MotorDeets

2011 Ford F-150: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 2011 Ford F-150: 6 recalls, 2191 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.

6vehicle recalls
2191owner complaints
46mention a crash
19best combined mpg
2011 Ford F-150
Photo: Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Body & structure Vehicle recall #10V659000 · 2010 · 14,737 vehicles

What's wrong: During a six-day production period, the supplier of the body control module manufactured modules that May have the potential for an internal short.

Why it matters: If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition May occur which can result in an unattended vehicle fire.

The fix: Dealer will replace the body control module if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2011.

Electrical Vehicle recall #11V128000 · 2011 · 8,022 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles were inspected using integrated diagnostic system (ids) that had a custom software routine to read the suspect body control module (bcm) serial number. Based on the serial number the bcm was either not affected or replaced. The custom software routine was not reading the correct set of characters, and was not able to identify a bcm that required replacement affected bcms May have the potential for an…

Why it matters: If an electrical short develops, an overheating condition May occur which could result in a vehicle fire.

The fix: Dealer will inspect the body control module and if necessary replace it free of charge. The safety recall began on March 7, 2011.

Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #11V582000 · 2011 · 16,091 vehicles

What's wrong: These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 114, â“theft protection.┠the transmission can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to brake shift interlock switch problem.

Why it matters: This will allow the operator to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without the brake pedal being depressed, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake shift interlock switch function and replace the switch if necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on December 22, 2011.

Exterior lights, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #12V190000 · 2012 · 10,500 vehicles

What's wrong: 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 â“lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.┠these vehicles May have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.

Why it matters: If this condition exists, the transmission May not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse â“r┠position and the vehicleâ’s transmission does go in reverse, the â“r┠May not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the…

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on June 11, 2012.

Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V248000 · 2016 · 153,581 vehicles

What's wrong: The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that May unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

Why it matters: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires May slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016.

Transmission & drivetrain, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #19V075000 · 2019 · 1,263,051 vehicles

What's wrong: The transmission May unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.

Why it matters: Unexpectedly downshifting into first gear May result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 19 mention a fire, 35 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Transmission & drivetrain826
Engine482
Steering419
Electrical235
Speed control / throttle213
Brakes162
Other / unknown112
Visibility/Wiper91

What owners describe

The 2011 Ford F-150 has 2191 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 37 F-150 model years for complaints (2.1× the average F-150 year). Complaints peaked in 2018 (267 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 70,507 miles. Neighboring years: 2010 (843 complaints, 1 recalls), 2012 (1783 complaints, 4 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
3.7 L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)Rear-Wheel Drive172219Gasoline or E85
3.7 L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive172219Gasoline or E85
3.5 L 6-cyl turboAutomatic (S6)Rear-Wheel Drive162218Regular
3.5 L 6-cyl turboAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive162218Regular
3.7 L 6-cylAutomatic 6-spd4-Wheel Drive162118Gasoline or E85
3.7 L 6-cylAutomatic (S6)4-Wheel Drive162118Gasoline or E85
5.0 L 8-cylAutomatic (S6)Rear-Wheel Drive152117Gasoline or E85
5.0 L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spdRear-Wheel Drive152117Gasoline or E85
3.5 L 6-cyl turboAutomatic (S6)4-Wheel Drive152117Regular
3.5 L 6-cyl turboAutomatic 6-spd4-Wheel Drive152117Regular
5.0 L 8-cylAutomatic (S6)4-Wheel Drive141916Gasoline or E85
5.0 L 8-cylAutomatic 6-spd4-Wheel Drive141916Gasoline or E85

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2011 Ford F-150.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 2011 Ford F-150 manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 2011 Ford F-150 manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 2011 Ford F-150 manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 2011 Ford F-150 manual

Heads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure

FAQ

Does the 2011 Ford F-150 have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2011 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 2011 Ford F-150 problems?

Owners have filed 2191 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (826), engine (482), steering (419).

What gas mileage does the 2011 Ford F-150 get?

EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.7 L, Automatic (S6)), across 14 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 2011 Ford F-150 repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other F-150 years

1991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027