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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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19,000 miles · Dec 3, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN ENGAGING IN GEAR AND ACCELERATING OVER 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN ENGAGING IN GEAR AND ACCELERATING OVER 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESPONDING TO HER SPECIFIC DRIVING HABITS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SENT AN ENGINEER TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,700.

NHTSA ODI #10487155

500 miles · May 17, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION EVEN IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE COULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION EVEN IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UP TO STANDARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 6/7/12 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10458861

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2012
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP INTO THE NEXT GEAR WITH A SHUDDER AT ABOUT 35MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457421

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRY TO STOP VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN, BUT IT CONTINUES TO GO WITH MOTOR REVVING. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO KEEP IT FROM GOING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. FORD REFUSES TO BELIEVE ME, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THEIR CODE READER. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, AND A MECHANIC MUST WITNESS IT FOR THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAPPENS. I D…

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TRY TO STOP VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN, BUT IT CONTINUES TO GO WITH MOTOR REVVING. HAVE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO KEEP IT FROM GOING THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. FORD REFUSES TO BELIEVE ME, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THEIR CODE READER. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, AND A MECHANIC MUST WITNESS IT FOR THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT HAPPENS. I DO NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME, AND A FLOOR MAT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451901

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2012
Exterior LightingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS IN ORDER TO REGAIN VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS IN ORDER TO REGAIN VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE A FAILURE IN WHICH IT SURGED FORWARD MOMENTARILY. UPDATED 04/16/12 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL OR AT A VERY LOW SPEED. UPDATED 05/07/12

NHTSA ODI #10451448

18,000 miles · Jan 30, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED. REAR BACKUP CAMERA COMES ON WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FORD HAS ISSUED TSB BUT MY DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF IT AND DID NOT REPAIR UNTIL I TOOK THEM A COPY OF THE TSB 10-21-2. VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SOMEBODY …

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TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES WHILE STOPPED. REAR BACKUP CAMERA COMES ON WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FORD HAS ISSUED TSB BUT MY DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF IT AND DID NOT REPAIR UNTIL I TOOK THEM A COPY OF THE TSB 10-21-2. VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT. I FOUND INFO ON TSB THROUGH OWNER MESSAGE BOARDS SO IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10445856

1,500 miles · Jun 29, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE 2 PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. ONE IS FROM A STOP. THE CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE FOR A SECOND OR TWO WHEN STEPPING ON GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES. SECOND PROBLEM HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE SO FAR. WAS MERGING ON TO HIGHWAY SO I ACCELERATED, THEN LET QUICKLY LET OFF THE GAS TO…

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I HAVE 2 PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. ONE IS FROM A STOP. THE CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE FOR A SECOND OR TWO WHEN STEPPING ON GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES. SECOND PROBLEM HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE SO FAR. WAS MERGING ON TO HIGHWAY SO I ACCELERATED, THEN LET QUICKLY LET OFF THE GAS TO CHECK TRAFFIC IN ANOTHER LANE TO PASS A CAR, THEN ACCELERATED AGAIN TO PASS CAR. DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC MERGING IN AND OUT, IT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. ONCE OUT IN THE PASSING LANE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON THIS BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. TRIED PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL A COUPLE TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. CAR EVENTUALLY ACCELERATED. FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I FEEL BOTH INCIDENTS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN THE CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE WHEN YOU EXPECT IT TO, YOU ARE AT RISK IF TRAFFIC AROUND YOU CAN'T STOP IN TIME. TOOK CAR TO DEALER BUT WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND THE LAG FELT FROM COMPUTER DELAY IS NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #10409910

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

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.