YearToAvoid

2011 Ford F-250 Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 68 complaints on the 2011 Ford F-250, or 18% of all complaints filed for that model year. NHTSA lists no recall tied to these engine reports, and the median mileage at failure was 63,740.

Engine complaints
68
18% of 370
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
63,741 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine compartment fires that ignite while the truck is parked or idling, sometimes producing smoke before flames appear.
  • Sudden stalling at random times, including while driving at low speed or merging onto a highway.
  • Unexpected surges to high RPM or sudden acceleration that owners could not immediately control.
  • Shuddering or lugging sensations between roughly 35 and 85 mph, often tied to an exhaust filter regeneration cycle.
  • Violent shaking of the engine and truck felt at various speeds, described by owners as ongoing and unresolved by dealers.
  • Engine knocking, vibration, and smoke at highway speed leading to a diagnosed valve failure code.

When 2011 Ford F-250 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 11, 2011, latest Jul 21, 2025.

2011 Ford F-250 engine complaints: complaints filed per month9Feb 2011Oct 2012Dec 2013Jan 2015Feb 2016Oct 2016Mar 2019Apr 2023
68 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2011 to Jul 2025; peak Jan 2015 (9).

Engine recalls for the 2011 Ford F-250

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by F-250 model year

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

  1. 201023 (22%)
  2. 201168 (18%)
  3. 201263 (20%)
  4. 201322 (19%)
  5. 201421 (13%)
  6. 201549 (17%)
  7. 201635 (12%)
  8. 201751 (4%)
  9. 201818 (5%)
  10. 201936 (3%)
  11. 202033 (13%)
  12. 202115 (9%)
  13. 202222 (18%)
  14. 202312 (28%)
  15. 20244 (11%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems on the 2011 Ford F-250?
NHTSA lists 68 engine complaints for the 2011 F-250, which is 18% of the 370 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2011 Ford F-250 engine?
No. The JSON data shows no related recalls listed for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do engine problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2011 F-250 is 63,740 miles.
Do the engine complaints involve fires or crashes?
NHTSA records for this engine problem area on the 2011 F-250 include 4 fires and 3 crashes, with 0 injuries reported.
Is 2011 worse than other F-250 years for engine complaints?
The 2011 F-250 had 68 engine complaints (18% share), close to 2012's 63 complaints (20% share) and higher in raw count than most other model years listed.

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.