Is the 2011 Ford Taurus a bad year?
187 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 47, 2.9× a quiet Taurus year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.9× the complaints of a quiet Taurus year, spread over 20k–102k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 Taurus owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 71,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 47 (25%) | 10k–82k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 47 (25%) | 20k–102k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 25 (13%) | 70k–144k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exterior lighting | 14 (7%) | 1k–84k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 18 (10%) | 8k–69k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 14 (7%) | 10k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 13 (7%) | 10k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 12 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 71,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 187 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 10 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Hello good morning I have a 2011 Ford taurus sel and while going up a hill my car shut off while my keys were still in the ignition.
I was driving home from work, traveling uphill when my 2011 taurus sho sputtered and quickly lost power for more than 5 sec.
Just hours after routine oil and filter change, I pulled out onto the highway, accelerating to access the roadway at a reasonable speed of traffic.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 71,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Ford Taurus: 4
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault. 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.
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. 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.
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. This corrosion may result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 45
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Ford Taurus. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an oil leak from the turbocharger oil supply or return tubes, O-rings or 6.7L pedestal gasket
On 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…
Some vehicles may exhibit a no start condition with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and a DTC P161A after PCM replacement
Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive…
Neighbouring years
2010 Taurus: 203 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2012 Taurus: 79 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Taurus year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Taurus years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2011 Ford Taurus a bad year?
187 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 47, 2.9× a quiet Taurus year. At 71,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.9× the complaints of a quiet Taurus year, spread over 20k–102k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Taurus?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (47), engine (47), steering (25), exterior lighting (14), transmission and drivetrain (18). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 20k–102k miles.
How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Taurus have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 16V-247), Steering (NHTSA 15V-340), Body structure (NHTSA 15V-040), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 14V-285). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.