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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

Steering complaints

25 reports
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103,000 miles · Aug 27, 2020
Steering

THIS CAR HAS A STEERING RECALL ON IT. THE RECALL WAS FIXED AND CLOSED OUT THREE YEARS AGO. THE SAME ISSUE IS COMING UP AND IT IS SAYING FAULTY STEERING ON THE SCREEN AND I LOSE POWER STEERING. I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE SAID IN THE SEVEN YEARS SHE HAS BEEN THERE SHE HAS NOT SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN ON A VEHICL…

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THIS CAR HAS A STEERING RECALL ON IT. THE RECALL WAS FIXED AND CLOSED OUT THREE YEARS AGO. THE SAME ISSUE IS COMING UP AND IT IS SAYING FAULTY STEERING ON THE SCREEN AND I LOSE POWER STEERING. I SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE SAID IN THE SEVEN YEARS SHE HAS BEEN THERE SHE HAS NOT SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN ON A VEHICLE BUT WHEN I GOOGLED ABOUT IT I SAW TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING THE STEERING RECALL 'FIXED' IN THEIR FORD AND THEN THE SAME ISSUE POPPING UP AGAIN AND THE CUSTOMER FORCED TO PAY THE MONEY FOR IT. IF MY STEERING GOES OUT I COULD BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESP SINCE I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AND CHILDREN IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11351508

88,522 miles · Jun 8, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringUnknown Or Other

I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 MONTHS ALREADY. I PULLED OUT OF MY HOUSE, DROVE THRU MY STREET AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP IN A INTERSECTION MY CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY AND THE WHEEL BECAME HARD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IT OR PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE LIGHT AND BATTERY ALERT LIGHT CAME ON …

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I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 MONTHS ALREADY. I PULLED OUT OF MY HOUSE, DROVE THRU MY STREET AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP IN A INTERSECTION MY CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY AND THE WHEEL BECAME HARD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IT OR PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE LIGHT AND BATTERY ALERT LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO IT ALERTED ME I WAS LOW ON GAS WITCH I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11327867

98,000 miles · Nov 20, 2019
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LONG LEWIS FORD (2551 JOHN HAWKINS PKWY, HOOVER,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LONG LEWIS FORD (2551 JOHN HAWKINS PKWY, HOOVER, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #11281401

88,000 miles · Nov 26, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MOTOR COMPANY (LOCATED AT W 1680 US-41, MARINETTE, WI 54143, (715) 735-7474) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MOTOR COMPANY (LOCATED AT W 1680 US-41, MARINETTE, WI 54143, (715) 735-7474) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-16452991. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI #11154014

101,400 miles · Jul 3, 2018
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JUNGE FORD NORTH LIBERTY (525 MADISON AVE, NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317, 319-626-9500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP AND THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JUNGE FORD NORTH LIBERTY (525 MADISON AVE, NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317, 319-626-9500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP AND THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,400. *TT *JS

NHTSA ODI #11105396

137,000 miles · Apr 25, 2018
Steering

STARTING MY MORNING COMMUTE MY VEHICLES "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" SENSOR/WARNING TRIGGERED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TWICE THEN IT WENT AWAY AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. RESEARCHING THIS FURTHER I FOUND THAT MY CAR PRESENTED THE SAME SYMPTOMS/ISSUES AS SAFETY RECALL 15S18 FOR F…

