2011 Ford F-150 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (686) · Steering (405) · Engine (231)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-150 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
1,816 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2019-02-11 · campaign 19V075000 · 1,263,051 vehicles
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.
Risk: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2016-04-27 · campaign 16V248000 · 153,581 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Exterior Lighting:back Up Lights 2012-05-03 · campaign 12V190000 · 10,500 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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 CON
Fix: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2011-12-08 · campaign 11V582000 · 16,091 vehicles
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 INTE
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:software 2011-02-24 · campaign 11V128000 · 8,022 vehicles
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 NO
Risk: IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DEVELOPS, AN OVERHEATING CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body 2010-12-29 · campaign 10V659000 · 14,737 vehicles
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.
Risk: IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DEVELOPS, AN OVERHEATING CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (120)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-29 · 25H05 S1 · Other
harvest program 25h05 – supplement #1 certain 2011-2021 model year vehicles software verification harvest program
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-19 · 25H05 · Other
this is a proactive investigation program by ford motor company to inspect a limited number of affected vehicles that are customer-owned. ford is voluntarily conducting this program to evaluate the software currently installed on one or more electronic modules in the affected vehicles.
Wheels 2024-07-24 · TSB 24-2188 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this article supersedes tsb 22-2219 to update the parts list and service procedure to clarify applicable steps by vehicle application. some 2003-2020 expedition/navigator and 2006-2020 f-150 (non-raptor) vehicles equipped with 4wd may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel a
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Engine And Engine Cooling 2024-03-06 · SSM 52334 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2011-2024 mustang and f-150 vehicles equipped with a 5.0l engine may exhibit a tick tap and/or typewriter ticking noise at idle after an engine oil change. it is often referred to as typewriter noise because of its similarity to the sound of a mechanical typewriter. the noise in question may be
Showing the 6 most recent of 120 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-26 · Power Train“ford issued a recall for the lead frame. recall id 19so7 & 16s19. my truck has experienced the issues associated with this recall. last night it was more severe. the truck shifted from 5th to 1st gear unexpectedly. i have already tried to remedy this with ford. i made the appointment on their website to have this fixed in the beginning of spring th…”
2026-10-19 · Power Train · 225,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle experienced a slight loss of motive power, and the transmission failed to shift in synchronization with the engine. the check engine warning light and the service vehicle soon warning light illuminated. a diagnostic scanner retrieved transmission code 6…”
2026-10-16 · Power Train:automatic Transmission · 165,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph, the transmission erroneously downshifted, causing the vehicle to abruptly reduce speed. the contact indicated during the incident that the transmission shifter switched from drive (d) to the first gear independently. the contact was informed that the …”
2026-10-02 · Power Train“my truck will just abruptly downshift no matter how fast im going and it's quite concerning …”
2026-09-25 · Electrical System · 🔥 fire“i was parking the vehicle and turned off the engine when the speakers gave out a loud noise. i turned the truck on to see if it would continue but there was no music and smoke began coming out around the radio. i moved the truck away from building and retrieved the fire extinguisher from the back seat. i noticed the "door ajar" warning was on ev…”
2026-09-20 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“ i bought this truck used about one year ago. since then i have not had much time to use it. in the last three months i have had some time to drive it. three times in those months this issue has occurred. luckily they all occurred on my property and no damage happened except to the truck. first time it happened an exterior mirror was knocked off, a…”
2026-08-27 · Power Train · 351,072 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the transmission independently downshifted from sixth gear into second gear. in addition, several warning lights illuminated. the contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. the dealer was notified of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. the contact ref…”
2026-08-24 · Power Train · 110,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving approximately 50–60 mph, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to third gear. the contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. the vehicle failed to exceed 30 mph while accelerating. the vehicle was taken …”
2026-08-19 · Power Train · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving at speeds above 50 mph, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, causing the vehicle to suddenly decelerate. during the failure, the wrench icon was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was turned off and restarted, and the failure was …”
2026-08-19 · Power Train · 218,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a lower gear. the contact stated that there was smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. the contact stated that smoke was covering the roadway. the vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. the contact st…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.