2011 Ford F-250 SD Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a violent front-end shake that starts after hitting a bump or expansion joint, usually at highway speed, and many say dealer repairs did not stop it. A second group of complaints involves the 6.7L diesel shutting down or going into reduced power, often tied to exhaust temperature sensors and emissions-related hardware. Reports of the front-end shake span the whole mileage range, while the diesel issues tend to appear at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front-end shake ("death wobble") after bumps

   • 53 complaints (43%)
   • median 34,750 mi at 2.4 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2019

   Complaints describe the steering wheel and front of the truck shaking violently after a bump, expansion joint or uneven pavement, most often at highway speeds. Owners say they have to brake hard and slow to about 30-40 mph before the shaking stops, and some report the truck wandering toward another lane before they regain control. Dealers and shops reportedly replaced steering stabilizers, ball joints, shocks and track bars, balanced or replaced tires, and performed alignments, but several owners say the condition returned afterwards. Reported from a few hundred miles up to about 130,000 miles, most often in the 10,000-70,000 mile range and usually on rough pavement or at highway speed.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed over expansion joints and rough pavement, and ask for service records showing whether the steering stabilizer, ball joints or track bar were replaced. Note that a bulletin addresses front upper ball joints with excessive rotational friction.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After driving over a series of small bumps in the road on the highway the front end of the truck shook violently, severe shaking/ vibration. I had to decelerate to approximately 40-45 mpg to stop the violent shaking. This has happened 4 times since that time. I had the truck serviced for the problem and it has happened once since being serviced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10535315, filed 2013-08, 6,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11222820, filed 2019-06, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Diesel engine shutdown or reduced power

   • 29 complaints (24%)
   • median 78,400 mi at 4.0 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,450 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2019

   Owners describe a "stop safely now" or "pull over safely" message appearing on the dash, followed within seconds by the engine losing power or quitting entirely, sometimes while driving at highway speed. Several complaints say the cause was traced to exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensors, with some owners reporting repeated sensor failures and turbo or injector-related work. Others describe the truck losing power and stalling while towing or climbing inclines, and one reports a stuck fuel injector that led to engine replacement. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 130,000 miles, sometimes while towing or under load.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for records of EGT/NOx sensor replacements and any emissions-related repairs, and check whether the truck has had reduced-power events or limp-home messages. A bulletin for this engine family covers diagnostic codes for emissions sensors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving message came up stop safely now I pulled over just enough to get off the interstate, when the engine died, and wouldn't crank again. I called my dealer tarver Ford, they called a wrecker to pick it up and brought it to their shop. 2 egt exhaust temp sensors bad, $260 to fix. Today 3-13-15 my engine light came on, I bought a code reader and p242a code came up another sensor bad.”

   NHTSA complaint #10694120, filed 2015-03, 76,000 miles

   “While driving approx 60 MPH a message popped up on the display saying stop when safe . While trying to get off the road the engine died and left me with no power brakes or steering. Had to be pushed out of the intersection. Would not restart. Truck weighs 8300 pounds. 1 hour prior I was going over a steep mountain pass. Half an hour later I was in 100+ degree desert with no cell service. Either one could have been a nightmare ending. This must be addressed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10733516, filed 2015-07, 31,895 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Def heater and diesel emissions fluid (DEF) problems

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe intermittent trouble traced to the diesel exhaust fluid system, including the reductant heater assembly, with the problem appearing when temperatures drop below freezing. Owners report repeated dealer visits and, in at least one account, the system de-powering the engine while driving. Other reports mention a ticking or tapping noise traced to the reductant injector. Reported from about 45,000 to 132,000 miles, with symptoms noted in cold weather.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the reductant heater and sender assembly have been serviced, and whether any warning messages appear in cold weather. A bulletin describes the elevated idle behavior during prolonged idling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11005821, filed 2017-07, 79,530 miles

   “This issue is around the diesel exhaust fluid system - specifically the reductant heater assembly but has also now affected the fuel pump and associated emissions. The problem is intermittent but occurs when the temperature falls below 30 degrees. This care has been in dealership repeatedly over the past 14 months for this issue. Part of the design of this system failure is to depower the engine which nearly caused an accident while I was driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10836774, filed 2016-02, 85,324 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal and braking faults

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 30,200 mi at 3.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2016

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor with normal application, pulling to one side under braking, and a trailer brake controller that failed to engage trailer brakes while towing. Owners say dealers replaced pads, rotors, calipers and the master cylinder or controller, and in some cases the problem came back. Reported at low mileage, mostly under 35,000 miles, including one case while towing a fifth-wheel trailer.

   What to check: Check pedal feel and whether the truck stops straight on a test drive, and if you plan to tow, test the trailer brake controller output before relying on it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We had just purchased this truck the day before with 19,000 miles on it and while towing a fifth wheel rv the in-dash oem trailer brake controller failed to engage trailer brakes allowing the rv to push the truck into an intersection. I've been to the dealer three times now and they cannot figure out why the trailer brake controller will not work. They have performed a pin-test and determined the in dash brake controller was not working so they replaced it to find the trailer brakes still do not activate when applying the brakes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10644168, filed 2014-10, 19,900 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the battery light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was stated that the engine regulator had failed and the wiring harness had melted. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted to verify that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 11v128000 (electrical system). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10514865, filed 2013-06, 57,584 miles
5. 5
   Tires

   Tire cracking and tread separation

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report stress cracks along the inner sidewall near the rim and around the upper tread on all four tires at relatively low mileage, and one owner describes a front tire blowing out and tread separation on another. Complaints also describe vibration on the interstate before a tire failure and difficulty loosening lug nuts afterward. Mostly reported under 30,000 miles on the original tires.

   What to check: Inspect sidewalls and tread for cracking, check tire date codes, and confirm the tires match the load rating for the truck.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2011 Ford f250 super duty 28,000 miles, the vehicle is equipped with michelin lt275/65r20 tires. I recently noticed stress cracks alone the inner wall near the rim on all 4 tires. There is also cracks around the upper portion of the tire around the tread. Through research I have located a safety recall for these tires but in the size of lt 275/55r20. I have contacted michelin and was told to purchase new tires ( $330 x 4 ) and send these tires to them for inspection. There is a possiability of a proration but no guarantee. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10558358, filed 2014-01, 28,056 miles

   “Tire vibration was noted while driving on interstate. Stopped to check pressure on all tires and was fine. Checked again a few hours later and was fine. After driving approx 20 miles down interstate the front passenger tire blew causing severe body damage to 2011 Ford f250 pickup. Service truck was called to change tire due to bring unable to loosen lug nuts. Serviceman also reconnected antilock brakes which came unhooked when tire blew. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10544975, filed 2013-09, 27,000 miles

Buying note. A highway test drive over rough pavement and expansion joints is worth doing on any example of this model year, since front-end shake is the most common complaint and repairs do not always resolve it. For diesel trucks, ask for service records covering exhaust sensors, emissions hardware and the DEF system before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.