FORD F-450 · model year

2011 FORD F-450

12 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011FORDF-450 carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 F-450 is engine with 3 filings, followed by steering (2) and engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2011 F-450, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE3
STEERING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
WHEELS1
POWER TRAIN1

Recalls (2)

13V53500030/10/2013

ENGINE

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 en

14V49800013/08/2014

EQUIPMENT

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 coveri

Recent Complaints

20221228STEERING

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-450. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel started to shake abnormally. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while accelerating at high speeds, or while driving in inclement weather, the steering wheel started to shake uncontrollably. The vehicle was taken to three different dealers where the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a different dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that unknown steering parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised each time to take the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

20190206STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH WOBBLE AND THE STEERING BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE STEERING PARTS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GATEWAY FORD (1055 W. ANDREW JOHNSON HIGHWAY, GREENEVILLE, TN 37745, 423-639-5151) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 134,000

20180326ENGINE

BLOWN MOTOR. BAD LIFTERS AND VALVES. EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO WARRANTY, I HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE AT MY COST OF $15,000

Mileage: 55,000

20180326POWER TRAIN

BLOWN MOTOR. BAD LIFTERS AND VALVES. EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NO WARRANTY, I HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE AT MY COST OF $15,000

Mileage: 55,000

20171009FireWHEELS

THIS VEHICLE IS SHUTTLE BUS, TRANSPORT PASSENGERS FROM CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT TO FOUR POINTS HOTELS AND BACK 24/7. THIS VEHICLE IS OWNED BY FOUR POINTS HOTEL AT SCHILLER PARK, IL AND I WORK AS DRIVER. ON NOVEMBER 20 2016 JUST AFTER 9 PM I WAS DRIVING THE BUS SOUTH BOUND ON MANNHEIM RD AND WHEN BREAKING TO STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT LAWRENCE AVE THE LEFT REAR END HIT THE GROUND AND THE BUS DRAGGED UNTIL REACH COMPLETE STOP. THE REAR OUTER TIER COME OFF ALONG THE (WAS FOUND QUARTER MILE NORTH) SMALL FIRE STARTED , EVACUATED PASSENGERS. ALL BOLTS SNAPPED OFF THE REAR LEFT WHEEL AND THE OUTER TIRE CAME OFF. THE BUS WAS TOUGHED TO M&M AUTOMOTIVE INC. (708 456 6629) M&M MAINTAIN THE HOTELS BUS. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE THE BUS STILL AT THE HOTEL AND CAN BE USED? BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR WHILE

Mileage: 479,996

20170616ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, OR FOUR WAY/EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON MY FIFTH WHEEL WHEN TOWING. THIS IS AT ANY TIME HOOKED UP TO THE TRUCK. OTHERWISE ON THE TRUCK ITSELF ALL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY.

Mileage: 87,000

20170616UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS BUT NO TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE, OR FOUR WAY/EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON MY FIFTH WHEEL WHEN TOWING. THIS IS AT ANY TIME HOOKED UP TO THE TRUCK. OTHERWISE ON THE TRUCK ITSELF ALL LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY.

Mileage: 87,000

20170412FireENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE ENGINE BLEW UP. FORD REPORTED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY GLOW PLUG WHICH FELL INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING THE CONNECTING ROD TO BREAK AND EXIT THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. FIRE ENSUED BUT WAS SHORT LIVED.

Mileage: 68,120

20150121ENGINE

DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 75 M.P.H. (SPEED LIMIT 75) THE MOTOR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART., LUCKILY MADE IT TO SHOULDER AFTER DODGING TRAFFIC. AFTER TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING EGT EXHAUST SENSOR. *TR

Mileage: 79,072

20141117FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,600.

Mileage: 77,600

20140628ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

ENGINE LOGO LIGHT CAME ON; THEN RED SIGN CAME ON " STOP SAFELY NOW". I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAITED 30 MINUTES OR SO AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I DROVE STARTING AND STOPPING TO A FORD DEALER IN CLARION, PA. SLEPT IN THE TRUCK ALL NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING [XXX] RAN THE COMPUTER AND HIS CONCLUSION WAS THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER INJECTOR WAS BAD AND THAT CAUSES THE HEAT SENSORS TO MALFUNCTION. HE DIDN'T HAVE THE PART BUT SUGGESTED RUNNING IT UNTIL IT CUTS OUT, LET IT COOL THEN RUN IT AGAIN. WELL AFTER ABOUT 70 MILES IT STOPPED FOR GOOD. I THEN CALLED UP MONTROSS FORD, AND THEY HAD THE INJECTOR SO I BOUGHT IT THINKING NEXT I'LL FIND THE MECHANIC, ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WAS WRONG. NEXT I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND I FOUND A RECALL FOR FAULTY HEAT SENSORS, THAT RECALL WAS FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD AS MY TRUCK WAS MADE. I AM NOW SITTING ON THE SIDE OF RT. 76 WITH NO WHERE TO GO PULLING A 4 CAR TRAILER, CUSTOMERS UPSET AND MY LAST HOPE IS FORD MOTOR CO. INFOR

Mileage: 126,579

20140628ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

ENGINE LOGO LIGHT CAME ON; THEN RED SIGN CAME ON " STOP SAFELY NOW". I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I WAITED 30 MINUTES OR SO AND THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. I DROVE STARTING AND STOPPING TO A FORD DEALER IN CLARION, PA. SLEPT IN THE TRUCK ALL NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING [XXX] RAN THE COMPUTER AND HIS CONCLUSION WAS THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER INJECTOR WAS BAD AND THAT CAUSES THE HEAT SENSORS TO MALFUNCTION. HE DIDN'T HAVE THE PART BUT SUGGESTED RUNNING IT UNTIL IT CUTS OUT, LET IT COOL THEN RUN IT AGAIN. WELL AFTER ABOUT 70 MILES IT STOPPED FOR GOOD. I THEN CALLED UP MONTROSS FORD, AND THEY HAD THE INJECTOR SO I BOUGHT IT THINKING NEXT I'LL FIND THE MECHANIC, ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WAS WRONG. NEXT I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND I FOUND A RECALL FOR FAULTY HEAT SENSORS, THAT RECALL WAS FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD AS MY TRUCK WAS MADE. I AM NOW SITTING ON THE SIDE OF RT. 76 WITH NO WHERE TO GO PULLING A 4 CAR TRAILER, CUSTOMERS UPSET AND MY LAST HOPE IS FORD MOTOR CO. INFOR

Mileage: 126,579

Compare 2011FORDF-450 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 FORD F-450 have?
The 2011 FORD F-450 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2011 FORD F-450?
Yes, the 2011 FORD F-450 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 FORD F-450?
The most-complained component for the 2011 FORD F-450 is ENGINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL.
Is the 2011 FORD F-450 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.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.