2011 Ford F-150: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
56%
1,176 of 2,137 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
56% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Ford F-150 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 73% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
ENGINE02/18/2025CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owned a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 15 MPH and making a left turn, in the middle of the turn, the instrument panel turned off, and the vehicle jerked forward before losing automotive power. The contact was not able to clear the intersection in time and the vehicle crashed into anoth…
POWER TRAIN11/22/2023CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owned a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly jerked, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and swerve into the next lane. As a result, the contact's vehicle was T-boned on the passenger's side by an oncoming vehicle. The air bags did deplo…
POWER TRAIN12/13/2022CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted into first gear. As a result, the contact crashed into a guard rail. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained an injury to his head. Medical attention was required. A…
Three of 1,176 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (6)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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 …
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 v…
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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 REQUIREME…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2011 Ford F-150
Ask the seller whether the transmission has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many transmission faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the transmission.
6 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A transmission already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.
