners, guides, phasers, and cam caps. Front-engine work intensive. 14-18 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500

Transmission Mount Failure

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible engine/trans movement when accelerating hard, Harsh engagement into gear
Fix: The rear transmission mount deteriorates prematurely, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. Simple replacement but access requires lifting the trans slightly. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-550

PTU (Power Transfer Unit) Fluid Neglect on AWD Models

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or grinding noise from front of vehicle during turns, Vibration during acceleration, AWD malfunction light, Burning smell from undercarriage
Fix: Ford lists PTU fluid as 'lifetime fill' but it breaks down by 60k. Owners who don't service it proactively see PTU failure. If caught early, just needs fluid change (1.5 hours). If failed, PTU replacement runs 4-6 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $150-250 (preventive service), $1,800-2,800 (replacement)

Backup Camera Failure (NHTSA Recall)

Occasional · low severity
Symptoms: Intermittent or complete loss of backup camera display, Blue screen or 'camera unavailable' message, Camera works only in certain temperatures
Fix: Covered under NHTSA recall for camera system failures. Dealer replaces camera assembly. 1.5 hours labor, but should be warranty/recall covered.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall), $400-600 (if out of pocket)
Owner tips
  • If buying a 2.0L EcoBoost, have a borescope inspection done to check valve carbon buildup—budget for walnut blasting service every 40k miles ($400-600)
  • Check transmission cooler lines during every oil change and inspect coolant/trans fluid for cross-contamination—this one warning can save your transmission
  • AWD models: change PTU fluid every 30k miles regardless of what the manual says—$150 service vs $2,500 replacement
  • Run full synthetic oil and change at 5k intervals on EcoBoost engines—they run hot and carbon buildup accelerates with extended changes
  • Before buying used, verify no history of coolant consumption or misfires—these are death sentences on the 2.0L
Avoid the 2.0L EcoBoost entirely; the 3.5L V6 naturally aspirated (if you can find one) or well-maintained 3.5L EcoBoost with full service records is acceptable, but budget $1,500/year for unexpected repairs and treat PTU/trans cooler maintenance as non-negotiable.
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.
529 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.
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