Recall 15V040 covers 194,889 2010-2013 Ford Taurus and Mks vehicles for unseated interior door handle springs. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 194,889 2010-2013 Taurus and Mks vehicles because an interior door handle return spring can unseat, leaving the handle out of its fully stowed position. In a side impact crash, that condition can let the door unlatch and increase the risk of injury; Ford dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The interior door handle on 2010-2013 Ford Taurus and Mks vehicles uses a return spring to pull the handle back after you open the door. That spring keeps the handle seated in its normal stowed position, so the handle does not hang loose after use. The handle depends on a small retaining wall inside the assembly to keep the spring in place.
On the recalled vehicles, that retaining wall can be damaged or weakened. Some handles were built on tooling that scored the retaining wall, which increased the chance of a crack. Ford also found creep fatigue, which means the material weakens under repeated load over time. Once the wall is compromised, the spring can unseat and the handle no longer returns as designed.
The warning sign is visible at the handle. Owners can notice a loose or "floppy" interior door handle, or a handle that does not return fully to its stowed position after being pulled.
Who's affected?
Spans Taurus and Mks sedans across the 2010-2013 model years, all tied to the same door body-structure component.
| 2013 Ford Taurus | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2013 Lincoln Mks | body structure |
| 2012 Lincoln Mks | body structure |
| 2012 Ford Taurus | body structure |
| 2011 Lincoln Mks | body structure |
| 2011 Ford Taurus | body structure |
| 2010 Ford Taurus | body structure |
| Units affected | 194,889 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
An unseated interior door handle return spring can let the door unlatch during a side impact crash, increasing injury risk. Watch for a loose or floppy interior handle, or a handle that does not return fully after use. Schedule the inspection and repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2013 Ford Taurus or Mks is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free interior-door-handle inspection and repair.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V040 when you call.
- Check that each interior door handle returns fully after use until the repair is complete.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions about the free dealer repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician inspects all four interior door handles and repairs or replaces the handles covered by recall 15V040. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. Ford's general reimbursement plan covered eligible owner-paid repairs completed before the recall notice, with reimbursement eligibility ending April 2, 2015. If you already paid for a related interior door handle repair before that date, keep your repair order and payment records, then contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or ask the service desk how Ford handles old reimbursement paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 27, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| January 27, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 28, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
| March 23, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V040?
Recall 15V040 covers 194,889 2010-2013 Ford Taurus and Mks vehicles with an interior door handle return spring that can unseat after the handle is used. Ford dealers inspect all 4 interior door handles and repair or replace the affected parts for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2013 Ford Taurus or Mks is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 15V040. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the door-handle inspection and repair. Reference recall number 15V040 and Ford recall number 15S02 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers inspect all 4 interior door handles and repair or replace them free of charge, regardless of where you bought the vehicle.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is higher injury risk in a side-impact crash. If the return spring is unseated, the interior door handle does not return fully to its stowed position, and the door can unlatch during that crash condition.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Taurus or Mks is included, then call a franchised Ford dealer with recall number 15V040 and Ford recall number 15S02.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V040000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V040 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V040000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →