2011 Ford F-350 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
49% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Ford F-350 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 63% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Looking at a specific F-350?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.
Check a VINDoes the 2011 Ford F-350 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 24 of 50 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford F-350 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%), and the largest group is filed under engine (12). For comparison, the 2010 scores 22% and the 2012 scores 34%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
Cleaner alternatives
Same car, a better year
Other heavy-duty pickups with no elevated signal in 2011
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
Three of 24 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Ford F-350?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Ford F-350 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 F-350/450/550 Ambulance Package vehicles manufactured February 22, 2010, through October 19, 2012 and equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine. Due to an exhaust sensor problem, the vehicles may experience loss of power followed by an engine stall.
Risk: An unexpected engine stall increases the risk of a crash. Additionally, if this were to occur when the ambulance is transporting a patient, there is an increased risk of injury to the patient.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the exhaust gas temperature sensor, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Before you buy a 2011 Ford F-350
- Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
- Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine 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 engine.
- 4 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 engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2011 Ford F-350
Does the 2011 Ford F-350 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 24 of 50 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford F-350 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Ford F-350?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2011 Ford F-350 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 13V535000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ford F-350 years are better?
Among the Ford F-350 years we track, the 2018 (7%), the 2019 (9%) and the 2017 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (49%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2011 Ford F-350?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2011 Ford F-350 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
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.
Check a VINExperimental 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.