2011 Ford Taurus Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 40about this part
- Share
- 21%of 187 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,950miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 40 complaints about the engine of the 2011 Ford Taurus, 21% of the 187 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,950 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“My Taurus just died on me, it overheated and I was stuck in the middle of traffic. I was only a few blocks from my home so I let the car cool as the manual says to do and then started it again. Got to my house shut it off and then find out that from driving the car it caused the antifreeze to mix with the oil and now I have a bad engine. This all because they put a water pump in an engine. Knowing this they tell you in the manual you can drive the car when it's cooled and put water in it if needed. This will ruin your engine!”
NHTSA complaint #11098129, filed 2018-05, 105,000 miles“The car shuts off while I am driving. There is no power steering and no nothing. Each time I have been able to get off the road and each time the car starts right back up no problems but I am afraid of what may happen the next time. This has happened at different speeds and different times of the year.the first few times I took it to the dealership they said they could not find a problem. This last time they gave me a loaner car to drive while they take a deeper look into the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10676562, filed 2015-01, 52,801 miles“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“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. Not just the Taurus, but all 3.5 (and 3.7) motors have a internal water pump design; driven off the overhead cam chain. …”
NHTSA complaint #10949901, filed 2017-02, 88,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10159494Apr 26, 2019SSM 47948 - 2010-2019 Various Vehicles - Turbocharged Engines - Oil Supply Filter Replacement When Replacing The Turbocharger Or The Turbocharger Oil Supply Tube For 2010-2019…
- 10109070Sep 21, 2016The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to…
- 10056147May 30, 2014Ford/lincoln: some vehicles, with aluminum valve cover, will experience an excessive condition of smoking engine oil and/or consumption of oil, from tail pipe, during normal…
- 10053459Jun 1, 2013Ford/lincoln: long block engines shipped with cam sensors, crank sensor, crank sensor tone wheel, coolant inlet tube, the components must be swapped over engine being replaced to…
- 10044230Mar 1, 2012Ford/mercury/lincoln: some vehicles exhibit a cold weather phenomenon where fluid has expelled out of vent on rear drive units (rdu) and fluid, on occasion, would burp out.
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 6% |
| 2018 | 3 | 6% |
| 2017 | 4 | 9% |
| 2016 | 12 | 14% |
| 2015 | 33 | 12% |
| 2014 | 16 | 7% |
| 2013 | 70 | 12% |
| 2012 | 11 | 14% |
| 2011 | 40 | 21% |
| 2010 | 37 | 18% |
| 2009 | 6 | 9% |
| 2008 | 20 | 11% |
| 2007 | 7 | 5% |
| 2006 | 24 | 8% |
| 2005 | 68 | 9% |
| 2004 | 25 | 7% |
| 2003 | 23 | 2% |
| 2002 | 9 | 1% |
| 2001 | 6 | 1% |
| 2000 | 5 | 0% |
| 1999 | 2 | 0% |
| 1998 | 2 | 0% |
| 1997 | 5 | 1% |
| 1996 | 2 | 0% |
| 1995 | 3 | 0% |
| 1994 | 2 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2011 Ford Taurus
47 complaintsSteering
25 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsOther or unknown
15 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsSeats
6 complaintsSuspension
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology