
2011 Ford F-450
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Ford F-450 has 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (42% of all complaints), specifically: engine logo light came on; then red sign came on " stop safely now". i pulled to the shoulder and the engine stopped. i waited 30 minutes or so and the engine started again. i drove starting and stopping to a ford dealer in clarion, pa. slept in the truck all night and the next morning [xxx] ran the. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
12
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
5 complaints- • ENGINE LOGO LIGHT CAME ON; THEN RED SIGN CAME ON " STOP SAFELY NOW". I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAITED 30 MINUTES OR SO AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I DROVE STARTING AND STOPPING TO A FORD DEALER IN CLARION, PA. SLEPT IN THE TRUCK ALL NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING [XXX] RAN THE
- • ENGINE LOGO LIGHT CAME ON; THEN RED SIGN CAME ON " STOP SAFELY NOW". I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAITED 30 MINUTES OR SO AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I DROVE STARTING AND STOPPING TO A FORD DEALER IN CLARION, PA. SLEPT IN THE TRUCK ALL NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING [XXX] RAN THE
- • DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 75 M.P.H. (SPEED LIMIT 75) THE MOTOR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART., LUCKILY MADE IT TO SHOULDER AFTER DODGING TRAFFIC. AFTER TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING EGT EXHAUST SENSOR. *TR
“ENGINE LOGO LIGHT CAME ON; THEN RED SIGN CAME ON " STOP SAFELY NOW". I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAITED 30 MINUTES OR SO AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I DROVE STARTING AND STOPPING TO A FORD DEALER IN CLARION, PA. SLEPT IN THE TRUCK ALL NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING [XXX] RAN THE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE AND THE STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE STEERING PARTS REPLA
- • The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-450. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel started to shake abnormally. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while accelerating at high speeds, or while driving in inclement weather, the steering
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE AND THE STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE STEERING PARTS REPLA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
1 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTI
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
1 complaints- • I HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, OR FOUR WAY/EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON MY FIFTH WHEEL WHEN TOWING. THIS IS AT ANY TIME HOOKED UP TO THE TRUCK. OTHERWISE ON THE TRUCK ITSELF ALL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY.
“I HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, OR FOUR WAY/EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON MY FIFTH WHEEL WHEN TOWING. THIS IS AT ANY TIME HOOKED UP TO THE TRUCK. OTHERWISE ON THE TRUCK ITSELF ALL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
1 complaints- • I HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, OR FOUR WAY/EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON MY FIFTH WHEEL WHEN TOWING. THIS IS AT ANY TIME HOOKED UP TO THE TRUCK. OTHERWISE ON THE TRUCK ITSELF ALL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY.
“I HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, OR FOUR WAY/EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON MY FIFTH WHEEL WHEN TOWING. THIS IS AT ANY TIME HOOKED UP TO THE TRUCK. OTHERWISE ON THE TRUCK ITSELF ALL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY.”
— 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 12 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: ENGINE LOGO LIGHT CAME ON; THEN RED SIGN CAME ON " STOP SAFELY NOW". I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAITED 30 MINUTES OR SO AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I DROVE STARTING AND STOPPING TO A FORD DEALER IN CLARION, PA. SLEPT IN THE TRUCK ALL NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING [XXX] RAN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE AND THE STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE STEERING PARTS REPLA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: I HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, OR FOUR WAY/EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON MY FIFTH WHEEL WHEN TOWING. THIS IS AT ANY TIME HOOKED UP TO THE TRUCK. OTHERWISE ON THE TRUCK ITSELF ALL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford F-450 — 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
- 12
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Ford F-450