Ford F-250 SD · model year

2011 Ford F-250 SD

189 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports, and 1 recall campaign listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
189
Recalls
1

The verdict

The 2011 Ford F-250 SD posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

26th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
1
recall campaign

The 2011FordF-250 SD carries 189 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 3 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2011 F-250 SD is steering with 47 filings, followed by suspension (44) and engine (21). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 1 NHTSA recall campaign listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 2011 F-250 SD, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

189
Complaints
8
Crashes
3
Fires
9
Injuries
3
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2011 Ford F-250 SD

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

189 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING47
SUSPENSION44
ENGINE21
WHEELS11
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
POWER TRAIN8
TIRES7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
STRUCTURE:BODY4
SERVICE BRAKES4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
SUSPENSION:FRONT2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2

Recalls (1)

20E09000010/12/2020

STEERING

Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC (Icon) is recalling all 05-UP FSD 2.5 Centerline Stabilizer Kits with part number 65050. The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, p

Recent Complaints

20190626STEERING

I WAS TRAVELLING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 72MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENT AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. MY WIFE DROVE IT AND I WAS BESIDE HER ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT HAPPENED TO HER ALMOST CAUSING HER TO WRECK THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO CALL HER TO CALM HER DOWN. PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

Mileage: 100,000

20190626SUSPENSION

I WAS TRAVELLING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 72MPH AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENT AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. MY WIFE DROVE IT AND I WAS BESIDE HER ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT HAPPENED TO HER ALMOST CAUSING HER TO WRECK THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO CALL HER TO CALM HER DOWN. PLEASE HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

Mileage: 100,000

20190525FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR STARTED SPRAYING DIESEL FUEL ALL OVER THE TOP OF THE MOTOR . THE FUEL IS COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE SENSOR .THIS IS ON 05/25/19 .. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 132214 ON THE MILEAGE . I AM GETTING TIRED OF PAYING FOR A BROKEN TRUCK EVERY WEEK . LAST WEEK ON 05/05/17/19 THE INNER COOLER BOOT DUCT BLEW APART . THAT WAS A $480 FIX .

Mileage: 132,214

20190429SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND OVER UNLEVELED LAND. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE OVER 35 MPH DUE TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING AND VIBRATION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE 'DEATH WOBBLE' AND REPLACED THE TRACT BAR, BALL JOINTS, STEERING STABILIZER, STEERING DAMPER, AND PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,423.

Mileage: 45,423

20190428CrashFatalSTEERING

TRUCK CONTINUES TO HAVE THE DEATH WOBBLE AS I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HIT A SMALL PORTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE WOBBLE BECOMES SO SEVERE THAT I HAVE LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OVER THE TRUCK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AFTER 6MONTHS FROM PURCHASE DATE (NEW) BUT FORD SAYS THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 1-5X A WEEK AND I'VE NEARLY HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY EACH TIME BY SWIRLING DURING THE WOBBLE. I LOOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. I HAVE HAD A CRASH AS A RESULT OF THIS.

20190428CrashFatalSUSPENSION

TRUCK CONTINUES TO HAVE THE DEATH WOBBLE AS I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HIT A SMALL PORTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE WOBBLE BECOMES SO SEVERE THAT I HAVE LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OVER THE TRUCK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AFTER 6MONTHS FROM PURCHASE DATE (NEW) BUT FORD SAYS THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 1-5X A WEEK AND I'VE NEARLY HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY EACH TIME BY SWIRLING DURING THE WOBBLE. I LOOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. I HAVE HAD A CRASH AS A RESULT OF THIS.

20190428CrashFatalWHEELS

TRUCK CONTINUES TO HAVE THE DEATH WOBBLE AS I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HIT A SMALL PORTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE WOBBLE BECOMES SO SEVERE THAT I HAVE LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OVER THE TRUCK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AFTER 6MONTHS FROM PURCHASE DATE (NEW) BUT FORD SAYS THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 1-5X A WEEK AND I'VE NEARLY HIT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY EACH TIME BY SWIRLING DURING THE WOBBLE. I LOOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. I HAVE HAD A CRASH AS A RESULT OF THIS.

20190121STEERING

EXTREME SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN ENCOUNTERING A SHIFT IN ROAD SURFACE SUCH AS AN EXPANSION JOINT, ETC AT AROUND 55 MPH AND TURNING SLIGHTLY LEFT. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON FREEWAYS, HIGHWAYS AND ROADS. LINK TO VIDEO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=UVTUQV60JNU

Mileage: 69,000

20181108STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING OVER UNEVEN LAND AND BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION FELT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. GERMAIN FORD OF BEAVERCREEK (2356 HELLER DR, DAYTON, OH 45434, 1-(937) 429-1300) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WITHOUT GUIDELINES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Mileage: 58,000

20181108SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING OVER UNEVEN LAND AND BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION FELT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. GERMAIN FORD OF BEAVERCREEK (2356 HELLER DR, DAYTON, OH 45434, 1-(937) 429-1300) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WITHOUT GUIDELINES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

Mileage: 58,000

20181012TIRES

MICHELIN LTX MS/S2 275/70 R18 TIRE WITH LESS THAN 25K HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION. WHILE AT DISCOUNT TIRE, SPOKE WITH ANOTHER CUSTOMER WITH SAME VEHICLE - 2012 INSTEAD OF 2011 F-250 WHO HAD 3 TIRES WITH TREAD SEPARATION ISSUES.

Mileage: 74,000

20180423WHEELS

MY FORD WAS PURCHASED AS A ONE OWNER TRUCK WITH 44,000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA. OWNED BY A PERSON BRAND NEW ALSO IN FLORIDA. I LIVE IN SOUTH WESTERN VA PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY BRAKE CALIPERS. I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. HUGE DANGER ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS TRUCK IS MADE TO PULL HEAVY WEIGHT THAT NEEDS GOOD BRAKES. MY TRUCK HAS 107,000 MILES FOUND OUT BY REPLACING BRAKE PADS FOR SECOND TIME

20180405STRUCTURE:BODY

EXHAUST BEING DRAWN INTO CABIN BY VENTILATION SYSTEM WHEN STOPPED.

Mileage: 20,000

20180122SUSPENSION

FROM DAY 1 I HAVE HAD ISSUES WHERE THE FRONT END WOULD BOUNCE UNCONTROLLABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE OR BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINT. IT'S GETTING WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP CANNNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THEY TOLD ME AT ONE TIME TO REPLACE MY TIRES BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. I ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD 4 TIMES IN ONE TRIP BECAUSE OF THIS AS I COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL. THIS WILL KILL SOMEONE IF NOT RESEARCHED AND CORRECTED BY FORD.

Mileage: 100,000

20171212ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50 MILES PER HOUR THE TRUCK STARTED LOSING POWER, WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AS IT LOST ALL POWER AND SHUT DOWN WAS UNABLE TO RESTART TRUCK. GOT TRUCK TOWED HOME AND WENT CHECKING THE MOTOR AND THE ANTIFREEZE WAS COMPLETELY DRY BUT NO LEAKING UNDER MOTOR AND NO WARNINGS OF LIGHTS FLASHED WHEN TRUCK SHUT DOWN.. TRUCK IS SERVICED EVERY 3 MONTHS AND CHECKED AT HOME REGULARLY. TRUCK WAS LOOKED AT BY A ASE MECHANIC AND THE MOTOR SEIZED

Mileage: 80

20170906STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED UNDER THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS MULTIPLE RUBBER MOUNTING PIECES THAT WERE MISSING OR DETACHED DUE TO DETERIORATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BOGGUS FORD MCALLEN, 1400 E EXPY 83, MCALLEN, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE RUBBER MOUNTS FAILED AND/OR WERE MISSING, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AT THE TIME AND NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000. .. .UPDATED 10/04/17 *BF *TT

