2011 Ford F-450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
47/100
#9 most-complained of 16 F-450 years
The 2011 Ford F-450 has 15 complaints, 10 recalls, and a complaint index of 47, ranking 9th of 16 model years. NHTSA data give it a "Good" verdict relative to other F-450 years, with Engine issues the top problem area at 53% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 15
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2011 Ford F-450 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine8 (53%)
- Fuel System3 (20%)
- Steering3 (20%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (13%)
- Brakes1 (7%)
- Electrical System1 (7%)
- Other1 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (7%)
What owners report
- Owners report the engine stalling or losing power at highway speed, sometimes with a warning light and failure to restart.
- Some vehicles caught fire in the engine area, including one incident with no warning lights on and another tied to a broken connecting rod after a faulty glow plug fell into a cylinder.
- A fuel injector hold-down clamp reportedly broke, causing a diesel injector to blow out of the cylinder head and spray fuel across the engine compartment.
- Owners describe a "death wobble" where the steering wheel shakes uncontrollably at 45-50 mph or during acceleration and bad weather.
- One owner reported losing steering control after the dealer found contaminated fuel required replacing the fuel system.
- An electrical fault left trailer turn signals, brake lights, and emergency flashers inoperative while towing, despite the truck's own lights working.
2011 Ford F-450 recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V175000Mar 25, 2015Transmission & Powertrain6,322 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured February 22, 2010, to January 30, 2015, and equipped with ambulance or fire engine preparation packages. The affected vehicles may detect an incorrect Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGT) fault indicating that the vehicle is too hot, causing the engine management system to shut down the engine and prevent its immediate restart.
Risk: Engine shut down and a subsequent cool down period may delay medical treatment or assistance to those needing it, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S09.
- NHTSA 14V498000Aug 13, 2014Other3 vehicles
Equipment
PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co., (PJ's) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis modified by PJ's and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy: PJ's has notified owners and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2014. Owners may contact PJ's customer service at 1-866-475-8782.
- NHTSA 14V360000Jun 23, 2014Other10 vehicles
Equipment
Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy: Palfleet will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 29, 2014. Owners may contact Palfleet customer service at 1- 502-376-2458.
2011 compared with other F-450 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Ford F-450 reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2011 F-450 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other F-450 years.
- What are the most common problems on the 2011 Ford F-450?
- Engine problems make up 53% of complaints (8 of 15), including stalling, fires, and injector failures, followed by Fuel System and Steering issues at 20% each.
- Does the 2011 Ford F-450 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2011 F-450, covering issues like PTO pressure switches near the exhaust, a Powertrain Control Module software update for ambulance/fire packages, and an exhaust gas temperature sensor on 6.7L diesel engines.
- At what mileage do 2011 F-450 engine problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Engine complaints is 72,560 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- How does the 2011 F-450 compare to other years?
- The 2011 model's complaint index of 47 is lower than 2019 (73), 2020 (80), and 2022 (100), which are rated "Avoid" or "Caution," making 2011 comparatively better within the F-450 lineup.