Buying a Used Ford Police Interceptor Sedan

By I Go Cars · Updated October 29, 2026

What a retired Police Interceptor Sedan is

The Ford Police Interceptor Sedan is the Taurus-based police car Ford sold for model years 2013 through 2019. It went on sale in 2012 with the Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility, the two together replacing the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, and production ended by March 2019 when Ford dropped the Taurus line. By 2017 the Utility accounted for 80% of Ford's Police Interceptor sales, so the sedan is the less common of the two in surplus sales.

Every retired example is now at least seven model years old, and the car has been out of production since 2019. That is worth weighing for parts and repairs, although no source found for this guide measures parts availability. The 2013 model draws the most searches, and it is also the most complicated year to buy: it launched with four pursuit configurations and carries the most recall campaigns. This guide works through identification, configurations, recalls, Ford programs and sale conditions in that order.

How to confirm a genuine Police Interceptor from the VIN

VIN positions 5 through 7 separate police from civilian Tauruses. NHTSA's vPIC decoder (the federal database built from manufacturers' VIN-decoding submissions) reads P2M as Taurus trim “Police AWD” and P2L as “Police FWD” across MY2013-2019, matching the sales codes in Michigan State Police (MSP) test books. Position 8 then identifies the engine:

K: 3.7L V6 (P2M, MSP option 99K).
T: 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 (P2M, 99T).
8: 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 (P2L with option 998, and the AWD P2M).
9: 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder.

The 9 is the trap. The 2.0L car is the Special Service Police sedan (MSP sales code P2L, 999), a non-pursuit model that vPIC still labels trim “Police.” A P2L VIN with 9 in position 8 is not a Police Interceptor. The civilian Taurus SHO is the opposite trap: it shares the 3.5L EcoBoost and all-wheel drive but carries code P2K and decodes as a civilian trim, alongside P2D (SE) and P2E (SEL).

A real example shows the codes in use. The Village of Oak Brook, Illinois, sold a former police 2013 Taurus, VIN 1FAHP2M85DG157651, which vPIC decodes as Taurus “Police,” AWD, 3.5L. As with any VIN check, the decoded pattern shows how Ford coded the car; it does not prove the car served with police. The selling agency's records do that.

The 2013 launch configurations and later years

MSP's MY2013 evaluation tested four sedan configurations, all with a six-speed automatic, a 220-amp alternator and a 19.0-gallon tank. MSP figures are clean-roof results, taken without lightbars or equipment.

FWD 3.5L (P2L): 288 hp, 3.16:1 axle, 0-60 mph in 7.62 seconds, 131 mph, EPA 18/26/21 mpg.
AWD 3.5L (P2M): 288 hp, 3.39:1 axle, 7.86 seconds, 131 mph, EPA 17/24/20.
AWD 3.7L (P2M, 99K): 305 hp, 3.39:1 axle, 7.53 seconds (a re-run after an overspeed code), 132 mph, EPA 18/25/21.
AWD 3.5L EcoBoost (P2M, 99T): 365 hp, 3.16:1 axle, 5.75 seconds, 150 mph.

That settles a frequent question: the EcoBoost sedan was available from the 2013 launch, not added later. MSP's MY2014 list shows FWD 3.5L, AWD 3.7L and AWD EcoBoost sedans, plus a “2014.5” EcoBoost, but no AWD naturally aspirated 3.5L. Whether that configuration remained orderable after 2013 is unconfirmed, although vPIC still decodes the pattern for 2014-2015. MSP's MY2018 book, its last test of the sedan, shows the same axle ratios, with 3.07 on the Special Service sedan.

The Special Service sedan's end date is disputed. Wikipedia says it was dropped after MY2017; MSP tested one for MY2018, and vPIC decodes its pattern through MY2019. Pattern decoding is not proof of production, so a 2018 or 2019 P2L car with a 9 in position 8 should be identified from its paperwork.

Recalls by campaign number

NHTSA files most Police Interceptor Sedan campaigns under “Taurus” and a few under “Police Interceptor Sedan.” These name police units:

13V-227 (MY2013 Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility, Ford 13S04): the fuel delivery module may crack and leak fuel; 15V-812 (13S04-S1) adds further Taurus Police Interceptor units.
16V-621 (2013-2015 3.5L EcoBoost models and 2013-2015 Taurus Police Interceptors, Ford 16S31): the fuel pump electronic module may overheat and cut power to the fuel pump, causing a stall or no-start.
17V-530 (2017, Ford 17S23): steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode.
20V-072 (2013-2018 Taurus with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack, 211,207 units, Ford 20S04): rear toe links may fracture. Owners were notified on March 3, 2020, but parts were not ready, and the recall repair began on Oct. 28, 2020.

Taurus-wide recalls may also apply, although their summaries do not name police units: 14V-393 (2013-2014 cars built Aug. 25, 2011-Nov. 30, 2013, where a halfshaft retention circlip may be missing and the halfshaft can disengage), 14V-285 (salt-state license-plate lamp corrosion), 18V-141 (2017-2018 mechanical-key cars, key removable out of Park) and 25V-611 (2016-2019 B-pillar door trim). A 2013 car therefore has at least four campaigns to confirm: 13V-227 or 15V-812, 14V-393, 16V-621 and 20V-072. The 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup shows which remain unrepaired.

Ford service programs: what transfers and what does not

Ford's service programs are separate from safety recalls, and each bulletin sets its own terms. Three Ford documents hosted by NHTSA cover the sedan.

