2011 Ford F-250 SD
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Ford F-250 SD has 189 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: ford f 250 death wobble- hit a bump at speed above 30 mph and the steeering wheel begins an uncontrillable wobble. in fact the whole truck shakes violently. the truck has actually jump sideways into the on comming lane. *tt prrevoiusly reports in nhtsa for previous years for this vehicle (nhtsa. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
189
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
47 complaints- • FORD F 250 DEATH WOBBLE- HIT A BUMP AT SPEED ABOVE 30 MPH AND THE STEEERING WHEEL BEGINS AN UNCONTRILLABLE WOBBLE. IN FACT THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE TRUCK HAS ACTUALLY JUMP SIDEWAYS INTO THE ON COMMING LANE. *TT PRREVOIUSLY REPORTS IN NHTSA FOR PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS VEHICLE (NHTSA
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE NOT AWAR
- • THESE TRUCKS SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN THE FRONT END WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD. FORD HAS FAILED TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBLE AND CORRECTIVE MATTERS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED. PLEASE SEE FORDFORUM.ORG TO SEE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING
“FORD F 250 DEATH WOBBLE- HIT A BUMP AT SPEED ABOVE 30 MPH AND THE STEEERING WHEEL BEGINS AN UNCONTRILLABLE WOBBLE. IN FACT THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE TRUCK HAS ACTUALLY JUMP SIDEWAYS INTO THE ON COMMING LANE. *TT PRREVOIUSLY REPORTS IN NHTSA FOR PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS VEHICLE (NHTSA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
46 complaints- • FRONT / FRAME VIBRATION AND BOUNCING AFTER HITTING A HOLE OR AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THAT SEEM TO BE PRODUCING FRAME VIBRATION DUE TO A HARMONIC FREQUENCY GENERATED BY THE TIRES AND ROAD SPEEDS EXAGGERATING AN ENGINEERING DEFECT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TR
- • THESE TRUCKS SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN THE FRONT END WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD. FORD HAS FAILED TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBLE AND CORRECTIVE MATTERS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILLED. PLEASE SEE FORDFORUM.ORG TO SEE THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING
- • BELOW IS A COMPLAINT LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO FORD TODAY. I PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. SO FAR THEY ARE HOLDING MY TRUCK HOSTAGE AND NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE MANY TRUCK OF THIS TYPE AND MODEL THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE SEE FORDFORUM
“FRONT / FRAME VIBRATION AND BOUNCING AFTER HITTING A HOLE OR AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THAT SEEM TO BE PRODUCING FRAME VIBRATION DUE TO A HARMONIC FREQUENCY GENERATED BY THE TIRES AND ROAD SPEEDS EXAGGERATING AN ENGINEERING DEFECT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
25 complaints- • TRUCK STALLS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, WHEN PULLING ON TO HIGHWAY. *KB
- • INTERMITTENTLY BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 85 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL START TO SHUDDER FOR 5-15 SECONDS AND DURING THIS TIME, SOMETIMES WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF THROTTLE. IT GENERALLY HAPPENS DURING OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER A REGEN / CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER MESSAGE APPEARS. THE "SHUDDER" COULD ALSO BE DESC
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL BUZZING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY UN
“TRUCK STALLS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, WHEN PULLING ON TO HIGHWAY. *KB”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
15 complaints- • MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED DUE TO WHAT FORD CALLS CONTAMINATED FUEL. SINCE MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 12,000 MILES ON IT I ASSUMED WARRANTY WOULD COVER A MECHANICAL FAILURE. BUT FORD SAYS THAT CONTAMINATES GOT INTO MY SYSTEM PAST THE FUEL FILTERS HPFP HOW IN THE WORLD AM I TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUALIT
- • INTERMITTENTLY BETWEEN 35 MPH AND 85 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL START TO SHUDDER FOR 5-15 SECONDS AND DURING THIS TIME, SOMETIMES WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF THROTTLE. IT GENERALLY HAPPENS DURING OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER A REGEN / CLEANING EXHAUST FILTER MESSAGE APPEARS. THE "SHUDDER" COULD ALSO BE DESC
- • HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND RELATED FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL DIESEL. *TR
“MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED DUE TO WHAT FORD CALLS CONTAMINATED FUEL. SINCE MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 12,000 MILES ON IT I ASSUMED WARRANTY WOULD COVER A MECHANICAL FAILURE. BUT FORD SAYS THAT CONTAMINATES GOT INTO MY SYSTEM PAST THE FUEL FILTERS HPFP HOW IN THE WORLD AM I TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUALIT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
WHEELS
11 complaints- • I HAVE EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT WOBBLE IN MY FRONT END OF THE 2011 FORD 250 CREW CAB DIESEL. HAVE TAKING IT TO A FORD DEALER FOUR TIMES , THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT 50+ THE TRUCK SHIMMIES SO BAD I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP TO STOP THE SHIMMY. I'M AT THE POINT WHERE IT F
- • MY 2011 FORD F250 DIESEL 4X4 CREW CAB 6.5' BED HAS EXPERIENCED UNEXPLAINABLE SUSPENSION VIBRATIONS AND WOBBLES OVER THE COURSE OF ITS, NOW, 13.5K MILE LIFE. THE TRUCK, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THE WHEELS AND TIRES WERE BALANCE, BOUNCES AT 45-70 MPH AND BOUNCES AT A VERY DANGEROUS LEVEL AT HIGHER SP
- • AS I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD AT A SPEED THAT WAS GREATER THAN 50 MPH I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY THAT I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO FALL OFF. THIS HAD HAPPENED BEGINNING AROUND LATE NOVEMBER EARLY DECEMBER OF 2012. IT DID IT
“I HAVE EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT WOBBLE IN MY FRONT END OF THE 2011 FORD 250 CREW CAB DIESEL. HAVE TAKING IT TO A FORD DEALER FOUR TIMES , THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AT 50+ THE TRUCK SHIMMIES SO BAD I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP TO STOP THE SHIMMY. I'M AT THE POINT WHERE IT F”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 189 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: FORD F 250 DEATH WOBBLE- HIT A BUMP AT SPEED ABOVE 30 MPH AND THE STEEERING WHEEL BEGINS AN UNCONTRILLABLE WOBBLE. IN FACT THE WHOLE TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE TRUCK HAS ACTUALLY JUMP SIDEWAYS INTO THE ON COMMING LANE. *TT PRREVOIUSLY REPORTS IN NHTSA FOR PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS VEHICLE (NHTSA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: FRONT / FRAME VIBRATION AND BOUNCING AFTER HITTING A HOLE OR AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THAT SEEM TO BE PRODUCING FRAME VIBRATION DUE TO A HARMONIC FREQUENCY GENERATED BY THE TIRES AND ROAD SPEEDS EXAGGERATING AN ENGINEERING DEFECT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TRUCK STALLS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, WHEN PULLING ON TO HIGHWAY. *KB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED DUE TO WHAT FORD CALLS CONTAMINATED FUEL. SINCE MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 12,000 MILES ON IT I ASSUMED WARRANTY WOULD COVER A MECHANICAL FAILURE. BUT FORD SAYS THAT CONTAMINATES GOT INTO MY SYSTEM PAST THE FUEL FILTERS HPFP HOW IN THE WORLD AM I TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUALIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford F-250 SD — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 189
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 6
- Injury reports
- 8
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Ford F-250 SD