Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Ford F-250 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated while her husband was driving at an unknown speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) heater and the sending unit to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF heater to be replaced for the second time. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure for a third time. The contact took the vehicle back to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF heater to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure for a fourth time. …
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle vigorously shuddered. In addition, the contact allowed the vehicle to decelerate independently to come to a stop. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Hold down clamps for the fuel injectors are breaking or coming loose on diesel engine. Injectors are not visible for a person to look at as they are buried by covers. Due to the injector coming loose it would allow combustion gasses to escape the cylinder causing other injectors to become damaged and possibly causing a fire. This issue has happened 2 times on my truck and both times the Ford Technicians stated that it is not something that should happen. Vehicle was inspected/fixed by Ford dealership Techs back in March of 2021 and again in May of 2021(still there at this time). A check engine light came on and i immediately drove to the dealership both times. I will provide a picture of a Ford tech site where they talk about this issue happening and their internal memo. Ford at this time refuses to fix the issue and is making me pay for their defective parts.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford f-250. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle vibrated, emitted a knocking noise, and the engine emitted smoke. The contact was able to coast onto the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed and a failure code for the engine valve was detected. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.
Our lady of the lakes road in st. Martin parish, louisiana, is a curvy road. The "service advance track and hill descent control, check engine light and break light" came on. The "!" and the "ABS" light came on. Break pedal was hard to depress, while in motion. Fire started under the hood and burnt front seats and engine on
Driving through my neighborhood at approximately 30mph. Less than a mile from my house, vehicle displays warning to stop vehicle safely. I began to turn into a driveway so that I could turn around and head back home and the vehicle shut down. My truck was now blocking the roadway and a person's driveway at the only entrance to the subdivision during the morning commute hours. I shut the truck off, and tried to re-start it, but it would not re-start. The vehicle would not shift into neutral so that I could push it out of the roadway. I had to call a tow truck to haul the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership said it was a faulty sensor. (this was the second indecent for me involving a faulty engine sensor.) I have spent more that $300 fixing sensors that should not fail. Leaving me stranded in the middle of a roadway, blocking traffic. …
Driver was piloting vehicle through turn at intersection fully loaded with salt and a snow plow. Vehicle dash display read shut down vehicle safely and then immediately shut the vehicle down. Truck was stranded impeding traffic for 40 minutes until a good samaritan was able to pull it back out of the intersection. Vehicle was towed to dealer and egt exhaust temp sensor was found to be bad. The charge was $100 for the work plus the tow bill which was $113.50. This is a safety issue. I use this and another truck with the same engine (also submitted complaint for that VIN) to tow and heavy haul all the time. This is not safe if it happens when traveling down hill, fully loaded and the truck shuts down. That is not safe, but in fact rather scary.
My vehicle has experienced no power while accelerating onto a state highway. Acceleration was extremely slow and created a dangerous situation in which the vehicle had to be pulled over on the shoulder immediately to move out of the way of traffic, which was very far away when I initial pulled out on the highway. This occurred multiple times and at random. The vehicle could only reach 40 MPH on flat highway and while driving on mountain roads, this would decrease to a maximum speed of 20 MPH. This would create a significantly dangerous situation if on was crossing an intersection with oncoming traffic. And
Started vehicle and drove about 1/4 mile and warning came on to find a safe place to pull over. Check engine light came on. Soon as I slowed down and stopped the engine shut off. Had to have it towed to dealer. Was told it was a bad sensor. Something to do with EGR/ oil pressure. This is second time this happen. Previous time was while driving through town, stopped at a red light and truck shut off for overheating. Again had to tow it in, and again was a bad sensor sensing the truck had overheated. Nothing wrong with the truck either time except sensor.
Turned onto busy highway, vehicle warning chimed a few times and message center said 'stop safely now" vehicle slowed down and then shut off in the middle if an intersection with no prior warning. I had to have my wife exit the vehicle to a safe location and then have the vehicle pushed out of the intersection. I contacted a towing company to have the truck towed to a local Ford shop. They diagnosed it as a failed number 4 egt sensor. Upon further investigation I have found that this is a know problem.
Engine complaints in other F-250 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2011 Ford F-250?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2011 Ford F-250, 15% of the model year's 248 complaints. The component named most often is engine › diesel (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Ford F-250 engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2011 Ford F-250, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford F-250 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.