YearToAvoid

2011 Ford F-250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 F-250 years

The 2011 Ford F-250 has a Complaint Index of 80 and ranks 4th worst among 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA logs 370 complaints, 2 recalls, 12 crashes, and 5 fires, with Suspension, Wheels & Tires (49% of complaints) and Steering (40%) the top problem areas.

Complaints
370
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
12 / 5
Injuries / deaths
6 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2011 Ford F-250 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires180 (49%)
  2. Steering149 (40%)
  3. Engine68 (18%)
  4. Fuel System35 (9%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain23 (6%)
  6. Brakes21 (6%)
  7. Other20 (5%)
  8. Electrical System19 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body14 (4%)
  10. Airbags4 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe a 'death wobble' where the truck bounces and shakes violently after hitting a bump or rough patch of road, sometimes requiring repeated dealer visits for steering stabilizer, shocks, and ball joint replacement.
  • Some owners report the engine stalling at random times, including one case where debris from another vehicle struck the truck after an unexpected stall.
  • Owners report brake failure with the pedal traveling to the floor, resulting in a crash into a fixed object in at least one case.
  • Some describe the vehicle catching fire while parked, with the fire starting in the engine compartment near the master cylinder and wiring harness.
  • Owners report the transmission hesitating between 2nd and 3rd gear shifts, sometimes stalling momentarily while merging into traffic.
  • One owner reported shifting into drive from reverse but having the truck continue moving in reverse, leading to a crash into a mailbox.
2011 Ford F-250 complaints: complaints filed per quarter262010 Q32012 Q32014 Q32016 Q32018 Q32020 Q32022 Q32024 Q4
540 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2025 Q4; peak 2015 Q1 (26).

2011 Ford F-250 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 11V128000Feb 24, 2011Electrical System8,022 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 ford f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, edge, and lincoln mkx trucks manufactured from october 25, 2010, through november 20, 2010. These vehicles were inspected using integrated diagnostic system (ids) that had a custom software routine to read the suspect body control module (bcm) serial number. Based on the serial number the bcm was either not affected or replaced. The custom software routine was not reading the correct set of characters, and was not able to identify a bcm that required replacement affected bcms may have the potential for an internal short.

    Risk: If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur which could result in a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect the body control module and if necessary replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on march 7, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

  2. NHTSA 10V659000Dec 29, 2010Structure & Body14,737 vehicles

    Structure:body

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 f-150, f-250, f-350, f-450, f-550, edge and lincoln mkx vehicles. During a six-day production period, the supplier of the body control module manufactured modules that may have the potential for an internal short.

    Risk: If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur which can result in an unattended vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the body control module if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on january 11, 2011. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.

2011 compared with other F-250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best71050—
2011Avoid803702—
2012Caution673231—
2013Best01160—

All Ford F-250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Ford F-250 reliable?
Compared to other F-250 model years, 2011 ranks poorly. It has a Complaint Index of 80 and ranks 4th worst out of 16 model years tracked, with an Avoid verdict.
What problems does the 2011 Ford F-250 have?
NHTSA complaints point to Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues (49% of complaints, including a reported 'death wobble') and Steering problems (40% of complaints) as the top concerns, followed by Engine issues involving stalling and fires.
Does the 2011 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 F-250, both related to the body control module — one affecting the Electrical System and one affecting Structure & Body. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do 2011 F-250 problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 57,584 miles across complaints, though specific problem areas vary, with Steering issues showing a median around 47,251 miles and Transmission issues around 71,700 miles.
How does the 2011 F-250 compare to other years?
The 2011 F-250 (Complaint Index 80) ranks worse than 2010 (7, Best) and 2013 (0, Best), but is not as bad as 2019 (100, Avoid) or 2017 (93, Avoid).

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.