Model year report

2011 Ford F-150: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2011 Ford F-150

On the 2011 Ford F-150, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, and the reports cluster around 96,000 miles. The earliest to appear is steering column or shaft failure, reported by a median of 20,000 miles. Overall it scores 73 out of 100, high risk for a 2011.

High risk for a 2011 — 82nd riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. 2,979 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

What breaks on the 2011 Ford F-150

Owners have reported 78 named failure modes on the 2011 Ford F-150, and the three most-reported carry 42% of everything filed.

Other powertrain problem leads with 618 reports, about 1.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 56k to 139,000 miles.

Other engine problem follows with 351 reports, usually reported between 20k to 77,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.

Other steering problem follows with 271 reports, usually reported between 50k to 121,000 miles.

By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (675), engine (581) and steering (410).

When these failures get reported

2,453 of the reports on the 2011 Ford F-150 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 69,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 35% by 50,000 miles, 70% by 100,000 miles and 90% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 67 filed above the top of the chart.

The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 9% of the dated reports.

24% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.

In the order they tend to show up: steering column or shaft failure around 22k, stalling while driving around 36k, CV axle or driveshaft failure around 39k and other engine problem around 45k.

Median

Other powertrain problem

96k
Other engine problem

45k
Other steering problem

81k
Other speed control problem

52k
Other electrical problem

65k
Other visibility problem

61k
Misfire or rough idle

51k
Other brake problem

60k
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure

52k
Other fuel system problem

47k
Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure

123k
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure

90k

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 78. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 68.5k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 67 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

What happens when these parts fail

Across the named modes, 72 mention a crash, 26 a fire and 39 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.18, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other steering problem at $350–$2,400 and other speed control problem at $250–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

44% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Other powertrain problem	transmission	618	467	56k	96k	139k	1.5	$400–$4,500	High
Other engine problem	engine	351	322	20k	45k	77k	0.8	$300–$4,000	High
Other steering problem	steering	271	233	50k	81k	121k	0.6	$350–$2,400	High
Other speed control problem	adas	156	111	25k	52k	95k	0.4	$250–$2,000	Critical
Other electrical problem	electrical	149	124	42k	65k	116k	0.4	$250–$2,000	Moderate
Other visibility problem	glass	135	130	36k	61k	82k	0.3	$150–$1,400	Moderate
Misfire or rough idle	engine	126	126	15k	51k	72k	0.3	$250–$1,600	Moderate
Other brake problem	brakes	102	83	42k	60k	100k	0.2	$300–$1,800	High
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure	steering	95	91	22k	52k	89k	0.2	$700–$2,600	High
Other fuel system problem	fuel	73	68	16k	47k	76k	0.2	$300–$2,200	High
Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure	electrical	61	44	89k	123k	150k	0.1	$700–$3,000	High
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure	engine	52	40	61k	90k	109k	0.1	$1,200–$4,500	Critical
Other body or interior problem	body	45	35	34k	53k	84k	0.1	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Loss of braking	brakes	37	33	27k	57k	70k	0.1	$400–$3,000	Critical
Instrument cluster or gauge failure	infotainment	35	24	66k	110k	128k	0.1	$350–$1,400	Moderate
Loss of power steering	steering	35	25	62k	96k	130k	0.1	$600–$2,800	Critical
Complete transmission failure	transmission	33	28	70k	114k	166k	0.1	$2,800–$8,000	Critical
Tail light, brake light or signal failure	lighting	32	23	49k	72k	129k	0.1	$100–$900	Moderate
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	31	19	25k	76k	124k	0.1	$200–$1,500	High
Other driver assistance problem	adas	30	27	53k	81k	138k	0.1	$250–$1,800	High
Master cylinder or brake booster failure	brakes	25	19	27k	52k	80k	0.1	$450–$2,200	Critical
Wiring harness or short circuit	electrical	24	23	42k	50k	96k	0.1	$400–$3,500	High
Cruise control failure	adas	22	15	59k	105k	115k	0.1	$200–$1,400	High
No-start or intermittent start failure	engine	20	13	52k	100k	140k	0.0	$200–$1,800	Moderate
ABS module or sensor failure	brakes	17	16	70k	126k	176k	0.0	$500–$2,400	High
Catalytic converter failure	emissions	17	17	25k	48k	56k	0.0	$900–$3,500	Moderate
Software fault or failed update	software	17	12	29k	70k	107k	0.0	$0–$600	Moderate
CV axle or driveshaft failure	drivetrain	16	15	30k	39k	113k	0.0	$450–$2,200	High
Airbag inflator rupture	airbag	16	15	60k	100k	116k	0.0	$0–$0	Critical
Stalling while driving	engine	14	12	20k	36k	50k	0.0	$300–$2,500	Critical
Other lighting problem	lighting	14	11	37k	75k	121k	0.0	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Overheating	cooling	12	10	67k	76k	100k	0.0	$400–$3,500	High
Fuel pump failure	fuel	12	8	68k	73k	78k	0.0	$600–$2,600	High
Harsh or jerky shifting	transmission	11	9	75k	91k	139k	0.0	$600–$4,000	Moderate
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	10	7	—	78k	—	0.0	$450–$1,600	High
Backup camera failure	infotainment	10	8	91k	99k	166k	0.0	$250–$1,200	Moderate
Other suspension problem	suspension	10	7	—	30k	—	0.0	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Steering column or shaft failure	steering	9	9	20k	22k	56k	0.0	$600–$2,500	Critical
Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin	emissions	9	6	—	93k	—	0.0	$250–$2,000	High
Radiator or coolant leak	cooling	7	6	—	39k	—	0.0	$350–$1,900	High
Differential or transfer case failure	drivetrain	7	4	—	53k	—	0.0	$900–$4,200	High
Infotainment screen failure	infotainment	7	4	—	89k	—	0.0	$400–$2,600	Low
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	7	4	—	83k	—	0.0	$200–$900	High
Sunroof failure or glass breakage	body	7	6	—	40	—	0.0	$700–$4,500	High
Complete engine failure or seizure	engine	6	6	—	149k	—	0.0	$4,500–$12,000	Critical
Fuel gauge or level sensor failure	fuel	6	6	—	78k	—	0.0	$300–$1,200	Moderate
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	6	5	—	43k	—	0.0	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Turbocharger or supercharger failure	engine	5	5	—	48k	—	0.0	$1,500–$4,500	High
Transmission will not engage a gear	transmission	5	3	—	56k	—	0.0	$1,500–$6,000	Critical
Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure	transmission	5	5	—	117k	—	0.0	$250–$1,400	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	5	5	—	75k	—	0.0	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Tire blowout or tread separation	wheels	5	5	—	70k	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	Critical
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault	airbag	4	1	—	12	—	0.0	$300–$1,600	High
Engine bay fire	engine	3	3	—	5k	—	0.0	$4,000–$20,000	Critical
Audio or connectivity failure	infotainment	3	1	—	5k	—	0.0	$150–$900	Low
Parking brake failure	brakes	3	1	—	91k	—	0.0	$250–$1,300	Moderate
Strut, shock or spring failure	suspension	3	3	—	90k	—	0.0	$500–$2,000	Moderate
Blower motor or climate control failure	hvac	3	2	—	80k	—	0.0	$250–$1,200	Moderate
Oil leak	engine	2	2	—	160k	—	0.0	$250–$2,200	Moderate
Engine sensor failure	electrical	2	1	—	37k	—	0.0	$180–$900	Moderate
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure	electrical	2	2	—	144k	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	High
Premature brake pad or rotor wear	brakes	2	1	—	20k	—	0.0	$300–$1,400	Moderate
Lane keep or steering assist fault	adas	2	1	—	220k	—	0.0	$200–$1,600	High
Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure	suspension	2	1	—	88k	—	0.0	$400–$2,200	High
Door latch or handle failure	body	2	2	—	82k	—	0.0	$250–$1,200	High
Air conditioning failure	hvac	2	2	—	80k	—	0.0	$400–$2,800	Moderate
Electrical fire or melted wiring	electrical	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$1,500–$9,000	Critical
Head gasket failure	engine	1	1	—	40k	—	0.0	$1,400–$4,000	Critical
Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure	engine	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$1,800–$7,000	High
Water pump failure	cooling	1	1	—	129k	—	0.0	$500–$2,200	High
Dual-clutch or clutch-pack failure	transmission	1	1	—	132k	—	0.0	$1,800–$5,500	High
Torque converter failure	transmission	1	1	—	4k	—	0.0	$1,100–$3,200	High
Transmission fluid leak	transmission	1	1	—	167k	—	0.0	$300–$1,800	Moderate
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure	fuel	1	1	—	28k	—	0.0	$250–$1,800	Moderate
Brake line, hose or caliper failure	brakes	1	1	—	35k	—	0.0	$250–$1,600	Critical
Automatic braking for no reason	adas	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$0–$1,500	Critical
Alignment fault and uneven tire wear	suspension	1	1	—	21k	—	0.0	$150–$1,200	Moderate
Rust or structural corrosion	body	1	1	—	70k	—	0.0	$500–$6,000	High
Unclassified problem	other	102	72	55k	83k	108k	0.2	—	Moderate

Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2011 Ford F-150 draws about 7.1 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 90th percentile of complaint rates among 2011 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.

The working figure is 421,017 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2011 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Recalls on the 2011 model year

NHTSA has issued 6 recall campaigns covering the 2011 Ford F-150, affecting an estimated 459,952 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.

The campaigns cover power train:automatic transmission and power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/t. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.

Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.

19V075000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1,263,051 vehicles 2019-02-11

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Consequence: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.

16V248000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

153,581 vehicles 2016-04-27

Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.

12V190000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

10,500 vehicles 2012-05-03

Defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment. these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.
Consequence: 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 on the rear of the f-150, expedition, navigator, or mustang vehicles may not illuminate. These conditions increase the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck due to the vehicles not signaling it is in reverse.
Remedy: 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.

11V582000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

16,091 vehicles 2011-12-08

Defect: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 f-150 vehicles manufactured from september 9, 2011, through september 22, 2011, and model year 2012 f-250, f-350, f-450 and f-550 heavy duty vehicles manufactured from september 12, 2011, through september 22, 2011. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 114, theft protection. the transmission can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.

11V128000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

8,022 vehicles 2011-02-24

Defect: 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…
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.

10V659000

STRUCTURE:BODY

14,737 vehicles 2010-12-29

Defect: 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.

Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.

How it ranks in the 2011 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 2011 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

How 2011 compares with the other years

High risk for a 2011 — 82nd riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.

Across the 30 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1996 comes out best at 63 and 2007 worst at 80, with 2011 itself at 73.

If the model year is negotiable, 1996, 2004, 2005, 1999, 1998, 1997, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2002, 2025, 2000 and 2014 score lower than 2011 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.

Within the 2009–2013 generation specifically, 2010 is the strongest year at 69 and 2011 the weakest at 73.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 2009-2013 generation, 2010 Ford F-150 scores best at 69 and 2011 Ford F-150 worst at 73.

Where to spend the inspection money

The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: misfire or rough idle from about 15k, other fuel system problem from about 16k, other engine problem from about 20k and stalling while driving from about 20k.

On a 2011 Ford F-150 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether misfire or rough idle has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.

None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.

What this page cannot tell you

2,979 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 2,979 reports, 2,453 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 82% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

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

The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (618 reports, median 96,000 miles), other engine problem (351 reports, median 45,000 miles) and other steering problem (271 reports, median 81,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

At what mileage do 2011 Ford F-150 problems start?

Steering column or shaft failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 20,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 20,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 69,000 miles.

Is the 2011 Ford F-150 reliable?

It scores 73 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 82nd riskiest of the 283 2011 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2011 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the Ford F-150 is best?

Within the 2009–2013 generation, 2010 scores best at 69 out of 100 and 2011 worst at 73. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 30 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed