Is the 2011 Ford F-250 reliable?

The 2011 Ford F-250 has 384 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.0x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: SUSPENSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2011 Ford F-250?

Top problems: SUSPENSION (111 complaints, avg repair $500); STEERING (102 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (41 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2011 Ford F-250?

Yes, there are 2 recall(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, STRUCTURE:BODY. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2011 Ford F-250?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2011 Ford F-250 is approximately $1,366/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-250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford F-250 has 384 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 384. The most common issue is suspension problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: this vehicle has severe front end wobble which mostly occurs between the speeds of 60 - 70 mph. the steering wheel and entire vehicle begins to violently wobble so much that usually the vehicle has to be stopped on the side of the road to stop the wobble. the dealership suggested new tires which w. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 5 crash reports 1 injury

384

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

SUSPENSION

111 complaints

29%

• THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERE FRONT END WOBBLE WHICH MOSTLY OCCURS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 60 - 70 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY WOBBLE SO MUCH THAT USUALLY THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP THE WOBBLE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED NEW TIRES WHICH W
• VIOLENT FRONT END WOBBLE - DEATH WOBBLE - WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH, ON INTERSTATE HWY, WITH MODERATE ROUGH ROAD, SEVERE FRONT-END SHAKE FROM TWO FRONT TIRES WOBBLING. MUST SLOW, QUICKLY, TO LESS THAN 30 MPH TO STOP WOBBLE. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE SIMILAR EVENTS OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS. SEARCHE
• AT HIGH SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH, IF TRUCK HITS A BUMP, FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER HAS NO ANSWER. ON INTERNET MANY OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. CALLED "DEATH RATTLE". *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERE FRONT END WOBBLE WHICH MOSTLY OCCURS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 60 - 70 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY WOBBLE SO MUCH THAT USUALLY THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP THE WOBBLE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED NEW TIRES WHICH W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2011 Ford F-250

Based on 331 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 70K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

Earlier than typicalmedian 64K mi · 87 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

Earlier than typicalmedian 62K mi · 21 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

WHEELS

Earlier than typicalmedian 65K mi · 16 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

Earlier than typicalmedian 82K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

Earlier than typicalmedian 28K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Earlier than typicalmedian 28K mi · 5 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 (2)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE24/02/2011

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 INTERNAL SHORT.

Risk: IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DEVELOPS, AN OVERHEATING CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

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 AT 1-866-436-7332.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2011 Ford F-250

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

$1,366

Full coverage / month

$114

Liability only / year

$611

vs US avg

-18%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age0.85x

= Full coverage estimate$1366

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

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford F-250 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-250, 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.

Estimated Repair Costs

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 384 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SUSPENSION: THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERE FRONT END WOBBLE WHICH MOSTLY OCCURS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 60 - 70 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY WOBBLE SO MUCH THAT USUALLY THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP THE WOBBLE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED NEW TIRES WHICH W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERE FRONT END WOBBLE WHICH MOSTLY OCCURS BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 60 - 70 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL AND ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIOLENTLY WOBBLE SO MUCH THAT USUALLY THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP THE WOBBLE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED NEW TIRES WHICH W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND WIRING HARNESS AREA AS IT ENTERS THE FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THE DEF TANK CONTINUES TO THROW A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO CURRENT FIX TO THE ISSUE. MY DEF TANK WAS REPLACED WITH A UNIT OFF ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE LOT AND WAS TOLD THAT I COULD BE LEFT STRANDED IF THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)