2011 Ford Taurus Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 199,000.

NHTSA ID

11675109

Incident

Jul 21, 2025

Mileage

199,000 mi

While driving down the road, a loud humming started to get loud from the front of my car. Then loud clunking/dragging noises. My car started to slow down and the noises got louder. I had to turn on my hazards and slowly drive back home block by block. There is nothing visibly dragging. But I now have to get my car towed from home as it’s not safe to drive. This isn’t the first time this car has had issues with the steering hub, suspension, tie rods, ball joints, control arms, sway bar, etc. I have had to fix and replace that entire area a multitude of times since I’ve had this car.

NHTSA ID

11661825

Incident

May 19, 2025

Had several wheel alignments car would read straight but is not straight I have all new front extension work done my car is still going out of control going into different lanes while I’m going g straight I took it to the ford dealership they can’t even find the problem

NHTSA ID

11602760

Incident

Jul 16, 2024

This Sunday, the electrical power steering started acting weird as I was driving home, the steering did some unpredictable stops as I was driving 100km/h and had to take a turn on the road. Almost got into an accident because of that steering sudden failure. I can't imagine if there have been a car on the opposite lane I was gonna hit that car... I got so afraid I can't believe the steering can actually malfunction all of a sudden like this. I somehow got back home ''safe'' but then steering was dead. Impossible to steer. Dead. Got my taurus 2011 SHO towed to the closest Ford dealer so that they finally call me and say my VIN number is not on the recall even tho there were thousands of Taurus 2011-2013 recalled for that same issue.

NHTSA ID

11559881

Incident

Dec 10, 2023

Hello I just bought this car and started experiencing steering problems, it gets very stiff while driving and trying to turn. I was told by a mechanic that this is a recall for my car and I need further help in getting this fixed especially since winter is right around the corner.

NHTSA ID

11548346

Incident

Oct 3, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel inadvertently drifted to the left and the right. The electric power steering assist warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a message was displayed on the instrument panel indication that the cruise control system had failed, and the Forward Collision Avoidance system was inoperable. The contact veered off the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact restarted the vehicle and started driving however, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was then informed that he would be transferred to the recall center but was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11523462

Incident

May 23, 2023

Mileage

90,000 mi

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering failed to operate as the power steering assist fault warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact was initially able to restart the vehicle and resume normal driving after the failure; however, the failure returned the next day. The contact had to use excessive force when driving the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with an electrical power steering failure. The contact was informed that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). The repair was paid for out of pocket. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was 172,395.

NHTSA ID

11443612

Incident

Nov 27, 2021

Mileage

172,395 mi

WHEN DRIVING CAR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING CAUSING CAR TO HAVE EXTREMELY HARD STEERING. NO WARNING SIGNS OF BREAKDOWN, JUST QUIT CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY. FORD SAYS EPAS MOTOR IS BAD AND SAYS IT'S NOT A RECALL, BUT IT WAS.

NHTSA ID

11387845

Incident

Jan 11, 2021

Mileage

140,000 mi

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 ID

11386141

Incident

Dec 23, 2020

Mileage

161,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO STRAIGHT. TURNING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT USEABLE.1010

NHTSA ID

11364838

Incident

Oct 14, 2020

Mileage

158,000 mi

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. IF MY STEERING GOES OUT I COULD BE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ESP SINCE I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AND CHILDREN IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11351508

Incident

Aug 17, 2020

Mileage

103,000 mi

I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 MONTHS ALREADY. I PULLED OUT OF MY HOUSE, DROVE THRU MY STREET AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP IN A INTERSECTION MY CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY AND THE WHEEL BECAME HARD AND WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN IT OR PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE LIGHT AND BATTERY ALERT LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO IT ALERTED ME I WAS LOW ON GAS WITCH I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327867

Incident

Jun 8, 2020

Mileage

88,522 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. IN ADDITION, THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LONG LEWIS FORD (2551 JOHN HAWKINS PKWY, HOOVER, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11281401

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE EXITING THE DRIVEWAY AT A LOW SPEED, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MOTOR COMPANY (LOCATED AT W 1680 US-41, MARINETTE, WI 54143, (715) 735-7474) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-16452991. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID

11154014

Incident

Nov 25, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JUNGE FORD NORTH LIBERTY (525 MADISON AVE, NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317, 319-626-9500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP AND THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,400. *TT *JS

