2011 Ford F-350 Problems & Complaints

Averageabout as many complaints as a typical year of the F-350 at the same age

Owners have filed 136 complaints about the 2011 Ford F-350 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the F-350 at the same age. The most reported problem area is the steering (50 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles). 4 recalls cover this model year.

136complaints
4recalls
4crashes
3fires
5injuries
0deaths

Most common 2011 Ford F-350 problems

  • Steering~69,000 miles
    5037%
  • Suspension~69,000 miles
    4533%
  • Engine & cooling~61,000 miles
    2720%
  • 2015%
  • Wheels & tires~28,000 miles
    129%
  • Electrical system~72,000 miles
    118%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~30,000 miles
    97%
  • Other / not specified~91,000 miles
    86%
  • Speed control & acceleration~35,000 miles
    54%
  • Brakes~30,000 miles
    43%
  • Body & structure~79,000 miles
    32%
  • Stability & traction control~125,000 miles
    21%
  • Equipment & accessories
    21%
  • A/C & heater~59,000 miles
    11%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof~50,000 miles
    11%
  • Air bags~38,000 miles
    11%
  • Lights~105,000 miles
    11%
  • Locks & latches~70,000 miles
    11%

Share of the 136 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Ford F-350 complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’11’12’13’14134130155124133041601169015911414536131281361497691
Owner complaints per model year, Ford F-350. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best F-350 years: 2009, 2007, 2013. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1997. Compare all years →

2011 Ford F-350 recalls (4)

Equipment

NHTSA recall 14V-498 · Aug 13, 2014 · 3 vehicles

PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co., (PJ's) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis modified by PJ's and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Remedy: PJ's has notified owners and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2014.

Engine

NHTSA recall 13V-535 · Oct 30, 2013 · 2,951 vehicles

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.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the exhaust gas temperature sensor, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2013.

Electrical system › Software

NHTSA recall 11V-128 · Feb 24, 2011 · 8,022 vehicles

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)…

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.

Structure › Body

NHTSA recall 10V-659 · Dec 29, 2010 · 14,737 vehicles

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.

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.

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Ford F-350:

Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown

NHTSA investigation RQ14005 · opened Jan 13, 2015 · closed Mar 15, 2016 · led to recall 15V-175

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V-535 were inadequate. Recall 13V-535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect.

What 2011 Ford F-350 owners say

Steering all 50 →

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced a Death Wobble. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel were shuddering violently from the right to the left, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to regain control of the vehicle upon decelerating to 10 MPH. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to Litchfield Auto Repair, where the axle track bar ball joint, the steering damper, the drag link, and the tie rod or the tie rod end were replaced. Additionally, the mechanic performed the front alignment; however, the failure recurred while driving 75 MPH and hitting a bump. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, and the contact was informed that the previous repair was performed correctly. …

230,000 miles · Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the steering column and the front-end of the vehicle started shuddering significantly. The contact depressed the brake pedal and slowed down significantly until the vehicle operated as needed. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred a second time while driving over a bump on the roadway. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred a third time while his wife was driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

47,000 miles · Oct 2023

Suspension all 45 →

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle experienced a Death Wobble. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel were shuddering violently from the right to the left, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to regain control of the vehicle upon decelerating to 10 MPH. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to Litchfield Auto Repair, where the axle track bar ball joint, the steering damper, the drag link, and the tie rod or the tie rod end were replaced. Additionally, the mechanic performed the front alignment; however, the failure recurred while driving 75 MPH and hitting a bump. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, and the contact was informed that the previous repair was performed correctly. …

230,000 miles · Oct 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the steering column and the front-end of the vehicle started shuddering significantly. The contact depressed the brake pedal and slowed down significantly until the vehicle operated as needed. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure occurred a second time while driving over a bump on the roadway. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred a third time while his wife was driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

47,000 miles · Oct 2023

Engine & cooling all 27 →

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the mechanic replaced the EGR cooler; however, the failure recurred. The contact linked the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21M04 (Exhaust Gas Recirculation Cooler). The vehicle was taken to a secondary dealer, Heartland Ford (5979 US Hwy 136, Covington, IN 47932) however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (EGR valve) · 75,000 miles · Sep 2015

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. During the failure, diesel fuel and oil spilled from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the strap that secured the fuel injectors had failed, causing the fuel injectors to eject from the engine. The contact was advised that the fuel injector straps, fuel injectors, and several fuel hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000.

40,000 miles · Feb 2025

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Ford F-350 a good car?

Based on 136 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 F-350 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the F-350 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Ford F-350?

The steering — 50 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about hydraulic power assist system. Next are the suspension (45) and engine & cooling (27).

How many recalls does the 2011 Ford F-350 have?

There are 4 recalls for the 2011 Ford F-350, the most recent from August 13, 2014 (equipment). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-350?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2007 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000 and 1997. See the full Ford F-350 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2011 Ford F-350 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 46% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

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.