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STARTING MY MORNING COMMUTE MY VEHICLES "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" SENSOR/WARNING TRIGGERED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TWICE THEN IT WENT AWAY AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. RESEARCHING THIS FURTHER I FOUND THAT MY CAR PRESENTED THE SAME SYMPTOMS/ISSUES AS SAFETY RECALL 15S18 FOR FORD VEHICLES ISSUED IN 2015 AND 2016. WHEN CALLING FORD CUSTOMER CARE THEY STATED MY CAR'S VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY COULDN'T BE OF HELP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY NOTED CODES U3000-49 AND U3000-72 WERE TRIGGERED. THESE CODES ARE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE SAFETY RECALL AND THE CAR'S STEERING GEAR SHOULD BE REPLACED PER THE RECALL; HOWEVER AGAIN MY VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, BUT PRESENTS THE SAME CODES AND SAFETY ISSUES. I WILL TRY CONTACTING FORD AGAIN, BUT IN THE END I WOULD LIKE FORD TO COVER THE FULL REPLACEMENT COST AS INSTRUCTED IN THE SAFETY RECALL, AS THIS IS A DOCUMENTED SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING TO MY FAMILY AND I. ANY HELP FROM YOU WOULD BE APPRECIATED IN THIS MATTER WITH GETTING FORD TO COVER THE FULL REPLACEMENT COST.

NHTSA ODI #11090038

160,000 miles · Aug 16, 2017
Steering

STEERING STIFFENED WHILST DRIVING, BRAKE PEDDLE WAS STIFF ON APPLICATION.

NHTSA ODI #11015645

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2017
Steering

POWER STEERING. WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHEN TURNING. SITTING AND DRIVING THERE IS NO POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #10980387

35,250 miles · Apr 24, 2017
SteeringWheelsCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS HEADED SOUTH DOWN A CITY STREET CAME UP TO MY RIGHT TURN ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET. AFTER I MADE THE TURN WHEN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT THE RIGHT ONE CUT STRAIGHT TO THE RIGHT I WAS FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT WOULD NOT LET ME TURN IT. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO TURN INTO A PARKED CA…

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THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS HEADED SOUTH DOWN A CITY STREET CAME UP TO MY RIGHT TURN ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET. AFTER I MADE THE TURN WHEN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT THE RIGHT ONE CUT STRAIGHT TO THE RIGHT I WAS FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT WOULD NOT LET ME TURN IT. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO TURN INTO A PARKED CAR THAT WAS ON A PARKING LOT FOR SALE AND IT ENDED UP DAMAGING 3 CARS PLUS MINE TOTAL. I DID NOT RECEIVE A TICKET BECAUSE THE OFFICER STATED THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION ON THE CAR'S STEERING. I JUST KNOW THAT SOMETHING CAUSED THE TIRE TO TURN AND I COULD NOT TURN IT BACK. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE CAUSE IT WAS SCARY SCARY. THANK YOU,

NHTSA ODI #10980118

70,000 miles · Jan 19, 2017
Steering

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NOW THERE IS NO STEERING AT ALL. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH REGULAR TAURUS SE SEL, BUT THIS IS THE TAURUS SHO. NO RECALL ON THE SHO. FORD BLAMES THIS ON MANY THREE THINGS ELECTRICAL FAILURE, THE REAL CAUSE IS POOR ENGINEERING BY FORD, THIS STEERING RACK WITH ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS, A…

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POWER STEERING FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NOW THERE IS NO STEERING AT ALL. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH REGULAR TAURUS SE SEL, BUT THIS IS THE TAURUS SHO. NO RECALL ON THE SHO. FORD BLAMES THIS ON MANY THREE THINGS ELECTRICAL FAILURE, THE REAL CAUSE IS POOR ENGINEERING BY FORD, THIS STEERING RACK WITH ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS, ARE THREE INCHES AWAY FROM TURBOS AND CATALITC CONVERTERS,EXTREME HEAT FROM THESE COMPONETS HAS CAUSED THEM TO FAIL.THE HEAT PRODUCED FROM THESE COMPONETS ARE IN THE 1200 DEGREE RANGE.FORD NEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT'S WHY THEY TRIED TO PUT HEAT SHIELD NEAR THIS COMPONENT. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. I HAVE OWNED AND STILL HAVE FOUR TAURUS SHO'S 91,92,98,2011. NEVER AGAIN FORD. I THINK THIS CAR SHOULD BE ON RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #10946335

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.