"How reliable is the 2011 Ford F-150?"

"Based on 2938 NHTSA complaints, the 2011 Ford F-150 has a median complaint mileage of 68500 miles. The most common issue is Power Train."

"What are common problems with the 2011 Ford F-150?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Ford F-150 is Power Train, accounting for a significant portion of the 2938 total complaints filed."

2011 Ford F-150: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2938 complaints

2938

Total Complaints

68,500mi

Median Mileage

Power Train

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

38,189 25th Percentile

68,500 Median Mileage

109,880 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Power Train

793

Engine

478

Steering

415

Electrical System

215

Vehicle Speed Control

205

Service Brakes

161

Unknown Or Other

111

Visibility/Wiper

Fuel/Propulsion System

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, HE WOULD FEEL A BUMP COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT RETURNED TO THE STRAIGHTENED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COMPONEN..."

"TRANSMISSION SLAMS BETWEEN GEARS AND THE DRIVE TRAIN "ACTS" LIKE IT IS STICKING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS GOING AROUND CORNERS AND STARTING OUT WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BREAK OR EVEN WORSE WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY ..."

"TRANSMISSION FLUID POURS OUT OF OVERFLOW WHEN UNDER LOAD (PULLING A TRAILER). THIS FLUID DUMPS ON EXHAUST SYSTEM AND STARTS A FIRE. THIS ACCRUED AT 2,500 MILES ON JUNE 25, 2011. TRUCK IS STILL AT DEALER, NO RESOLUTION. *TR"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Power Train 793 complaints

25th: 56,125 mi Median: 95,500 mi 75th: 140,000 mi

Engine 478 complaints

25th: 25,000 mi Median: 52,750 mi 75th: 85,000 mi

Steering 415 complaints

25th: 44,549 mi Median: 76,450 mi 75th: 109,960 mi

Electrical System 215 complaints

25th: 42,378 mi Median: 66,500 mi 75th: 115,625 mi

Vehicle Speed Control 205 complaints

25th: 31,726 mi Median: 57,000 mi 75th: 96,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 307 FL: 189 MI: 173 CA: 143 OH: 134 PA: 120 GA: 116 IL: 90 MO: 88 AZ: 78

Who Files Complaints?

1.3%

Original Owners

98.7%

Second+ Owners

Ford F-150 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1990	25	76,696	Fuel/Propulsion System	0
1991	357	110,000	Tank Assembly	12
1992	553	130,325	Selector Devices	25
1993	753	140,000	Tank Assembly	32
1994	908	130,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	79
1995	788	117,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	61
1996	383	113,250	Cruise Control	22
1997	3285	108,000	Engine	205
1998	1624	112,337	Fuel System, Gasoline	96
1999	1322	98,000	Engine	116
2000	1269	91,032	Fuel System, Gasoline	102
2001	1451	98,000	Vehicle Speed Control	113
2002	963	90,000	Engine And Engine Cooling	63
2003	520	64,266	Electrical System	57
2004	2429	59,312	Power Window Devices And Controls	99
2005	1363	62,000	Power Window Devices And Controls	66
2006	735	62,000	Engine	72
2007	623	60,000	Engine	51
2008	455	60,346	Engine	48
2009	397	53,500	Vehicle Speed Control	34
2010	1131	56,183	Electrical System	33
2012	2422	59,000	Power Train	57
2013	3849	72,000	Power Train	102
2014	1859	64,000	Power Train	56
2015	2036	48,000	Service Brakes	64
2016	2373	42,000	Power Train	67
2017	1595	46,500	Power Train	47
2018	2627	38,000	Power Train	104
2019	1532	59,142	Power Train	30
2020	797	33,000	Power Train	30
2021	1138	40,000	Power Train	19
2022	702	25,000	Power Train	29
2023	494	18,614	Power Train	25
2024	195	3,700	Exterior Lighting	25
2025	112	6,500	Power Train	7

Active Recalls (6)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Campaign 19V075000 | 11/02/2019

Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S07.

Automatic Transmission

Campaign 16V248000 | 27/04/2016

An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.

Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Campaign 12V190000 | 03/05/2012

IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR WHEN THE DRIVER PUSHES THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE R POSITION AND THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION DOES GO IN REVERSE, THE R MAY NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE F-150, EXPEDITION, OR NAVIGATOR MODELS AND/OR THE BACKUP LAMP

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TRS AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Automatic Transmission

Campaign 11V582000 | 08/12/2011

THIS WILL ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO INADVERTENTLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR INJURY TO A NEARBY PEDESTRIAN.

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH FUNCTION AND REPLACE THE SWITCH IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Software

Campaign 11V128000 | 24/02/2011

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

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.

Body

Campaign 10V659000 | 29/12/2010

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

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.

Extend Your Transmission Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately

Compare Ford F-150

vs Chevrolet Silverado 1500 →

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

2011 Ford F-150 parts on Amazon

→

Affiliate link

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28