Mileage: 133,000

20170717ENGINE

7/7/17 - 2011 FORD F250, 6.7L DIESEL ENGINE, MILEAGE 79530. (PURCHASED DECEMBER 2010). I WAS PULLING A SMALL TRAILER UP AN INCLINE (8%) ON I-64 IN WV. ON THIS PORTION OF THE INTERSTATE THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY PULL OFF SHOULDER. THE TRUCK OPERATED NORMALLY FOR THE FIRST 3 MILES ASCENDING THE HILL. DURING THE 4TH MILE, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO GRADUALLY, BUT PROGRESSIVELY LOSE POWER, GOING FROM 70 MPH DOWN TO 0. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHUTTER SLIGHTLY, AND CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL IT STOPPED IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LAMPS OR CHIMES THAT WENT OFF BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 'STOP SAFELY NOW' WARNING, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ' BUT IT DIDN'T ILLUMINATE. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART. I IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 TO REPORT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS DISABLED IN THE ROADWAY. AFTER BEING STUCK IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE TRUCK AND THE TRAILER BACKWARDS SAFELY, OFF

Mileage: 79,530

20170717FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

7/7/17 - 2011 FORD F250, 6.7L DIESEL ENGINE, MILEAGE 79530. (PURCHASED DECEMBER 2010). I WAS PULLING A SMALL TRAILER UP AN INCLINE (8%) ON I-64 IN WV. ON THIS PORTION OF THE INTERSTATE THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY PULL OFF SHOULDER. THE TRUCK OPERATED NORMALLY FOR THE FIRST 3 MILES ASCENDING THE HILL. DURING THE 4TH MILE, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO GRADUALLY, BUT PROGRESSIVELY LOSE POWER, GOING FROM 70 MPH DOWN TO 0. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHUTTER SLIGHTLY, AND CONTINUED TO DO SO UNTIL IT STOPPED IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LAMPS OR CHIMES THAT WENT OFF BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 'STOP SAFELY NOW' WARNING, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ' BUT IT DIDN'T ILLUMINATE. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART. I IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 TO REPORT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS DISABLED IN THE ROADWAY. AFTER BEING STUCK IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE TRUCK AND THE TRAILER BACKWARDS SAFELY, OFF

Mileage: 79,530

20170629FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2011 FORD SUPER [XXX], 6.7L FIRE HAZARD, FUEL INJECTOR HOLD DOWN FAILURE WHILE IDLING IN YARD, SPRAYING FUEL ALL OVER PLACE, TOWED TO DEALER, RECOMMENDS REPLACING ALL HOLD DOWNS DO TO FAULTY PART. TSP ON IT.. 1600.00 NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY 86,000 MILES. FIRE HAZARD. GLAD I'M NOT THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BURN IN THE SUPER [XXX] TRUCK RECOMMEND YOU HAVE FORD RECALL ALL 2011 6.7 LITERS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. SELL FORD STOCK. FIRE PROFESSOR AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS. COME ON PEOPLE REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 86,000

20170116STEERING

FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS MY TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED THE "DEATH WOBBLE." WHEN DRIVING (STRAIGHT OR IN SLIGHT TURN) APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH OR HIGHER AND HITTING A TYPICAL BUMP IN THE ROAD, MY TRUCK BEGINS A VIOLENT SHAKING THAT STOPS WHEN I REDUCE THE SPEED ENOUGH TO REGAIN CONTROL. I HAVE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS AT TWO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS AS WELL AS A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, BUT NOTHING DONE HAS CORRECTED THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

Compare 2011FordF-250 SD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 6 Open

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Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 Ford F-250 SD have?
The 2011 Ford F-250 SD has 189 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 Ford F-250 SD?
Yes, the 2011 Ford F-250 SD has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford F-250 SD?
The most-complained component for the 2011 Ford F-250 SD is STEERING with 47 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and ENGINE.
Is the 2011 Ford F-250 SD safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2011 Ford F-250 SD; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.