YearToAvoid

2011 Ford F-150 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 228 brake complaints for the 2011 Ford F-150, 10% of that year's total complaints, tied to 17 crashes, 1 fire, and 11 injuries. Median mileage at failure is 61,794. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Brakes complaints
228
10% of 2,189
Crashes reported
17
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
11
Median mileage
61,794 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden total brake failure where the pedal goes soft or unresponsive, sometimes requiring the ignition to be turned off and restarted to regain braking.
  • Some describe the brake pedal working normally right after starting but failing to respond when shifting into reverse or drive shortly after startup.
  • Several report the anti-lock brake warning light coming on followed by a delayed or absent pedal response, sometimes requiring repeated pumping to slow the truck.
  • One complaint describes a right front brake pad losing material that jammed the caliper, breaking the caliper piston and leaking all brake fluid, causing complete brake failure.
  • Multiple owners report brake failures occurring while approaching stopped traffic or intersections, resulting in rear-end collisions.
  • One report describes smoke from under the vehicle traced to an electronic brake pump that a dealer said needed replacement.

When 2011 Ford F-150 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 26, 2011, latest Jul 8, 2026.

2011 Ford F-150 brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter302011 Q42014 Q22016 Q12017 Q42019 Q32021 Q22023 Q32025 Q4
228 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2015 Q3 (30).

Brakes recalls for the 2011 Ford F-150

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by F-150 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201064 (8%)
  2. 2011228 (10%)
  3. 2012174 (10%)
  4. 2013391 (13%)
  5. 2014361 (24%)
  6. 2015334 (20%)
  7. 2016354 (17%)
  8. 2017120 (8%)
  9. 201897 (4%)
  10. 201924 (2%)
  11. 202022 (3%)
  12. 202176 (8%)
  13. 202241 (7%)
  14. 202352 (13%)
  15. 202414 (7%)
  16. 202519 (18%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2011 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 228 brake complaints for the 2011 F-150, which is 10% of the 2,189 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Ford F-150 brakes?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this brake complaint area.
At what mileage do brake problems usually show up on the 2011 F-150?
The median mileage at failure among the reported brake complaints is 61,794 miles.
Have the brake problems caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint area shows 17 crashes, 1 fire, and 11 injuries for the 2011 F-150.
How does 2011 compare to other F-150 model years for brake complaints?
The 2011 F-150's brake complaints made up 10% of that year's total complaints, similar to 2010 (8%) and 2012 (10%), but lower than the 24% share reported for 2014.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.