2012 FORD TAURUS Owners Manual

High beams:Illuminates when the
high beam headlamps are turned on.
Heads up display (if equipped):
A red bar will illuminate on the
windshield in certain instances when
using adaptive cruise control and/or
the collision warning system. It will
also illuminate momentarily when
you start your vehicle to make sure the display works. See theDriving
chapter for more information.
Key-in-ignition warning chime:Sounds when the key is left in the
ignition in the off or accessory position and the driver’s door is opened.
Headlamps on warning chime:Sounds when the headlamps or parking
lamps are on, the ignition is off (the key is not in the ignition) and the
driver’s door is opened.
GAUGES
Speedometer:Indicates the
current vehicle speed.
Instrument Cluster
17
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Engine coolant temperature
gauge:Indicates engine coolant
temperature. At normal operating
temperature, the needle will be in
the normal range (between “H” and
“C”).If it enters the red section,
the engine is overheating. Stop
the vehicle as soon as safely
possible, switch off the engine
and let the engine cool.
WARNING:Never remove the coolant reservoir cap while the
engine is running or hot.
Fuel gauge:Indicates
approximately how much fuel is left
in the fuel tank (when the ignition
is in the on position). The fuel
gauge may vary slightly when the
vehicle is in motion or on a grade.
The fuel icon and arrow indicates
which side of the vehicle the fuel
filler door is located.
Refer toFilling the tankin the
Maintenance and Specificationschapter for more information.
Tachometer:Indicates the engine
speed in revolutions per minute.
Driving with your tachometer
pointer continuously at the top of
the scale may damage the engine.
Instrument Cluster
18
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

Odometer:Registers the total miles
(kilometers) of the vehicle.
Refer toMessage centerin the
Instrument clusterchapter on how
to switch the display from Metric to
English.
Trip odometer:SeeTRIP A/B
underMessage centerin this
chapter.
MESSAGE CENTER
Your vehicle’s message center allows you to configure/personalize certain
vehicle options to suit your needs.
The message center is also capable of monitoring many vehicle systems
and will alert you to potential vehicle problems and various conditions
with an informational message followed by a long indicator chime.
The message center display is located in the instrument cluster.
Info
Press the INFO button repeatedly to
cycle through the following features:
TRIP A/B
Registers the distance of individual journeys. Press and release INFO
until the A or B trip appears in the display (this represents the trip
mode). Press RESET until it resets.
Refer toUNITSlater in this section to switch the display from Metric to
English.
MYKEY MILES (km) (if programmed)
For more information, refer toMyKeyin theLocks and Security
chapter.
Instrument Cluster
19
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

MILES (km) TO E
This displays an estimate of approximately how far you can drive with
the fuel remaining in your tank under normal driving conditions.
Remember to turn the ignition off when refueling to allow this feature to
correctly detect the added fuel.
LOW FUEL LEVEL will display when you have approximately 50 miles
(80 km), to empty. Press RESET to clear this warning message. It will
return at approximately 25 miles (40 km), 10 miles (16 km) and 0 miles
(0 km) miles to empty.
Distance to empty is calculated using a running average fuel economy,
which is based on your recent driving history of 500 miles (800 km).
This value is not the same as the average fuel economy display. The
running average fuel economy is re-initialized to a factory default value if
the battery is disconnected.
AVG MPG (L/100km)
Average fuel economy displays your average fuel economy in miles/gallon
or liters/100 km.
If you calculate your average fuel economy by dividing distance traveled
by gallons of fuel used (liters of fuel used by 100 kilometers traveled),
your figure may be different than displayed for the following reasons:
•Your vehicle was not perfectly level during fill-up
•Differences in the automatic shut-off points on the fuel pumps at
service stations
•Variations in top-off procedure from one fill-up to another
•Rounding of the displayed values to the nearest 0.1 gallon (liter)
1. Drive the vehicle at least 5 miles (8 km) with the speed control
system engaged to display a stabilized average.
2. Record the highway fuel economy for future reference.
It is important to press the RESET button (press RESET to reset the
function) after setting the speed control to get accurate highway fuel
economy readings.
For more information refer toEssentials of good fuel economyin the
Maintenance and Specificationschapter.
Instrument Cluster
20
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

MPG (L/km)
This displays instantaneous fuel economy as a bar graph ranging from↓
poor economy to↑excellent economy.
Your vehicle must be moving to calculate instantaneous fuel economy.
When your vehicle is not moving, this function shows↓, one or no bars
illuminated. Instantaneous fuel economy cannot be reset.
TIMER
Timer displays the trip elapsed drive time.
To operate, do the following:
1. Press and release RESET in order to start the timer.
2. Press and release RESET to pause the timer.
3. Press and hold RESET until the timer resets.
Blank Screen
The message center display will be blank after cycling through all of the
Info menu items.
System check and vehicle feature customization
Press the SETUP button repeatedly
to cycle the message center through
the following features:
RESET FOR SYSTEM CHECK
When this message appears, press RESET and the message center will
begin to cycle through the following systems and provide a status of the
item if needed.
Note:Some systems show a message only if a condition is present.
1. OIL LIFE
2. WASHER FLUID LEVEL
3. DOOR AJAR STATUS
4. TRUNK AJAR/CLOSED
5. BLIND SPOT SYSTEM (if equipped)
6. CROSS TRAFFIC SYSTEM (if equipped)
7. BRAKE SYSTEM
8. FUEL LEVEL
9. MYKEY DISTANCE (if MyKeyis programmed)
10. MYKEY(S) PROGRAMMED
11. ADMIN KEYS PROGRAMMED
Instrument Cluster
21
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

OIL LIFE
This displays the remaining oil life.
An oil change is required whenever indicated by the message center and
according to the recommended maintenance schedule. USE ONLY
RECOMMENDED ENGINE OILS.
To reset the oil monitoring system to 100% after each oil change,
perform the following:
1. Press and release SETUP to display “OIL LIFE XXX% HOLD RESET =
NEW”.
2. Press and hold RESET for two seconds and release to reset the oil life
to 100%.
UNITS
Displays the current units in English or Metric.
Press RESET to change between English and Metric.
AUTO HIGH BEAM (if equipped)
This feature automatically turns on your high beams if it is dark enough
and no other traffic is present.
Press RESET to turn the auto high beam on or off.
AUTOLAMP (SEC)
This feature keeps your headlights on for up to three minutes after the
ignition is switched off.
Press RESET to select the new Autolamp delay values of 0, 10, 20, 30,
60, 90, 120 or 180 seconds.
AUTOLOCK
This feature automatically locks all vehicle doors when the vehicle is
shifted into any gear, putting the vehicle in motion.
Press RESET to turn autolock on or off.
AUTOUNLOCK
This feature automatically unlocks all vehicle doors when the driver’s
door is opened within 10 minutes of the ignition being turned off.
Press RESET to turn autounlock on or off.
Instrument Cluster
22
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

COLLISION WARN GAP (if equipped)
This allows you to adjust the sensitivity setting of the collision warning
system. SeeCollision Warning Systemin theDrivingchapter for more
information.
Press RESET to change the sensitivity setting.
COLLISION WARN CHIME (if equipped)
This feature warns the driver of a possible collision. SeeCollision
warning systemin theDrivingchapter for more information.
Press RESET to turn the warning chime on or off. The system will revert
to chime on each time the vehicle is started. The heads-up display and/or
chime will activate briefly to confirm the last setting.
COLLISION WARN SYSTEM (if equipped)
This feature warns the driver of a possible collision. SeeCollision
warning systemin theDrivingchapter for more information.
Press RESET to turn the collision warning system on or off. The system
will revert to on each time the vehicle is started. The heads-up display
and/or chime will activate briefly to confirm the last setting.
BLIND SPOT (if equipped)
The Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) is designed to assist the
driver by monitoring the side areas on both sides of the vehicle.
Press RESET to turn it off or on.
CROSS TRAFFIC (if equipped)
The Cross Traffic Alert system is designed to assist and warn the driver
when backing out of parking spaces.
Press RESET to turn it off or on.
EASY ENTRY
This feature automatically moves the driver’s seat and steering wheel (if
equipped with power tilt) to a preset position for easy entry into the
vehicle.
Press RESET to turn the easy entry seat on or off.
REAR PARK AID (if equipped)
This feature sounds a warning tone to warn the driver of obstacles near
the rear bumper, and functions only when R (Reverse) gear is selected.
Press RESET to turn it off or on.
Instrument Cluster
23
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)

TIRE MOBILITY KIT EXP 1, 2, 3, 4 YR (if equipped)
Use this feature to set the expiration date that is listed on the tire
mobility kit sealant canister. SeeTemporary mobility kitin the
Roadside Emergencieschapter for more information on the expiration
date.
Press the RESET control to choose the proper expiration date in years.
CREATE MYKEY / MYKEY SETUP/ CLEAR MYKEY
For more information refer toMyKeyin theLocks and Security
chapter.
LANGUAGE = ENGLISH / SPANISH / FRENCH
Allows you to choose which language the message center will display in.
Selectable languages are English, Spanish, or French.
Waiting four seconds or pressing the RESET button cycles the message
center through each of the language choices.
Press and hold RESET for two seconds to set the language choice.
System warnings
System warnings alert you to possible problems or malfunctions in your
vehicle’s operating systems.
In the event of a multiple warning situation, the message center will
cycle the display to show all warnings by displaying each one for four
seconds.
The message center will display the last selected feature if there are no
more warning messages.
Types of messages and warnings:
•Some messages will appear briefly to inform you of something you
may need to take action on or be informed of.
•Some messages will appear once and then again when the vehicle is
restarted.
•Some messages will reappear after clearing or being reset if a problem
or condition is still present and needs your attention.
•Some messages can be acknowledged and reset by pressing RESET.
This allows you to use the full message center functionality by clearing
the message.
DRIVER DOOR AJAR— Displayed when the driver’s door is not
completely closed.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR— Displayed when the passenger side door
is not completely closed.
Instrument Cluster
24
2012 Taurus
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)