2011 Ford F-250

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford F-250 has 384 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.8x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 5 crash reports 1 injury

384

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

STEERING

102 complaints

27%

• 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💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

41 complaints

11%

• 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.
• LOUD METALLIC RAPPING SOUNDS EMANATING FROM ENGINE DURING COLD WEATHER START-UPS. UNKNOWN MECHANICAL DEFECT IN MOTOR. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS AN OBSTRUCTED EXHAUST GAS RECI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

23 complaints

• 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
• FUEL SYSTEM FAILED, FILTER HOUSING SPLIT OPEN BEFORE SERVICE INTERVAL, DIESEL FUEL SPRAYED OVER ENTIRE ENGINE, NO FIRE BUT IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR
• OUR FIRST F150 ECOBOOST PURCHASED IN JULY 2011 WAS TAKEN BY FORD AS A LEMON. THE REPLACEMENT TRUCK PROVIDED IN NOVEMBER 2011 HAS THE SAME ISSUES. WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN ON A FREEWAY OUR V6 ECOBOOST F150 TRUCK ENGINE STARTS TO SHUDDER, SHAKE AND THEN RAPIDLY LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

19 complaints

• DRIVING EAST BOUND ON THE 91 FREEWAY IN THE DIAMOND LANE I DROVE OVER A ROADWAY IMPERFECTION. AS SOON AS I HIT IT WITH MY LEFT FRONT TIRE THE VEHICLE MADE A VIOLENT MOTION TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO STRIKE THE CENTER DIVIDER. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES BEFORE I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO
• PULLING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER UP A HILL AT 50MPH THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN VERY ABRUPTLY. NO ALARMS OR LIGHTS THAT I SAW. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A MINUTE OR SO, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT RESTARTED, OIL TEMP AT 240, TRANS: TEMP AT 201. FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND TRACTION SENSOR INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO

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

“DRIVING EAST BOUND ON THE 91 FREEWAY IN THE DIAMOND LANE I DROVE OVER A ROADWAY IMPERFECTION. AS SOON AS I HIT IT WITH MY LEFT FRONT TIRE THE VEHICLE MADE A VIOLENT MOTION TO THE LEFT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO STRIKE THE CENTER DIVIDER. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES BEFORE I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)