Ford Taurus Electrical Recall2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2017, 2018 · Free Repair
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.
Is Your Taurus Included?
Enter your 17-character VIN — we query NHTSA in real time and show whether 18V-141000 (and any other open campaign) applies to your exact vehicle.
What Happened — and How It's Fixed
NHTSA 18V-141000 · 2017–2018 · 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
If the key is removed from the ignition while the vehicle is not in the PARK position and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter assembly, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C02.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 18V-141000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 04V-106000 · 2000–2003 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING. THIS MALFUNCTIONING COULD RENDER THE STOP LAMPS INOPERABLE OR CAUSE THEM TO STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE CONFUSION TO A FOLLOWING DRIVER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
IN ADDITION, IF THE SWITCH AND/OR ASSOCIATED WIRING FAIL IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ACTUATE AND THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF "PARK" IF THEY FAIL IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL REMAIN ON, WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE SPEED CONTROL TO BE ACTIVATED. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DISCHARGE.
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH AND ASSOCIATED WIRING ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A NEWLY DESIGNED STOP LAMP SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 04V-106000 on NHTSA.gov
What To Do
Run your VIN
Confirm 18V-141000 applies to your exact Taurus using the checker above.
Schedule the free repair
Book online or call .
Free, by law
Recall parts and labor are free regardless of age, mileage, or where you bought it.
Keep the paperwork
We provide written proof of completion — useful at resale.
Electrical Recall FAQs
Is it safe to drive my Taurus before the electrical recall repair?⌄
NHTSA issued no park-outside or do-not-drive advisory for any of the 2 campaigns on this page. Schedule the free repair promptly — until it is completed, the defects described above are still present on affected Taurus vehicles.
Which vehicles are affected?⌄
Campaign 18V-141000 covers certain 2017–2018 Ford Taurus vehicles. Model year alone does not settle it — run your VIN in the checker above, which is the definitive answer for your exact vehicle.
What does the repair cost?⌄
Nothing. By federal law, safety recall repairs are free — parts and labor — at any authorized Ford dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age, mileage, or where it was bought.
I’m buying a used Taurus. Should I check this recall?⌄
Yes — run the VIN before you buy. If campaign 18V-141000 is still open on that vehicle, any authorized Ford dealer (including us) completes the repair free of charge, no matter where the vehicle was purchased.