NHTSA ID

11105396

Incident

Jun 22, 2018

Mileage

101,400 mi

STARTING MY MORNING COMMUTE MY VEHICLES "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" SENSOR/WARNING TRIGGERED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN. I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TWICE THEN IT WENT AWAY AND POWER STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. RESEARCHING THIS FURTHER I FOUND THAT MY CAR PRESENTED THE SAME SYMPTOMS/ISSUES AS SAFETY RECALL 15S18 FOR FORD VEHICLES ISSUED IN 2015 AND 2016. WHEN CALLING FORD CUSTOMER CARE THEY STATED MY CAR'S VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY COULDN'T BE OF HELP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY NOTED CODES U3000-49 AND U3000-72 WERE TRIGGERED. THESE CODES ARE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE SAFETY RECALL AND THE CAR'S STEERING GEAR SHOULD BE REPLACED PER THE RECALL; HOWEVER AGAIN MY VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL, BUT PRESENTS THE SAME CODES AND SAFETY ISSUES. I WILL TRY CONTACTING FORD AGAIN, BUT IN THE END I WOULD LIKE FORD TO COVER THE FULL REPLACEMENT COST AS INSTRUCTED IN THE SAFETY RECALL, AS THIS IS A DOCUMENTED SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING TO MY FAMILY AND I. ANY HELP FROM YOU WOULD BE APPRECIATED IN THIS MATTER WITH GETTING FORD TO COVER THE FULL REPLACEMENT COST.

NHTSA ID

11090038

Incident

Apr 24, 2018

Mileage

137,000 mi

STEERING STIFFENED WHILST DRIVING, BRAKE PEDDLE WAS STIFF ON APPLICATION.

NHTSA ID

11015645

Incident

Aug 16, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

POWER STEERING. WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHEN TURNING. SITTING AND DRIVING THERE IS NO POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID

10980387

Incident

Apr 21, 2017

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS HEADED SOUTH DOWN A CITY STREET CAME UP TO MY RIGHT TURN ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET. AFTER I MADE THE TURN WHEN I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL OUT THE RIGHT ONE CUT STRAIGHT TO THE RIGHT I WAS FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT WOULD NOT LET ME TURN IT. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO TURN INTO A PARKED CAR THAT WAS ON A PARKING LOT FOR SALE AND IT ENDED UP DAMAGING 3 CARS PLUS MINE TOTAL. I DID NOT RECEIVE A TICKET BECAUSE THE OFFICER STATED THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION ON THE CAR'S STEERING. I JUST KNOW THAT SOMETHING CAUSED THE TIRE TO TURN AND I COULD NOT TURN IT BACK. I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE CAUSE IT WAS SCARY SCARY. THANK YOU,

NHTSA ID

10980118

Incident

Apr 21, 2017

Mileage

35,250 mi

POWER STEERING FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NOW THERE IS NO STEERING AT ALL. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH REGULAR TAURUS SE SEL, BUT THIS IS THE TAURUS SHO. NO RECALL ON THE SHO. FORD BLAMES THIS ON MANY THREE THINGS ELECTRICAL FAILURE, THE REAL CAUSE IS POOR ENGINEERING BY FORD, THIS STEERING RACK WITH ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS, ARE THREE INCHES AWAY FROM TURBOS AND CATALITC CONVERTERS,EXTREME HEAT FROM THESE COMPONETS HAS CAUSED THEM TO FAIL.THE HEAT PRODUCED FROM THESE COMPONETS ARE IN THE 1200 DEGREE RANGE.FORD NEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT'S WHY THEY TRIED TO PUT HEAT SHIELD NEAR THIS COMPONENT. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. I HAVE OWNED AND STILL HAVE FOUR TAURUS SHO'S 91,92,98,2011. NEVER AGAIN FORD. I THINK THIS CAR SHOULD BE ON RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10946335

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILURE CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR

NHTSA ID

10926302

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

69,000 mi

DRIVING FINE AND THE WARNING BELL DINGED WITH NO INFO. BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CAR IS PERFECTLY FINE EXCEPT FOR THE CLICKING WHINING NOISE WHEN I MAKE A LEFT TURN. THERE IS AMPLE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917859

Incident

Oct 21, 2016

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V340000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10765187

Incident

Sep 16, 2015

Mileage

42,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676562

Incident

Jan 16, 2015

Mileage

52,801 mi

CLEARWATER FLORIDA 2013 VEHICLE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH.I WATCHED AS THE KEY TO THE VEHICLE TURNED INTO THE OFF POSITION. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT STEER THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. OCTOBER 8, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM WHILE IN BOSTON MASS THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN. TIRES ARE CRACKED AND DRY AT ONLY 34,000 MILES. I'M TRAVELING BACK TO FLORIDA SOON WITH MY DOG FROM BOSTON AND I'M AFRAID THIS CAR WON'T MAKE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643992

Incident

Apr 3, 2013

Mileage

8,900 mi