repaired · 2017 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
2011 Ford TaurusProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 187 owner complaints about the 2011 Ford Taurus, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-040 the manufacturer reports only 52% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 15, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Ford Taurus has problems
187 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
47Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
40Engine2 crash/fire/injury
25Steering1 crash/fire/injury
18Power train2 crash/fire/injury
14Vehicle speed control
14Exterior lighting
12Service brakes
12Structure
9Engine and engine cooling
4313 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 47 | 4 |
| Engine | 40 | 2 |
| Steering | 25 | 1 |
| Power train | 18 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 14 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 12 | 0 |
| Structure | 12 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 43 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2011 Ford Taurus recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q4
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.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Body: 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.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Exterior lighting
Risk. This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
47kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 32 electrical system complaints. 84% were reported before 100,000 miles.
13under 30k miles27under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other Taurus year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Taurus median. How we score
1012553335623816496811,5579231,2058257705458741,1951,0371,4261,223375774318149175642041877958523028689445218
'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Ford Taurus safety ratings
2011 Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Taurus owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
2011 Ford Taurus Limited 37'000 miles Original owner Like New Condition. Engine and all systems working perfectly no check engine or other lights showing. I was driving on city street about 25mph and with no warning engine and dash all shut down I had no crank and no dash lights at all. while I…
After my battery died, my 2011 Ford Taurus defaulted my only working key to a ‘MyKey’ with volume limits, seatbelt mutes, and other safety limitations. I cannot undo it without spending over $200 to fix an issue caused by your faulty system design. This creates a safety issue and financial burden…
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while turning off the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from under the hood. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated there was a fuel burning odor coming from the interior and exterior of the…
Own a 2011 Taurus?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.