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2011 Ford F-250: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

248 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 212 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 248 complaints (44.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior7229.0%
Braking behavior3413.7%
Fuel system concerns135.2%
Transmission and shifting114.4%
Engine operation52.0%
Electrical and battery issues52.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Suspension
109
Steering
102
Engine
30
Fuel/Propulsion System
18
Unknown Or Other
18
Wheels
17
Power Train
13
Electrical System
10
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension109
Steering102
Engine30
Fuel/Propulsion System18
Unknown Or Other18
Wheels17
Power Train13
Electrical System10

Suspension: 109; Steering: 102; Engine: 30; Fuel/Propulsion System: 18; Unknown Or Other: 18; Wheels: 17; Power Train: 13; Electrical System: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
39
25,000 to 49,999
35
50,000 to 74,999
37
75,000 to 99,999
32
100,000 to 149,999
38
150,000 and above
31
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00039
25,000 to 49,99935
50,000 to 74,99937
75,000 to 99,99932
100,000 to 149,99938
150,000 and above31

Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 32; 100,000 to 149,999: 38; 150,000 and above: 31

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
6
2012
13
2013
25
2014
20
2015
26
2016
19
2017
13
2018
17
2019
30
2020
24
2021
23
2022
11
2023
8
2024
5
2025
8
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20116
201213
201325
201420
201526
201619
201713
201817
201930
202024
202123
202211
20238
20245
20258

2011: 6; 2012: 13; 2013: 25; 2014: 20; 2015: 26; 2016: 19; 2017: 13; 2018: 17; 2019: 30; 2020: 24; 2021: 23; 2022: 11; 2023: 8; 2024: 5; 2025: 8

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 72 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10396291 · 2011-04-12 (April 12, 2011)

2011 FORD F-250. CONSUMER STATES SIX INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN UNEXPECTED, UNEXPLAINED HIGH ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED TWO OF THE SIX INCIDENTS WERE AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND SO FORCEFUL, THAT IT NEARLY PROPELLED THE VEHICLE INTO OTHER VEHICLES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10396291 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10398206 · 2011-04-29 (April 29, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT WITH GREATER FORCE, AND THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SENDING INCORRECT SIGNALS. THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HESITATE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10400454 · 2011-05-10 (May 10, 2011)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400454 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10424121 · 2011-09-07 (September 7, 2011)

WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL ON A ROAD IN NH, AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWN SHIFTED FROM 6TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR AND THEN WITHIN 2 SECONDS THEN DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR CAUSING SUDDEN AND SWIFT REDUCTION IN SPEED. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED. ROADS WERE DRY AND NO ONE WAS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DOWNLOADED THE MOST CURRENT PATCHES FOR MY TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER (8/27/11) THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AGAIN, GOING DOWNHILL ABOUT 60 MPH, AUTOMATIC …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424121 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10426291 · 2011-09-19 (September 19, 2011)

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 ON. SAN TAN FORD HAD NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM UNTIL FORD RELEASE A FIX AND ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE ARE 120 PEOPLE WAITING FOR TANKS. HOW CAN FORD CONTINUE TO SELL THESE F250'S IF THE DEF TANKS ARE NOT WORKING AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE OUT …

Owner-reported narrative. 19,578 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426291 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10438881 · 2011-12-07 (December 7, 2011)

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 WE REPLACED HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WE HAVE LEARNED ONLINE WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438881 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10442482 · 2012-01-05 (January 5, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT OPERATED AS NORMAL UPON RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BEGIN ACCELERATING FROM STOPS IN FIFTH GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442482 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447329 · 2012-02-09 (February 9, 2012)

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. SEARCHED GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE FOR F250 DEATH WOBBLE. RESULTS ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. NO FIX OR ANSWER TO PROBLEM. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. NEEDS NHTSA TO GET INVOLVED AND REVIEW. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447329 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

10V659000 · Structure:Body

Reported: 2010-12-29 (December 29, 2010)

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, EDGE AND LINCOLN MKX VEHICLES. DURING A SIX-DAY PRODUCTION PERIOD, THE SUPPLIER OF THE BODY CONTROL MODULE MANUFACTURED MODULES THAT MAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INTERNAL SHORT.

Consequence: IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DEVELOPS, AN OVERHEATING CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
11V128000 · Electrical System:Software

Reported: 2011-02-24 (February 24, 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.

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

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