2011 Ford Taurus Reliability
The 2011 Ford Taurus has 187 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Taurus model years (2009–2013), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Taurus's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
187
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
14
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Ford Taurus complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2010 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 47 | 25% |
| Engine | 40 | 21% |
| Steering | 25 | 13% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 18 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 15 | 8% |
| Speed control / throttle | 14 | 7% |
| Exterior lighting | 14 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 7% |
2011 Ford Taurus recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V285000 | May 29, 2014 | Exterior lighting | 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,… |
| 15V040000 | Jan 28, 2015 | Body 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… |
| 15V340000 | Jun 2, 2015 | 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… |
| 16V247000 | Apr 26, 2016 | 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… |
How the 2011 compares with nearby Taurus years
Verdicts compare these Taurus model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 64 | 0 | Engine & cooling | Solid |
| 2010 | 204 | 3 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2011 (this page) | 187 | 4 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2012 | 79 | 5 | Steering | Caution |
| 2013 | 591 | 9 | Steering | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2011 Ford Taurus
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 Ford Taurus can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2011 Ford Taurus reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Ford Taurus reliable?
The 2011 Ford Taurus has 187 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Taurus model years (2009–2013), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Taurus's typical year, while the 2009 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2011 Ford Taurus problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Taurus are electrical system (47), engine (40), steering (25), powertrain / transmission (18). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Ford Taurus have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2011 Ford Taurus, including 14V285000 (exterior lighting) and 15V040000 (body structure — body / door). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Ford Taurus compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 204 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid); the 2012 has 79 complaints and 5 recalls (caution). The 2011 has 187 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 Ford Taurus?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Taurus research
Other Ford Taurus model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 Taurus, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.