YearToAvoid

2011 Ford F-150 Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 117 Fuel System complaints for the 2011 Ford F-150, about 5% of all 2,189 complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 46,750, and no related recalls are listed for this area.

Fuel System complaints
117
5% of 2,189
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
46,750 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a persistent gasoline odor inside the cab, noticeable even with the heat off and vents closed.
  • Some describe fuel sloshing in the tank during braking or turning, followed by the engine seizing and power steering shutting off.
  • Several owners of the ecoboost 3.5L engine report the accelerator sticking or the engine surging on its own after cold starts, requiring hard braking or a key shutoff to stop.
  • Multiple complaints describe stalling, shuddering, or misfiring when merging onto highways or passing, sometimes taking about 15 to 20 seconds for the engine to recover.
  • Owners also report the capless fuel filler door breaking or failing to close, letting in dust, water, and debris.

When 2011 Ford F-150 fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 1, 2011, latest May 11, 2026.

2011 Ford F-150 fuel system complaints: complaints filed per quarter152011 Q42013 Q22014 Q32015 Q42017 Q32020 Q12022 Q12026 Q2
117 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2013 Q2 (15).

Fuel System recalls for the 2011 Ford F-150

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by F-150 model year

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

  1. 201058 (7%)
  2. 2011117 (5%)
  3. 2012119 (7%)
  4. 2013159 (5%)
  5. 201472 (5%)
  6. 201580 (5%)
  7. 201695 (5%)
  8. 201727 (2%)
  9. 201863 (3%)
  10. 201924 (2%)
  11. 202014 (2%)
  12. 202187 (9%)
  13. 202289 (15%)
  14. 202310 (2%)
  15. 20246 (3%)
  16. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does NHTSA list for the 2011 Ford F-150?
NHTSA lists 117 Fuel System complaints for the 2011 Ford F-150, which is about 5% of the 2,189 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Ford F-150 fuel system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Fuel System on the 2011 Ford F-150.
At what mileage do fuel system problems typically show up on the 2011 F-150?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for Fuel System complaints on the 2011 F-150 is 46,750 miles.
Did fuel system issues on the 2011 F-150 lead to crashes or fires?
NHTSA data show 1 crash and 1 fire associated with the 117 Fuel System complaints for the 2011 F-150, with 0 injuries reported.

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.