This involves the expensive safety accessory: "forward collision avoidance "on this vehicle, this safety feature is intermittent. As I'm driving on a city street or freeway, the unit suddenly turns off and at the same time, the cruise control turns off. In order to re-engage the systems, the engine must be turned off and re-started. The problems started about 2 months ago. ( oct.-2015) I count…
2011 Ford Taurus cruise control problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 10 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A used 2011 Taurus with these complaints shows persistent throttle and acceleration defects that dealer repairs have not resolved. Multiple owners report uncontrolled acceleration, delayed response, and system dropouts—some resulting in crashes—making this a serious safety risk until root cause is identified and fixed.
Owners of the 2011 Taurus consistently report the vehicle accelerating on its own—sometimes violently—across a range of driving situations. The most alarming cases involve sudden hard acceleration while idling or during low-speed parking maneuvers, with the vehicle continuing to accelerate despite hard braking. Two separate owners crashed their vehicles as a result, and one had to be towed away because the car moved under its own power. Check engine lights and wrench icons appear alongside these events.
The flip side is delayed or missing throttle response: the accelerator pedal gets no reaction or responds too slowly, especially during turns or acceleration from stops. This inconsistency—surging one moment, sluggish the next—suggests an electronic or sensor issue rather than a simple mechanical cable problem.
Dealers have replaced throttle bodies and accelerator pedal assemblies, and the manufacturer tried a computer update, but the problems return. In one case, an owner needed a second throttle body within days of the first replacement. One owner also reports the cruise control and forward collision avoidance system dropping off together without warning, requiring an engine restart to restore them—a particular hazard on highways.
Across 10 complaints spanning 13,000 to 70,000 miles, technicians either cannot reproduce the fault or cannot identify the root cause, leaving owners stranded with unfixed vehicles.
Same Ford Taurus cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2010 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Unexpected Acceleration / Throttle Surge
Vehicle accelerates on its own while idling, shifting into gear, or at low speed—sometimes violently—even when the brake pedal is depressed. Owners report the vehicle continuing to accelerate despite braking attempts, leading to crashes in several cases. Throttle body and accelerator pedal replacements have not reliably stopped recurrence.
When: 13,000 to 70,000 miles; incidents occur while idling, during gear shifts, at slow speeds in parking situations, and while driving 30–65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle revs to 7,000+ RPM while idling; Vehicle accelerates forward without pedal input; Delayed throttle response followed by sudden acceleration; Vehicle surges forward even with brake pedal depressed; Repeated unintended acceleration after dealer repair attempts; Check engine warning light and wrench icon on dashboard
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced at certified mechanic and dealership; accelerator pedal assembly replaced; dealer computer update performed—failures recurred in multiple cases. Owner reports need for second throttle body replacement after initial repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA hotline; dealer computer update attempted; engineer inspection initiated in at least one case
Delayed or Absent Throttle Response
Vehicle exhibits sluggish or no acceleration response when the accelerator pedal is depressed, particularly during turning or acceleration from a complete stop. The issue occurs intermittently, making diagnosis difficult for dealers.
When: Low mileage: 6,000 and 13,756 miles; also reported at 35 mph and 55 mph during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed or slow acceleration response when pedal is depressed; Abnormally slow acceleration while turning; Vehicle fails to accelerate without warning at 55 mph; Intermittent failure pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate problem in multiple visits; unknown diagnostic results in one case; vehicle repaired but failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; advised return to dealer for further inspection
Cruise Control and Forward Collision Avoidance System Dropout
Cruise control and forward collision avoidance system intermittently disable together while driving, requiring engine restart to re-engage. Owner expresses serious safety concern, as the loss of collision warning could result in rear-end crashes.
When: Approximately 2 months prior to complaint (October 2015); occurs while driving on city streets and freeways
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control and forward collision avoidance system turn off simultaneously; Systems drop out intermittently without warning; Engine restart required to re-engage both systems
Engine Stall with Check Engine Light
Vehicle vibrates, stalls, and illuminates check engine light while driving at highway speeds. Throttle body failure was diagnosed and replaced, but the malfunction recurred.
When: 70,467 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle vibrates while driving at 65 mph; Engine stalls; Check engine warning light illuminates
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replaced by independent mechanic; failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 Ford Taurus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2011 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 13,000 and 64,000 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,000; a quarter make it past 64,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Taurus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.