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2011 Ford Taurus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Taurus do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 318.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

142 reports with mileage · 45 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

187 reports
5,800 miles · May 20, 2011
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING ON THE N.J. TPKE. AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE PUSH BUTTON START BUTTON. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE DASH SAID SHIFT INTO PARK. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP, SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE BUTTON. YOU CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION BEING I…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE N.J. TPKE. AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE PUSH BUTTON START BUTTON. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE DASH SAID SHIFT INTO PARK. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP, SHIFTED INTO PARK, BUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE BUTTON. YOU CAN'T OPEN THE TRUNK WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK, YET YOU CAN SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN JUST BY ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHING THIS BUTTON. NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402229

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2011
Structure

2011 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES ENGINEERING DESIGN DEFECT REGARDING VEHICLE DOORWAYS, SEATING AND BEING LOW TO THE GROUND *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD DIFFICULTY ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE DUE TO HIS HEIGHT AND WEIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10396418

6,000 miles · Apr 11, 2011
Electrical System

THIS CAR AFTER SIX MONTHS OF AGE IT STARTED TO SHUT ITSELF OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DRIVING ALONG, IGNITION JUST TURNS OFF, A LIGHT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE CAR HAS DID THIS FIVE TIMES AND DEALER PUT A DEVICE ON IT TO RECORD THIS "IF IT DOES IT AGAIN". VERY SAFE TO BE THE TE…

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THIS CAR AFTER SIX MONTHS OF AGE IT STARTED TO SHUT ITSELF OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DRIVING ALONG, IGNITION JUST TURNS OFF, A LIGHT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE CAR HAS DID THIS FIVE TIMES AND DEALER PUT A DEVICE ON IT TO RECORD THIS "IF IT DOES IT AGAIN". VERY SAFE TO BE THE TEST DUMMY FOR A CAR THAT STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAR IS A PUSH BUTTON START MODEL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO DO ADMIT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395548

20 miles · Mar 19, 2011
Exterior LightingUnknown Or Other

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING THAT'S OVER 200 FEET AHEAD. ONLY WAY YOU CAN SEE FARTHER IS TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ALL THE TIME. YOU CANT SEE CURVES COMING UP OR DEER STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD NOTHING. THEY JUST DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THERE IS A BLACK LINE WHER…

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HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING THAT'S OVER 200 FEET AHEAD. ONLY WAY YOU CAN SEE FARTHER IS TO USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ALL THE TIME. YOU CANT SEE CURVES COMING UP OR DEER STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD NOTHING. THEY JUST DO NOT SHINE FAR ENOUGH IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THERE IS A BLACK LINE WHERE THE LIGHTS END LIKE SOMETHING IS BLOCKING THE TOP HALF OF THE LIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ODI #10393179

700 miles · Feb 7, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND UPON RESTART, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND UPON RESTART, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 700.

NHTSA ODI #10380974

3,116 miles · Jan 6, 2011
Electrical System

WAS ON THE WAY TO A LOCAL TOWN ABOUT 15 MILES FROM HOME,WHEN MY 2011 FORD TAURUS JUST CUT OFF. LIGHT CAME ON TO PRESS BRAKE PEDAL TO START CAR. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL PRESSED BUTTON AND CAR STARTED BACK UP. DIDN'T HAVE ANYMORE TROUBLE SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375014

1,400 miles · Oct 14, 2010
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,400. UPDATED 02/01/11*LJ UPDATED 02.03…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,400. UPDATED 02/01/11*LJ UPDATED 02.03.11. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10360502

Official recalls

4

16V247000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 26, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

15V340000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Jun 2, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine. The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). If dealers find any loss of steering assist DTCs, the steering gear will be replaced, free of charge. If, no codes are found during the PSCM inspection, the PSCM software will be updated, free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S18.

15V040000 · Structure:body:door

Jan 28, 2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Ford Taurus vehicles manufactured December 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010, and 2011-2013 Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured June 1, 2011, to October 31, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S02.

14V285000 · Exterior Lighting

May 29, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Taurus vehicles manufactured November 24, 2008, through February 28, 2014, originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. When used in areas that use road salt, the license plate lamp assembly may experience an electro-chemical reaction and corrosion as a result of water intrusion.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the license plate lamp assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S08. Note: Under program 14R01, Ford will notify owners in non-corrosion states, and, at the customer's request, dealers will replace the license plate lamp assembly.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.