KnownCarProblems2011 Ford Taurus Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 187 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Taurus, most often about the electrical (25% of complaints, typically around 39,500 miles). It is 12th of 20 Taurus model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2011 Ford Taurus problems
Electrical
47 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
I own a 2011 Ford Taurus with heated leather seats. The heating mechanism began to get hotter in spots on the back of the seat on my drive into work. I begin to feel a burning sensation on my skin as well as a burning smell in the car. I originally thought it was in the heating vents, after turning off the car and…
My mother was driving down the road, and turned on the seat heater. After several minutes the seat heater overheated and burned the backs of her legs. Several days later my father turned it on, it burned through several layers of his winter clothes and left a burn mark on the leather seat. This condition is extremely…
Engine
47 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle vibrated, stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle body failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred.…
Had throttle related issues that were supposedly "repaired" at the dealer which are still present. The vehicle accelerates by itself and shows a wrench icon on the dashboard with a check engine light on. If the vehicle is put on drive it moves by itself as if one were pressing on the gas pedal. This is a possible…
Steering
25 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles.
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, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the steering pump and the steering gear needed to be replaced. The manufacturer…
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…
Transmission
18 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. While stopped on an incline, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle did not accelerate. The traction warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was shifted into reverse and a loud noise came from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that after turning off and exiting the vehicle, it rolled away and came to a stop on its own. The contact noticed that the vehicle had erroneously shifted into reverse. The dealer stated that the vehicle performed as designed. The vehicle was not repaired and the…
Other or unspecified
15 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles.
This is a recall complaint. There was a safety recall on the driver's side door handle at the end of march 2015. Took the car in and was told they had the parts and car would be ready at day's end. When I went back, they said they couldn't get the part and auto would be ready on monday. On monday they still didn't…
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…
Lights
14 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, tail lights.
We bought the car used august 2013. We took it back for driving lights to be checked. We hadn't driven at night until recently and the bright lights seem like dim lights. The dim lights appear to have a shadow inside or over them. The lights do not show very much of the road ahead. We changed the bulbs thinking they…
The wiring harness for the rear license plate is corroded and needing to be replaced. Dealer states that this VIN is not part of the recall that Ford previously had as it relates to the rear license plate wiring. Was noticed on a regular service call at 83,000 miles that the lights were inoperable. After changing the…
Speed control
14 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 15,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, throttle.
Taurus has 15,000 miles and has started to surge forward at very slow speed and with brake on. It has done it 4 times now, one was when I was turning into my driveway with my foot on brake it surged . Just now at the grocery store going very slow towards a parking spot it really launched forward my foot was on the…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to lose power abnormally. The contact depressed the accelerator while attempting a turn and the vehicle accelerated abnormally slow. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure, who advised that…
Brakes
13 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, the brake pedal was difficult to be depressed. The contact had to apply force to the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake booster needed to be…
The rear window shade pops up and down when I put the car in reverse. Also the brakes roar when the brake is depressed hard. I've read a lot of complaints on the window shade. This appears to be a bad option that's put on a Ford.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Ford Taurus recalls
Air bags: frontal
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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."
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Body and structure: door
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2011 Ford Taurus
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Taurus?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (47 complaints, typically around 39,500 miles); engine (47 complaints, typically around 70,500 miles); steering (25 complaints, typically around 99,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Taurus have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 26, 2016 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Ford Taurus?
- It is 12th of 20 Taurus model years by number of complaints, with 187 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.