IllustrationI BOUGHT A NEW 2011 FORD TAURUS IN MARCH.THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT AFTER DARK I WONDERED WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. VISIBILITY IS VERY VERY POOR,HIGH BEAM OR LOW.THE LIGHTS JUST DON'T PROJECT DOWN THE ROAD. MY WIFE DRIVES IT MOSTLY. I HOPE SHE DOESN'T KILL HERSELF BEFORE I CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Taurus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
380–25K
2125–50K
2450–75K
2375–100K
29100–150K
7150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
14 reports2011 FORD TAURUS HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT, HAVE DARK SPOTS, CAN'T SEE PROPERLY. HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE ADJUSTED AND APPARENTLY DONE ALL THEY KNOW TO DO. IT IS STILL NOT CORRECT. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE LATE @ NIGHT. WE HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN MANY DIFFERENT FOR…
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2011 FORD TAURUS HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT, HAVE DARK SPOTS, CAN'T SEE PROPERLY. HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THEY HAVE ADJUSTED AND APPARENTLY DONE ALL THEY KNOW TO DO. IT IS STILL NOT CORRECT. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE LATE @ NIGHT. WE HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN MANY DIFFERENT FORDS ALL OUR LIFE, SPECIFICALLY A 1994 TAURUS AND DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. WITH ONE OF THE ADJUSTMENTS THERE WAS NO VISION TO THE SIDES OF THE ROAD. AFTER SEVERAL ADJUSTMENTS THE BEAMS STILL DO NOT PROJECT THE PROPER DISTANCE. IT SEEMS SOME KIND OF SHUTTER IS IN THE WAY. LOVE THE CAR AND WOULD REALLY LIKE A SOLUTION. HOPE THIS CAN BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANKS *TR
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
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
Official recalls
416V247000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.