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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
58,300 miles · Feb 9, 2020
Unknown Or OtherCrash

MY TRUNK LEAKED ONCE IN 2017 SOAKING LEGAL PAPERWORK. FOUND SOURCE OF LEAK THROUGH FAULTY GASKETS, USED SILICONE AND PERFORMED MY OWN WATER TEST WITH HOSE. FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT LEAKED THROUGH RUBBER GASKET. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MY CAR AND REPORTED ALL THIS TO FORD BUT WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND SAFE MY…

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MY TRUNK LEAKED ONCE IN 2017 SOAKING LEGAL PAPERWORK. FOUND SOURCE OF LEAK THROUGH FAULTY GASKETS, USED SILICONE AND PERFORMED MY OWN WATER TEST WITH HOSE. FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT LEAKED THROUGH RUBBER GASKET. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MY CAR AND REPORTED ALL THIS TO FORD BUT WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS AND SAFE MY RECEIPTS. AC COMPRESSED DIED PAID 1,000, SMART JUNCTION BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PAID 500 TO REPLACE PART THAT CIRCULATES INSIDE AIR. LOVE MY CAR PAID 37 TH BACK IN 2011 BUT SINCE OUT OF WARRANTEE AND BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTEE NOTHING MUCH IS COVERED. ONLY 58,400 MILES ON MY TAURUS SEL MODEL. WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11307973

88,688 miles · Jan 25, 2020
Suspension

REAR TOE LINKS REPLACED 1/23/2020. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAME PART MALFUNCTION BUT NO RECALL ON TAURUS.

NHTSA ODI #11301831

78,135 miles · Dec 20, 2019
Service Brakes

THE VEHICLE WON'T STOP IN A HURRY NO MATTER HOW HARD THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED. IF I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THEN THE ACCELERATOR, THE BRAKES WON'T KEEP IT FROM MOVING. HAVE REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BLEED BRAKES. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. NOT SAFE IN TOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11290359

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

66,000 miles · Apr 26, 2019
Structure

' MY DRIVER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING HAS RECENTLY UNSEATED. (DOOR WILL NOT LATCH). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN LATCH BROKE. ' THIS CONDITION IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN FORD RECALL 15S02. ' FORD IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE BUILD-DATE OF MY CAR WAS 6 MONTHS LATER THAN 15S02 RECALLED VEHICLES. ' MY …

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' MY DRIVER-SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RETURN SPRING HAS RECENTLY UNSEATED. (DOOR WILL NOT LATCH). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN LATCH BROKE. ' THIS CONDITION IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN FORD RECALL 15S02. ' FORD IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE BUILD-DATE OF MY CAR WAS 6 MONTHS LATER THAN 15S02 RECALLED VEHICLES. ' MY DATE MAY BE 6 MONTHS LATER THAN THE FORD SPECIFIED END-DATE BUT I HAVE THE IDENTICAL UNSAFE CONDITION (AND VEHICLE MODEL / YEAR) AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. ' TWO QUESTIONS: 1) WHERE DOES FORD GET THESE RECALL DATES? (WHEN OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE CARS BUILT LATER WITH THE SAME ISSUE) 2) HOW CAN I MAKE FORD COVER THIS REPAIR?

NHTSA ODI #11203902

57,000 miles · Apr 13, 2019
Power Train

PROPANE SMELL WHILE DRIVING, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION. 'PUKING' FROM THE VENT PORT. CAR HAS HAD THESE ISSUES SINCE ABOUT 57K MILES WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT. THE 'LIFETIME' FLUID INSIDE OF THE PTU HAS TURNED INTO A BLACK SLUDGE AND IS UNABLE TO BE SIPHONED OUT OF THE VEHICLE USING A TRANSFER PUMP. NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING IF YOU …

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PROPANE SMELL WHILE DRIVING, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION. 'PUKING' FROM THE VENT PORT. CAR HAS HAD THESE ISSUES SINCE ABOUT 57K MILES WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT. THE 'LIFETIME' FLUID INSIDE OF THE PTU HAS TURNED INTO A BLACK SLUDGE AND IS UNABLE TO BE SIPHONED OUT OF THE VEHICLE USING A TRANSFER PUMP. NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING IF YOU GRADUALLY APPLY THE PEDAL AS OPPOSED TO MASHING IT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11196062

47,500 miles · Jan 10, 2019
Seats

THE DRIVER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT IS OVER HEATING CAUSING EXTREME HEAT AND BEGINNING TO BURN THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #11166270

30,000 miles · Dec 5, 2018
Seats

2011 FORD TAURUS FRONT DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT SUDDENLY WAS SO HOT THAT IT HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO PREVENT FROM GETTING BURNED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THE CAR MENTIONED ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND I CONTACTED FORD, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. THE EXTEN…

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2011 FORD TAURUS FRONT DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT SUDDENLY WAS SO HOT THAT IT HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO PREVENT FROM GETTING BURNED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. THE CAR MENTIONED ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND I CONTACTED FORD, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AGO AND FORD DOES NOT CARE. I AM WONDERING IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE HEATED SEATS, BEFORE IT CAUSES AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE GETS BURNED FROM THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #11156394

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

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2018
Air BagsExterior Lighting

MY AIR BAG LIGHT OFTEN COMES ON AND OFF. BUT THE FORD PLACE SAID IT'S NO RECALL ON MY CAR. ALSO MY DASH BOARD LIGHT FLICKERS OFF FROM BRIGHT TO DIM WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STILL.

NHTSA ODI #11151668

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.