2011 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
2,973 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Ford F-150, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 66/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 97,142 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2011 Ford F-150 sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1991–1993, 1996, 2003, 2007–2009, 2020, 2022.
Avoid
Where 2011 sits among all F-150 years
What owners report
“As i was pulling out of the yard the truck started shifting from 1st, 2nd, to 5th and then back to 1st gear. The transmission speed sensor was replaced today and it fixed the issue.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 F-150
“The morning after i bought my truck in november. I went too start it on a cold morning and noticed a rattling noise coming from engine. Only does it when engine is cold. I've been told it is my timing chain. And the dealer wouldn't fix it since there was no warranty”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 F-150
“The steering sticks while driving, most of the times while driving streight, but sometimes while turning it will become hard to trun.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 F-150
“Transmission Range Sensor issues causing the truck did not recognize the gear correctly. Cluster did not recognize(light did not turn on) when the car is on gears. I called the dealer and they recognize is a issue on the F-150 of year 2011 - 2012.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 F-150
“I was driving, luckily at a slow speed when my trucks transmission without warning down shifted into first gear.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 F-150
“Brake vacuum pump failed which resulted in brake pedal being very stiff and brakes being very poor after a cold start.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 F-150
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 2,403 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 39,882 and 110,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer…
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER…
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER…
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 F-150 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 F-250, F-350, F-450 AND F-550 HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 12, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2011.…
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH FUNCTION AND REPLACE THE SWITCH IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2011. OWNERS…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 19V075000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2011 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 2011 Ford F-150 drew 2,973 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 66/100, scored against the model's worst year (1997).
What are the most common 2011 Ford F-150 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2011 Ford F-150 are transmission & drivetrain (823 complaints), engine (514), and steering (421).
At what mileage do 2011 Ford F-150 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2011 Ford F-150 problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 39,882 and 110,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Ford F-150 have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2011 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.