2011 Ford Taurus Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Taurus most often write about electrical and steering problems: electric power steering assist that quits and leaves the wheel hard to turn, and intermittent glitches with the instrument cluster, climate controls and radio. Engine complaints cluster around internal coolant leaks that contaminate the oil, reported mostly from about 80,000 miles up. A smaller but recurring group involves unintended acceleration or throttle bodies that fail and leave the car in limp mode.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist quits (hard steering)

   • 17 complaints (9%)
   • median 101,400 mi at 8.1 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2025

   Owners describe the wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes with a 'power steering assist fault' message and sometimes with no warning at all. Several report it at highway speed or in traffic, and some say it returned after a restart and then came back. Dealers diagnosed failed electric power steering motors or steering racks, and several owners say they were told their VIN was not covered by the steering recall even though the symptom matched. Reported from roughly 30,000 to nearly 200,000 miles, with many complaints above 90,000 miles.

   Recall 15V3400001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the 15V340000 steering recall was performed and whether the steering rack or assist motor has been replaced; on a test drive, watch for the assist fault message and any heaviness in the wheel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my car used a few months ago. Driving down the road and my steering wheel locked up. I couldn't turn the wheel. I could have been in a serious accident. My check engine light came o. It did this two or three times. I'm afraid to drive it anymore.”

   NHTSA complaint #11386141, filed 2021-01, 161,000 miles

   “This car has a steering recall on it. The recall was fixed and closed out three years ago. The same issue is coming up and it is saying faulty steering on the screen and I lose power steering. I spoke to the dealership and she said in the seven years she has been there she has not seen an issue like this happen again on a vehicle but when I googled about it I saw tons of complaints about people getting the steering recall 'fixed' in their Ford and then the same issue popping up again and the customer forced to pay the money for it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11351508, filed 2020-08, 103,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Internal water pump leaks coolant into engine oil

   • 26 complaints (14%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe overheating, loss of heat, or a stall, after which a mechanic finds coolant mixed with the engine oil. Owners say they were told the internal water pump failed and that the engine needed replacement because of the damage; a few report the problem returning after an engine swap. Some complaints mention a snapped timing chain or broken connecting rods as a result. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 130,000 miles, with some earlier and later.

   What to check: Have a mechanic check for coolant contamination in the oil and for coolant loss with no visible external leak; ask whether the water pump or engine has been replaced and keep an eye on the coolant level.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had a internal water pump failure filling the engine with coolant. This resulted in a engine hydro lock condition (luckily I was able limp a very rough running car in the emergency lane at 15mph to a nearby exit). Happened friday evening feb 3rd 2017 on a cold 27 degree evening. I was stranded north of nashville, tn on i65. This is a very very bad design flaw. I am mechanically inclined and most cars have external water pumps -- except this one. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10949901, filed 2017-02, 88,000 miles

   “While driving the car we lost heat and the car overheated. We stopped the car to ensure it would not be damaged and let it cool off. We were close enough to home to bring the car there. We brought the car to local mechanic who showed me there was coolant in the oil. I asked how could this happen? Is there are crack in the block or the heads? He informed me that this model of engine has water pump failures that leak coolant into the oil. Because of the damage that this causes it would require a new motor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11093655, filed 2018-05, 129,066 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration and throttle body faults

   • 29 complaints (16%)
   • median 26,476 mi at 4.5 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2025

   Complaints describe the car revving or surging on its own, sometimes from a stop or while shifting into drive, and sometimes idling up to very high RPM. Others describe the opposite: the accelerator does nothing, or the car stalls and the wrench or check engine light comes on. Owners say dealers replaced throttle bodies and that the problem sometimes came back. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 70,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or PCM has been replaced or reprogrammed, and have a scan tool check for stored throttle and pedal codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 safety issue that could possible kill someone or even get me killed while driving the vehicle (which I don't). Right now it's at the dealer and had to be towed away since the vehicle couldn't be moved.”

   NHTSA complaint #10882460, filed 2016-07, 70,652 miles

   “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. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,467.”

   NHTSA complaint #10876086, filed 2016-06, 70,467 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Rear lights burning out and melting sockets

   • 8 complaints (4%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Owners report tail, brake and license plate bulbs failing repeatedly, in one case monthly, and one owner found a burned socket and melted bulb base when replacing a brake light. Another owner was told by a dealer the car was not covered by the exterior lighting recall despite matching symptoms; others mention dim low beams. Reported from very low mileage up to about 145,000 miles.

   Recall 14V285000

   What to check: Check all rear bulbs and inspect the sockets for discoloration or melted plastic, and confirm whether this vehicle was sold or registered in a state covered by the lighting recall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The plate light keeps burning out. It happens every month. Found a recall reference # 14v285000. Dealer says my vehicle is not covered by this recall. I am having the exact same problem. Why am I not covered.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375570, filed 2020-11, 145,525 miles

   “While replacing what appeared to be a burned out brake light on the right rear, further inspection revealed the problem was a burned socket and melted plastic bulb base. The bulb was destroyed during attempts to remove it and the plastic base had to be forcibly removed with pliers. It is unknown at this time if a new bulb will even work.”

   NHTSA complaint #10871471, filed 2016-05, 90,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster, climate and radio cut out

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the center stack going dark or shutting off at random, with climate control and radio power lost while the dash cycles through warning messages and turn signals stop working. Others describe the HVAC blower running intermittently or the heater sticking on high with the dash controls unresponsive. Complaints also mention a smart junction box and A/C compressor replaced out of pocket. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 25,000 to over 105,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Cycle the climate controls, blower speeds and radio during a test drive and ask whether the blower motor or control module has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 and safe my receipts. Ac compressed died paid 1,000, smart junction box needed to be replaced and paid 500 to replace part that circulates inside air. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11307973, filed 2020-02, 58,300 miles

   “Heater is stuck on high heat blowing out the defrost, I'm unable to use any of the controls on the dash including climate control, radio, this is a serious issue. It's hazardous for for adults to be in this vehicle in the summer and extremely hazardous for children and infants with the amount of heat that is pouring out of the climate control ducting.”

   NHTSA complaint #11408290, filed 2021-04, 25,000 miles

Buying note. A 2011 Taurus is worth a careful pre-purchase inspection: confirm the steering recall work was done, have the oil checked for coolant and the underside checked for leaks, and scan for throttle and cluster-related codes. Service records showing water pump or engine work, and receipts for electrical repairs, are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.