2011 Ford F-550 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 F-550 years
The 2011 Ford F-550 has 15 NHTSA complaints and 17 recalls, with a Complaint Index of 27, ranking 12th of 16 model years. NHTSA calls it a 'Good' year relative to other F-550 years, with Engine issues topping complaints at 53%.
- Complaints
- 15
- Recalls
- 17
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2011 Ford F-550 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine8 (53%)
- Fuel System4 (27%)
- Other2 (13%)
- Structure & Body2 (13%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (13%)
- Brakes1 (7%)
- Steering1 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (7%)
What owners report
- Engine stalls at low speed, sometimes restarting after multiple attempts, traced to fuel contamination.
- Vehicle stalls at a stop with a low power warning message, requiring a tow and fuel system replacement.
- Interior lining of the fuel tank shed material into the fuel line, damaging the engine and requiring tank replacement.
- Engine shuts off unexpectedly and won't restart until it sits for a while, recurring despite dealer visits.
- Truck shakes uncontrollably at highway speeds, with front end, driveshaft, tires and wheels replaced without improvement.
- Rear sway bar hardware was found missing, letting the sway bar separate from the chassis frame.
2011 Ford F-550 recalls
17 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 15V112000Feb 25, 2015Other117 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy: Farber will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.
- NHTSA 15V052000Jan 30, 2015Engine1 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
All Wheel Drive Equipment Mfg., Inc. (All Wheel) is recalling one model year 2011 Ford F-550 truck with a 6.8L gasoline engine manufactured May 14, 2010, to May 28, 2010. The affected vehicle is equipped with a PTO Assembly Pressure Switch, part number FR67, used with power take off (PTO) assemblies for Ford F-550 chassis. The PTO switch may leak oil onto the thermal blanket.
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: All Wheel has notified the owner and will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. Owners may contact All Wheel customer service at 1-800-311-4778.
2011 compared with other F-550 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Ford F-550 reliable?
- NHTSA lists 15 complaints and a Complaint Index of 27 for the 2011 F-550, ranking 12th out of 16 model years, which earns a 'Good' verdict relative to other F-550 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford F-550?
- Engine problems make up 53% of complaints, followed by Fuel System issues at 27%. The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 19,633 miles.
- Does the 2011 Ford F-550 have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 17 recalls for the 2011 Ford F-550, many involving PTO Assembly Pressure Switches on vehicles modified by upfitters like Dual-Tech, Palfleet, and Godwin Manufacturing.
- How does the 2011 F-550 compare to other years?
- Its Complaint Index of 27 is lower than 2012 (60), 2015 (67), 2019 (80), 2021 (87), and 2022 (93), making 2011 one of the better years among the 16 model years with data.