CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2011 Ford Taurus

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

187

Complaints

14

Crashes

2

Fires

15

Injuries

1

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Ford Taurus have filed 187 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2010 and December 2025. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 47 of them (25%). The typical failure was reported at 63,500 miles, the median across the 142 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

16V247000 · April 26, 2016

The defect
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."
The risk
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 695 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

15V340000 · June 2, 2015

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 393,623 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

15V040000 · January 28, 2015

The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 194,889 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

14V285000 · May 29, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.

Ford Motor Company · up to 183,425 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 187.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 47 25%
ENGINE 40 21%
STEERING 25 13%
POWER TRAIN 18 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15 8%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 14 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 12 6%
STRUCTURE 12 6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9 5%
AIR BAGS 8 4%
SEATS 6 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2015 at 25.

2010 2015 2025
2010 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 death · 1 injured · crash · towed

Car went from park position to reverse jumped gear?

NHTSA complaint 11564615. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · 87,000 miles

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 2011 FORD TARUS AND GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND MY FAMILY WAS WITH HER. THE COMPLETE AIR BAGS SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN HEAD INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND KNEE AND ELBOW INJURY TO MY DAUGHTER AND KNEE INJURY TO MY AUNT. THIS 2011 FORD TARUS IS A LEMON AND MY FAMILY COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED IN THIS DEATH TRAP. THE VEHICLE IS NOW TOTALED AND IS BEING HELD BY THE EASTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPOUND LOT WAITING FOR GEICO INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTION ADJUSTER. I AWAIT TO GET ME ANOTHER CAR FROM THE DEALER AND HAVE HIRED AN ATTORNEY TO INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS MATTER BECAUSE WHAT ABOUT IF MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE GOT KILLED IN THIS SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint 10748615. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · 88,018 miles

ATTENTION [XXX]; ON AUGUST 13, 2015 MY WIFE WENT FOR A DRIVE INTO TOWN IN MY 2011 FORD TAURUS: VIN NUMBER: [XXX]: COLOR: SILVER GRAY: 4 DOOR. AS SHE SAT AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING AT HIGH SPEED CRASHED RIGHT INTO THE FRONT END DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS IN MY 2011 FORD TAURUS VIN NUMBER: [XXX] FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES TO THE PASSENGERS THAT WERE WITH MY WIFE; MY DAUGHTER , MY AUNT AND MY UNCLE, WHO ALL WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT CLEAR VIEW. MY GEICO INSURANCE ADJUSTER [XXX] ESTIMATED THE DAMAGE TOTAL LOSS OF MY 2011 FORD TAURUS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND RECORDED ON RECORD THAT THE AIR BAGS IN MY VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY MAKING THIS VEHICLE A LEMON UNDER PA LEMON LAW. MY FAMILY

NHTSA complaint 10749021, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

2 injured · 32,000 miles

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 UNSAFE, AND HAS CAUSED BOTH PERSONAL INJURY AND DAMAGE TO THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint 10726422. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash · towed

I hit a dirt embankment the seatbelts did not lock and I ended up smashing my head off of my steering wheel and my passenger ended up smashing their head off of my dashboard.

NHTSA complaint 11704995. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear view backup camera visual is located in my rearview mirror it is just a blue screen whenever I put the car in reverse it just one day stopped working I've been waiting for it to be on the recall list and for some reason this year a 2011 is not on the recall list but it should be

NHTSA complaint 11695639. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Last June I noticed the car constantly shaking. Took it to Goodyear plaza tire in Alexandria mn and they said they didn't find anything wrong and it's normal to have tires feel like they are shaking while driving. The tires are 255/45R19 Then in July of 2025, I wanted a tire rotation and wheels balanced. The mechanic says they can't because the tread is almost gone and I'd have 5000 left before I could get new tires. About 2000 miles later I noticed the tread separating from the wires on 3 of the 4 tires. They have been kept properly inflated and rotated every 5000 to 6000 miles. Usually every other oil change. Again I was told it's normal since the tires mostly last 30,000 miles and is

NHTSA complaint 11689907, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Driving on access rd. Car stalled in middle of traffic. Glad I was not driving on highway. Lucky several drivers helped push car into a gas station. Saw water leak under car. There were no codes or indicators of over heating. Let car cool off. Noticed water in coolant reservoir. still was able to add 1 gal and half of water. Car turned on, drove it home which is about 3 miles. Water leak near the oil pan and block. After a long cooling period, noticed 3 hairline cracks on the bottom part of block. Cracked block Checked oil and noticed the oil was real thin and milky. Signs of water pump failure. Car is sitting on driveway. Only option is to replace the 156k miles engine. Cost is very

NHTSA complaint 11688951, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 waited for tow truck dash lights did come on and anti theft light was flashing very fast. If I had been driving on Interstate 80 I may have been killed with all the Semi's that are always there. This happened August 7th 2025 It has been at the FORD dealership by my house for 25 work days and all they have done is checked the computer and said no power so replaced comp with rebuilt one and still no

NHTSA complaint 11687134, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS
The inside rear view mirror camera only works on occasion.

NHTSA complaint 11686333. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Taurus

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 12 2
2018 46 4
2017 44 4
2016 79 4
2015 265 6
2014 228 5
2013 581 9
2012 78 5
2010 204 3 2

Other 2011 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst