NHTSA has 2,193 owner complaints on file for the 2011 Ford F-150, received from 2011 to 2026. The most-reported system is power train (828 complaints, 38%), followed by engine (511) and steering (419). Owners reported 46 crashes, 19 fires, 35 injuries and 0 deaths. Median mileage at failure: 71,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018, with 267 received that year. 6 safety recalls cover this model year.
2,193NHTSA complaints
6safety recalls
46crashes reported
19fires reported
35injuries
0deaths
Quick answers
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Ford F-150?
Owners report power train problems most often: 828 of 2,193 NHTSA complaints (38%), followed by engine (511) and steering (419).
How many recalls does the 2011 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2011 Ford F-150. The most recent is 19V075000 (power train, 2019-02-11).
At what mileage do 2011 Ford F-150 problems happen?
The median mileage at failure is 71,000 miles, across 1,821 complaints that reported mileage.
Have owners reported crashes or fires in the 2011 Ford F-150?
Yes. Owners reported 46 crashes, 19 fires, 35 injuries and 0 deaths in NHTSA complaints.
Problems by system
System
Complaints
Share
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Median miles
Power train
828
38%
8
3
6
97,071
Engine
511
23%
10
3
2
50,000
Steering
419
19%
7
2
5
76,000
Electrical system
235
11%
8
11
6
68,000
Speed control
213
10%
13
0
7
57,500
Service brakes
184
8%
17
1
11
59,000
Visibility and wipers
147
7%
1
5
3
61,560
Fuel system
117
5%
1
1
0
46,750
Unknown or other
112
5%
2
1
0
90,250
Electronic stability control
44
2%
1
0
0
78,000
Structure
33
2%
2
0
1
59,500
Exterior lighting
30
1%
0
0
0
75,000
Tires
18
1%
0
0
0
40,000
Air bags
14
1%
9
0
10
60,992
Suspension
14
1%
1
0
2
70,531
Wheels
13
1%
0
0
0
85,950
Seats
9
<1%
0
1
4
30,000
Seat belts
8
<1%
0
0
0
74,000
Traction control
4
<1%
0
0
0
102,294
Backover prevention
3
<1%
0
0
0
145,000
Equipment
3
<1%
0
0
0
51,500
Forward collision avoidance
2
<1%
0
0
0
–
Lane departure
2
<1%
0
0
0
220,000
Latches, locks and linkages
1
<1%
0
0
0
45,000
A complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Defect: 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.
Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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's number for this recall is 19S07.
Defect: 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 first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Risk: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.
Defect: 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 sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment. these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.
Risk: If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse r position and the vehicles transmission does go in reverse, the r may not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the backup lamp on the rear of the f-150, expedition, navigator, or mustang vehicles may not illuminate. These conditions increase the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck due to the vehicles not signaling it is in reverse.
Remedy: 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 relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Defect: 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. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, theft protection. the transmission can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem.
Risk: This will allow the operator to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.
Remedy: 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 may contact the ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Defect: 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 custom software routine to read the suspect body control module (bcm) serial number. Based on the serial number the bcm was either not affected or replaced. The custom software routine was not reading the correct set of characters, and was not able to identify a bcm that required replacement affected bcms may have the potential for an…
Risk: If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur which could result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: 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 at 1-866-436-7332.
Defect: 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.
Risk: If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition may occur which can result in an unattended vehicle fire.
Remedy: 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.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle experienced a slight loss of motive power, and the transmission failed to shift in synchronization with the engine. The check engine warning light and the service vehicle soon warning light…
Power train · NHTSA complaint 11772094, received 2026-10-19
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the transmission erroneously downshifted, causing the vehicle to abruptly reduce speed. The contact indicated during the incident that the transmission shifter switched from Drive (D) to the first…
Power train · NHTSA complaint 11771671, received 2026-10-16
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. While driving 50 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear and the rear wheels locked up. The contact stated that while in third gear, the vehicle shifted to fourth gear unexpectedly. The transmission failed to shift above fifth gear. The…
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11755860, received 2026-08-10
Made a complete stop and vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed and could not stop.
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11748976, received 2026-07-08
Orchid Isle Ford in Hilo has replaced the electronic power steering rack and pinion already once but now it’s gone bad again.I don’t understand why because I hardly drive my truck and it has only 40 something thousands miles on it
Steering · NHTSA complaint 11706892, received 2025-12-23
Driving about 10 mph when steering lockup Shop replaced rack opinion
Steering · NHTSA complaint 11704860, received 2025-12-13
Built from the NHTSA complaints flat file and the NHTSA recalls flat files, data as of 2026-10-22. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular models collect more of them.