2011 Ford Taurus Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#4 most-complained of 10 Taurus years
The 2011 Ford Taurus has 187 NHTSA complaints, a Complaint Index of 67, and ranks 4th worst of 10 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Electrical System (33% of complaints) and Engine (30%) are the top problem areas, with 4 recalls on file.
- Complaints
- 187
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 14 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 15 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 17.5 city / 25.5 hwy
Top 2011 Ford Taurus problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System61 (33%)
- Engine56 (30%)
- Steering25 (13%)
- Structure & Body18 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain18 (10%)
- Brakes17 (9%)
- Other15 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (6%)
- Airbags8 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers4 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the transmission or engine unexpectedly lurching or accelerating when shifting from park into drive, sometimes ending in a crash.
- Some owners describe an oil leak reaching the turbocharger that led the engine bay to catch fire.
- Headlights reported as misaligned, aiming away from the road and reducing visibility at night.
- Airbags failing to deploy during frontal or head-on collisions, in some cases while other airbags did fire.
- Heated seats overheating and burning through the seat leather and clothing, causing skin burns.
- Steering reported as locking or resisting driver input during a turn, causing loss of control.
2011 Ford Taurus recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V247000Apr 26, 2016Airbags695 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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."
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 15V340000Jun 2, 2015Steering393,623 vehicles
Steering:electric power assist system
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.
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.
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.
- NHTSA 15V040000Jan 28, 2015Structure & Body194,889 vehicles
Structure:body:door
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.
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.
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.
2011 Ford Taurus fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17.5 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2011 compared with other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Ford Taurus reliable?
- NHTSA lists 187 complaints for the 2011 Taurus with a Complaint Index of 67, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Taurus model years. It ranks 4th worst out of 10 years covered.
- What are the biggest problems on the 2011 Ford Taurus?
- Electrical System issues make up 33% of complaints and Engine issues make up 30%, based on NHTSA data. Steering (13%) and Structure & Body (10%) follow behind.
- Does the 2011 Ford Taurus have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls covering Airbags, Steering, Structure & Body, and Electrical System components. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2011 Taurus compare to other model years?
- The 2011 Taurus's Complaint Index of 67 is better than 2010 (89) and 2013 (100), both rated Avoid, but worse than 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, which rate Good or Best.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Ford Taurus?
- EPA rates the 2011 Taurus at 20.5 mpg combined (17.5 city / 25.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.