2011 Ford F-150 Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 44about this part
- Share
- 2%of 2,194 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 44 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2011 Ford F-150, 2% of the 2,194 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The advancetrac system pops up and will either slow the truck down or shut it right off.. I had a mechanic look at it and it still continued to do it...I have to shut it all down and try to restart it will sometimes drive for a short time or go for days. This has been going on for over a year where it will also go months without happening.”
NHTSA complaint #11324832, filed 2020-05, 160,000 miles“2011 Ford f150 lariat - when accelerating to pass, engine lights will flash and the truck will lose power. After several seconds of flashing, the engine light stays on and the truck decelerates. I shut the truck off and then re-started but the engine light stayed on. I was traveling on a highway and had to pull off to a city street. Very dangerous situation.”
NHTSA complaint #10820370, filed 2016-01, 62,000 miles“Been having problems with the stability control light popping up on the screen when all of a sudden my steering wheel locked up and the steering control light shows up. Truck won't steer left or right. Thank god I was parked when it failed. Being told it's the electronic rack n pinion box. I only have 60,000 mile on the truck. I'm 59 years old and I drive to from work. Please help.”
NHTSA complaint #10967401, filed 2017-03, 64,278 miles“While driving my f150 on highway the vehicle transmission is dropping gears suddenly, it seems its going to first gear, another problem I am having with the vehicle's transmission does not go into reverse, when I push the shift lever in the reverse position, the vehicle's transmission does go in reverse, the reverse light does not illuminate on the dashboard of my F-150 and the backup lamp on the rear of my F-150 does not illuminate.”
NHTSA complaint #11326911, filed 2020-06, 129,000 miles“Intermittent advance trac error message seems to cause turn signals to malfunction (you have to hold lever in position to keep flashers on to indicate turning/lane change). Problem goes as mysteriously as it came- from 5mph to 55mph. Turning traction control off has no effect on it. In two weeks this problem lasted for about 10 minutes on one occasion; and from my morning commute (25min) to my evening commute (25min) on another.”
NHTSA complaint #11170981, filed 2019-01, 1 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10045085Jun 28, 2012Ford: on some trucks, traction control indicator flashes or illuminates and at low speed maneuvering turns, electronic stability control (esc) is an intermittent nuisance…
Electronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | 0% |
| 2018 | 5 | 0% |
| 2017 | 8 | 1% |
| 2016 | 17 | 1% |
| 2015 | 21 | 1% |
| 2014 | 23 | 1% |
| 2013 | 28 | 1% |
| 2012 | 36 | 2% |
| 2011 | 44 | 2% |
| 2010 | 9 | 1% |
| 2009 | 5 | 2% |
| 2008 | 1 | 0% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% |
| 2005 | 3 | 0% |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% |
| 2003 | 1 | 0% |
| 2002 | 2 | 0% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 1 | 0% |
| 1997 | 2 | 0% |
| 1994 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2011 Ford F-150
829 complaintsEngine
482 complaintsSteering
419 complaintsElectrical system
235 complaintsVehicle speed control
213 complaintsBrakes
184 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
147 complaintsFuel system
117 complaintsOther or unknown
116 complaintsEngine cooling
33 complaintsBody and structure
33 complaintsExterior lighting
30 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology