The Lemon Index2011 Ford Taurus.
The 2011 Ford Taurus is better than average by owner complaints: 54 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 69, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 20 to 22 mpg combined. The best Ford Taurus year is 2004.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 187 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Taurus year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 20K to 100K miles on the car (142 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 7K–82K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 29K–105K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 69K–153K miles
Recalls 4
- airbags 2016
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
- steering 2015
The affected vehicles have electric power steering assist systems that may shut down as a result of a steering motor sensor fault.
- body structure 2015
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.
Show all 4 recalls
- lights 2014
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 49 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, when accelerating from stop or shifting between drive/reverse…
- Ford/lincoln: on some vehicles, transmission 5th gear start at stop, speed control drops or…
- Lincoln/ford: an overhaul transmission motorcraft kit, available for some vehicles, contains…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Taurus 4 DR AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Taurus 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
All electrical components of the vehicle shut down without any warning and braking was limited. The only thing that remained on was the engine.
2011 Ford Taurus owner · NHTSA complaint 10418484
More owner reports
The transmission will jump into the next gear with a shudder at about 35mph.
NHTSA complaint 10457421
Dash lights go dim for about 15 min then go bright again dealer can't find anything wrong
NHTSA complaint 10550769
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Ford Taurus reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 69; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Taurus year by this measure since 2010 is 2018.
What are the most common 2011 Ford Taurus problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (22%), transmission & drivetrain (20%) and lights (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Taurus have?
4 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford Taurus get?
20 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Ford Taurus safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Taurus problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,000 and 100,000 miles. The middle report was at 63,500 miles, from 142 complaints.
Does the 2011 Ford Taurus have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 20% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Ford Taurus cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Ford Taurus have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Ford Taurus year is better than the 2011?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works