Is the 2011 Ford F-150 reliable?

The 2011 Ford F-150 has 2962 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2011 Ford F-150?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (819 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (513 complaints, avg repair $500); STEERING (421 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2011 Ford F-150?

Yes, there are 6 recall(s): POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, STRUCTURE:BODY. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

Is the 2011 Ford F-150 often stolen?

Theft risk tier for the Ford F-150: above-avg. HLDI insurance loss data suggests higher-than-average theft claims for this model.

How much does it cost to insure a 2011 Ford F-150?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2011 Ford F-150 is approximately $1,448/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2011 Ford F-150

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford F-150 has 2962 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 1726. The most common issue is transmission problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: transmission slams between gears and the drive train "acts" like it is sticking in four wheel drive when at slow speeds going around corners and starting out when you turn the steering wheel. it has become progressively worse and i am concerned that it will break or even worse when out of warranty . There are 6 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 25 fire reports filed.

25 fire reports 60 crash reports 44 injuries

2962

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

819 complaints

28%

• TRANSMISSION SLAMS BETWEEN GEARS AND THE DRIVE TRAIN "ACTS" LIKE IT IS STICKING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS GOING AROUND CORNERS AND STARTING OUT WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BREAK OR EVEN WORSE WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY
• TRANSMISSION FLUID POURS OUT OF OVERFLOW WHEN UNDER LOAD (PULLING A TRAILER). THIS FLUID DUMPS ON EXHAUST SYSTEM AND STARTS A FIRE. THIS ACCRUED AT 2,500 MILES ON JUNE 25, 2011. TRUCK IS STILL AT DEALER, NO RESOLUTION. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“TRANSMISSION SLAMS BETWEEN GEARS AND THE DRIVE TRAIN "ACTS" LIKE IT IS STICKING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS GOING AROUND CORNERS AND STARTING OUT WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BREAK OR EVEN WORSE WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2011 Ford F-150

Based on 2,449 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 69K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

485

30-60K

557

60-100K

670

100-150K

479

150-200K

189

200K+

ENGINE

Earlier than typicalmedian 50K mi · 471 reports

0-30K

144

30-60K

127

60-100K

124

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

Earlier than typicalmedian 45K mi · 111 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Earlier than typicalmedian 61K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

WHEELS

Earlier than typicalmedian 81K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Reported earliermedian 68K mi · 188 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Reported earliermedian 59K mi · 154 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (6)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)11/02/2019

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.

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's number for this recall is 19S07.

Above-average theft risk

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2011 Ford F-150

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,448

Full coverage / month

$121

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-14%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.85x

= Full coverage estimate$1448

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford F-150 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2011 F-150, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Videos About the 2011 Ford F-150

Videos hosted on YouTube — embedded via official player

Road Test: 2011 Ford F-150

MotorWeekJul 2011

2011 Ford F-150 FX4 Review

Kelowna ToyotaJun 2021

2011 Ford F-150 - Truck | New Car Review | AutoTrader

AutotraderFeb 2011

I Finally Got a Ford F-150 and It Already Needs $10,000 in Repairs

Scotty KilmerJun 2023

Watch This Before Buying a FORD F-150 2009-2014 12th Gen

AutoMotivateApr 2021

Videos are hosted on YouTube and embedded here via YouTube's official player. BestCarRank does not host or produce these videos. Watch counts and channel information are pulled from YouTube's public Data API.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2962 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION SLAMS BETWEEN GEARS AND THE DRIVE TRAIN "ACTS" LIKE IT IS STICKING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS GOING AROUND CORNERS AND STARTING OUT WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BREAK OR EVEN WORSE WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: FROM A DEAD STOP I ACCELERATED TO TURN INTO HER DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE HESITATED AND STUMBLED IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU HAD THROWN A HANDFUL OF MARBLES INSIDE THE INTAKE THE ENGINE MADE A FUNNY NOISE THEN DIED AFTER GETTING IT RESTARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, HE WOULD FEEL A BUMP COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT RETURNED TO THE STRAIGHTENED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COMPONEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: FROM A DEAD STOP I ACCELERATED TO TURN INTO HER DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE HESITATED AND STUMBLED IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU HAD THROWN A HANDFUL OF MARBLES INSIDE THE INTAKE THE ENGINE MADE A FUNNY NOISE THEN DIED AFTER GETTING IT RESTARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 6 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)