2011 Ford E-150 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2011 Ford E-150 carries a complaint index of 77 and ranks 4th-worst of 14 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 23 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns, with steering and transmission problems tied as the top reported issues at 22% each.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 77/100
- #4 of 14 E-150 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 23
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Steering
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 14
- 12.5 city / 16 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2011 Ford E-150 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering5 (22%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (22%)
- Engine4 (17%)
- Brakes3 (13%)
- Electrical System3 (13%)
- Fuel System3 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (13%)
- Other1 (4%)
- Structure & Body1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Transmission shifts unexpectedly into 1st gear at speed, locking the rear wheels and causing loss of control.
- A rodent-chewed fuel line leaked gas onto the top of the fuel tank.
- Engine misfires and stalls, in one case failing during a dealer test drive after repeated shuddering.
- Rear tires separated from the tread while traveling on the highway.
- Engine shudders and triggers a reduced-power mode along with a check-engine light during acceleration.
- Brake pedal locks up intermittently, especially in cold conditions, and the vehicle continues to roll without stopping.
2011 Ford E-150 recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V729000Nov 4, 2015Other667 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
MobilityWorks (WMK Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, and E-350 vans modified by MobilityWorks to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Remedy: MobilityWorks will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact MobilityWorks customer service at 1-800-769-8267, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Note: These vehicles and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.
- NHTSA 14V706000Nov 5, 2014Other34 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
- NHTSA 14V641000Oct 10, 2014Other834 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility Works (WMK Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E150, E250, and E350 vans modified by Mobility Works to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy: Mobility Works will notify owners, and Ricon will supply supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2014. Owners may contact Mobility Works customer service at 1-800-769-8267 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.
2011 Ford E-150 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 12.5 MPG
- Highway
- 16 MPG
- Combined
- 14 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,650
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2011 compared with other E-150 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Ford E-150 reliable based on owner complaints?
- NHTSA data gives the 2011 E-150 a complaint index of 77, the 4th-worst among the 14 model years with data, and it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other E-150 years.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2011 Ford E-150?
- Steering and Transmission & Powertrain each account for 22% of complaints (5 each). The steering complaints have a median failure mileage of 38,000 miles.
- Does the 2011 Ford E-150 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2011 E-150, covering fuel system components and wheelchair lift equipment on modified vans. None of these recalls are flagged as do-not-drive.
- How does the 2011 E-150 compare to other model years?
- The 2011 model's complaint index of 77 is worse than the 2014-2016 model years, which each earned a Best verdict with indexes of 8, 15, and 23 respectively.
- What year Ford E-150 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2005, 2010, 2011, and 2013 all carry Avoid verdicts, with 2010 having the highest complaint index at 100.