YearToAvoid

2011 Ford F53 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 F53 years

The 2011 Ford F53 has a complaint index of 47 and ranks 9th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 7 complaints, 1 recall, and 1 fire, with suspension and transmission issues the main concerns.

Complaints
7
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2011 Ford F53 problems

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

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (43%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain2 (29%)
  3. Brakes1 (14%)
  4. Electrical System1 (14%)
  5. Other1 (14%)

What owners report

  • Owners report tire blowouts on the inside dual and front tires while driving on highways, in one case near mileage around 23,774 and another around 8,228 miles.
  • A recalled transmission selector arm and PRNDL cable assembly caused delays when owners waited weeks or months for replacement parts to arrive.
  • The ABS indicator illuminated at highway speed near 50 to 55 mph due to defective ABS sensors, with a median mileage of 24,000 for brake-related failures.
  • Repair delays were a recurring theme, with owners describing parts on back order for extended periods after recall or brake sensor failures.
2011 Ford F53 complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2012Jul 2014Sep 2016Dec 2016
8 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2012 to Dec 2016; peak Dec 2016 (3).

2011 Ford F53 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 12V035000Feb 2, 2012Transmission & Powertrain13,239 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 f-53 and f-59 stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from february 1, 2010 through july 1, 2011 and certain model year 2012 f-53 and f-59 stripped chassis vehicles manufactured from may 10, 2011 through october 25, 2011. The â‘prndl⒠cable may break at the attachment to the transmission control selector arm assembly mounted on the steering column. If the cable breaks, the transmission gear indicator in the â‘prndl⒠display in the instrument panel will remain in the first gear position regardless of the gear selected.

    Risk: An incorrect gear indication in the instrument panel may prevent the driver from knowing if they are in park or reverse, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the transmission selector arm assembly and the â‘prndl⒠cable assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 2, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

2011 compared with other F53 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
2010No verdict010—
2011Good4771—
2012No verdict711—
2013Good4081—

All Ford F53 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Ford F53 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2011 F53 a complaint index of 47, ranking 9th worst among 16 model years tracked, which earns it a Good verdict relative to other F53 years.
Does the 2011 Ford F53 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall (campaign 12V035000) covering the transmission selector arm assembly and PRNDL cable assembly on certain 2011 F53 and F59 chassis vehicles.
What is the top problem area for the 2011 Ford F53?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires is the top problem area, accounting for 43% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 21,181.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Ford F53?
NHTSA lists 7 complaints for the 2011 Ford F53, including 1 fire report and 0 crashes.
How does the 2011 F53 compare to other years like 2020?
The 2011 F53 has a complaint index of 47, much lower than the 2020 F53's index of 100, which carries an Avoid verdict.

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.