2011 Ford Taurus Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 18about this part
- Share
- 10%of 187 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 18 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Ford Taurus, 10% of the 187 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Transmission slips out of gear while driving and sometimes while stopped. Rear backup camera comes on while driving forward at highway speeds. Ford has issued TSB but my dealer was unaware of it and did not repair until I took them a copy of the TSB 10-21-2. Very dangerous especially when pulling out into traffic. Somebody is going to get hurt. I found info on TSB through owner message boards so it's not an isolated problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10445856, filed 2012-01, 18,000 miles“My Ford Taurus has awd. Today, I was informed that the power transfer unit (ptu) is leaking badly and must be replaced. The total cost estimate is $1700 including parts and labor. According to the dealer and confirmed by owner comments on the web, the ptu may need to be replaced after 80000 miles. If it is not repaired the unit will fail and the car will lockup and have to be towed to a mechanic for repair. The ptu is only used on vehicles with awd. My Taurus has 82500 miles on it. Needless to say, this is a defect. …”
NHTSA complaint #10971676, filed 2017-04, 82,500 miles“I was driving on the n.j. Tpke. At highway speed. I accidentally hit the push button start button. The engine shut off and the dash said shift into park. I could not restart the car until I came to a stop, shifted into park, but my foot on the brake and pushed the button. You can't open the trunk without the transmission being in park, yet you can shut everything down just by accidentally touching this button. Not safe.”
NHTSA complaint #10402229, filed 2011-05, 5,800 miles“I have 2 problems with acceleration. One is from a stop. The car doesn't accelerate for a second or two when stepping on gas. This has happened a couple times. Second problem happened at highway speed. This problem has happened only once so far. Was merging on to highway so I accelerated, then let quickly let off the gas to check traffic in another lane to pass a car, then accelerated again to pass car. Due to the amount of traffic merging in and out, it happened very quickly. …”
NHTSA complaint #10409910, filed 2011-06, 1,500 miles“I purchased a new 2011 Taurus sel a couple of years ago. One day while driving into a parking lot, the car accelerated full speed on its own head on into a wall and was severely damaged ($11,000+ in damages - the driver airbag deployed but I was not injured). The insurance company did not total the car and it was repaired. The cause for the unintended acceleration was never determined. This past weekend my brother was driving the car and almost got involved in a similar incident. He was stopped at a red light in the Taurus. …”
NHTSA complaint #10521381, filed 2013-06, 11,663 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10160931May 10, 2019On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with Motorcraft Multi-Purpose Grease Spray XL-5-A even if grease was…
- 10127405Nov 2, 2017Some vehicles may exhibit a no start condition with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and a DTC P161A after PCM replacement. This may be due to the parameter reset…
- 10095858Feb 27, 2017Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive (awd) and built on or before 30-jun-2016 may exhibit a…
- 10058460May 1, 2015Lincoln/ford: an overhaul transmission motorcraft kit, available for some vehicles, contains an incorrect valve bode separator plate and would need to discard 7z490 part and use…
- 10056711Aug 26, 2014Ford/lincoln: there is an extended warranty coverage for the loss of abs speed signal related communication that disable obdii system monitors for pcm reprogramming. Model…
- 10053274May 27, 2013Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, transmission 5th gear start at stop, speed control drops or inoperative, backup camera on in drive, 5th gear start from stop and transmission…
- 10039121May 10, 2011Ford: there may be a sluggish acceleration or hesitation feeling when rolling to a stop. This will be followed by a harsh bump.
- 10039053Mar 1, 2011Ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration.
- 10039072Jan 1, 2011Ford: there may be a loss of power, hesitation, surge, or lack of throttle response while driving. The brake over accelerator feature may be activating.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 | 13% |
| 2017 | 1 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3% |
| 2015 | 18 | 6% |
| 2014 | 12 | 5% |
| 2013 | 44 | 8% |
| 2012 | 2 | 3% |
| 2011 | 18 | 10% |
| 2010 | 36 | 18% |
| 2009 | 5 | 8% |
| 2008 | 44 | 25% |
| 2007 | 16 | 11% |
| 2006 | 32 | 10% |
| 2005 | 123 | 16% |
| 2004 | 72 | 19% |
| 2003 | 316 | 26% |
| 2002 | 39 | 3% |
| 2001 | 58 | 6% |
| 2000 | 99 | 8% |
| 1999 | 91 | 10% |
| 1998 | 69 | 13% |
| 1997 | 214 | 28% |
| 1996 | 182 | 22% |
| 1995 | 394 | 33% |
| 1994 | 269 | 29% |
| 1993 | 174 | 11% |
| 1992 | 105 | 15% |
| 1991 | 260 | 40% |
| 1990 | 42 | 11% |
| 1989 | 52 | 9% |
| 1988 | 37 | 11% |
| 1987 | 29 | 11% |
| 1986 | 19 | 19% |
Other parts of the 2011 Ford Taurus
47 complaintsEngine
40 complaintsSteering
25 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 29, 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