17M06 (2014 Police Interceptor Sedan built Feb. 18, 2013-June 1, 2014): canister purge valve coverage to 10 years or 120,000 miles for trouble codes P1450, P0443, P0456, P2196 and P2198. It transfers to later owners, within its time and mileage limits.
16N01 (2013-2015 sedan and Utility): peeling paint and rust around the trunk-lid lock cylinder. Ford limited it to “original owners of vehicles that are currently in police or law enforcement service,” so it does not transfer to a private buyer.
16B32 (2015-2016 sedan among other models): electronic throttle body repair, in effect only through Sept. 30, 2017.

Ford's Special Service Message 47547, covering 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedans and Utilities, matters to anyone servicing a retired car. It describes “reduced top speed after a transmission fluid service with unapproved fluid,” specifies Mercon LV only, and calls for the level to be checked at 180-200°F with a scan tool. A transmission service record that names the fluid used is worth asking for.

What decommissioning leaves, and where sedans are sold

Decommissioning, the agency process of removing police equipment and markings before sale, follows local rules. Miami-Dade County's Procedure 812, for example, removes markings, emergency lighting, computers, prisoner inserts, radios and spotlights and makes any remaining lighting inoperable. The holes stay.

The Oak Brook listing shows what that looks like on this model. The 2013 car, sold in December 2018 at 82,000 miles, “Has holes in body panels and to interior trim” and “Body slight rust damage.” It was offered “AS IS NO WARRANTY,” for pickup only, with payment by cash, cashier's check or money order, and it closed at $7,561 after 48 bids. That is one dated result, not a market value.

Retired sedans have been sold through municipal and state online surplus sites such as Illinois iBid, and through federal GSA channels, where the buyer receives an SF 97 (the U.S. Government Certificate to Obtain Title to a Vehicle) in place of a state title. None of these channels is rated here.

When a Police Interceptor Sedan is a poor choice

The buyer expects pursuit hardware but the VIN reads P2L with a 9. That is the 2.0L Special Service sedan, a different, non-pursuit car.
The VIN cannot be checked before the sale closes. Without it, neither the configuration nor the recall status can be confirmed.
A 2013-2018 car without proof of the 20V-072 toe-link repair, a police-pack recall whose parts were delayed in 2020.
A 2013-2015 car without records for 16V-621 and, on 2013 models, 13V-227 or 15V-812, which address stall, no-start and fuel-leak risks.
Transmission service history is unknown, given Ford's warning about unapproved fluid.
The buyer needs space. MSP's MY2018 book lists 103.0 cubic feet of combined interior volume for the sedan against 118.4 for the Utility.

On performance, the configurations differ more than the badge suggests. In MSP's MY2013 testing, the EcoBoost sedan reached 150 mph, while the other three stopped at 131 or 132 mph. For comparison, MSP's MY2011 test of the 3.27-axle Crown Victoria Police Interceptor it replaced recorded 9.01 seconds to 60 mph and 129 mph. Common claims about water pumps and AWD transfer units on these cars could not be matched to any NHTSA recall, investigation or Ford bulletin naming the sedan, so they are not presented here as documented faults.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell if a Taurus is a real Police Interceptor?

Check VIN positions 5 through 7 for P2M (AWD) or P2L (FWD), then position 8. K (3.7L), T (3.5L EcoBoost) or 8 (3.5L) indicate Interceptor engines, while 9 (2.0L) marks the non-pursuit Special Service Police sedan. NHTSA's vPIC decoder shows how Ford coded the VIN, not whether the car served with police.

Was the 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor available with EcoBoost?

Yes, Michigan State Police tested a 365-hp AWD 3.5L EcoBoost sedan (sales code P2M, option 99T) in its MY2013 evaluation. In that clean-roof test it ran 0-60 mph in 5.75 seconds and reached 150 mph. The 2013 lineup also included FWD and AWD 3.5L cars and an AWD 3.7L, four configurations in all.

What recalls affect the 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor?

Police-named campaigns for 2013 include 13V-227 and 15V-812 (fuel delivery module), 16V-621 (fuel pump module) and 20V-072 (rear toe links). The Taurus-wide 14V-393 halfshaft circlip recall may also apply depending on build date. Entering the VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup shows which remain unrepaired on a particular car.

What axle ratio does the Taurus Police Interceptor have?

It has a 3.16:1 axle on the FWD 3.5L and the EcoBoost, and 3.39:1 on the AWD 3.5L and 3.7L, according to Michigan State Police test books for 2013 and 2018. The non-pursuit Special Service sedan used a 3.07:1 axle in MSP's MY2018 book. The axle ratio is one reason top speeds differ between configurations.

Is a Taurus SHO the same as a Police Interceptor?

No, they share the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and all-wheel drive, but the SHO carries VIN body code P2K and decodes as a civilian trim. Police Interceptor sedans carry P2M or P2L. A Taurus SHO with police-style equipment added is still a civilian car, which matters for recalls such as 20V-072 that name the police and SHO packs separately.

Is the Special Service Police sedan a Police Interceptor?

No, the Special Service Police sedan was a separate, non-pursuit model with a 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder and its own sales code, P2L with option 999. NHTSA's vPIC decoder still labels it trim “Police,” so the giveaway is a 9 in VIN position 8. Sources disagree on its final model year.

What does a decommissioned Taurus police car look like?

Expect holes in body panels and interior trim where equipment was removed, possible rust, and as-is terms. A former police 2013 Taurus sold by the Village of Oak Brook, Illinois, was listed with exactly those notes, “AS IS NO WARRANTY,” pickup only and limited payment methods. Agencies typically remove lights, radios, computers and prisoner inserts.

Buying a used Taurus Police Interceptor Sedan