2011 Ford F-350 Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on a violent front-end shake owners commonly call the "death wobble" after hitting a bump or expansion joint at highway speed, along with diesel fuel-system and engine-sensor faults that can lead to leaks or stalling. Reports span a wide mileage range, from near-new trucks to well past 150,000 miles, and many describe repeated dealer visits without a lasting fix.

1. 1
   Steering

   Violent front-end shake at highway speed ("death wobble")

   • 49 complaints (36%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners describe the front end and steering wheel shaking violently after driving over a bump, pothole or bridge joint, usually at 50-70 mph, and say control returns only after slowing to roughly 20-30 mph or less. Complaints report that dealers replaced steering stabilizers, ball joints, track bar components and tires, sometimes more than once, yet the shake came back. Several owners say they were told no recall applied. Reported from as little as a few thousand miles up to past 200,000 miles, typically triggered at highway speeds over uneven pavement.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed over road seams and rough patches, and ask whether the steering stabilizer, track bar ball joint or front-end components have been replaced. A service bulletin describes steering wheel oscillation and another describes reduced steering assist, so ask whether either was addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The truck violently started shaking after hitting several small bumps in road. Almost lost control of truck. In order for shaking to stop I had to slow truck down to 25 MPH. I almost was rear ended by a truck following me. The shake feels like the front wheels are about to come off. This has happened almost a dozen times since the truck was bought new.”

   NHTSA complaint #10486413, filed 2012-11, 8,700 miles

   “Driving my 2011 Ford F-350 today and hit a bump doing 55mph on a black top road going straight forward, after the bump the death wobble started and almost shook my pickup into the ditch. I had to slow down to 20 MPH to get it to stop. After a lot of reading, this is a common problem in Ford super dutys that are my pickups age and brand new. Why have they not fixed this problem and made a recall to fix all the older pickups as well??!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11362182, filed 2020-10, 108,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stall, rough running and sensor faults

   • 27 complaints (20%)
   • median 72,427 mi at 5.0 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Complaints describe the truck losing power or stalling with the engine warning light on, sometimes while towing, and repeated failures of exhaust gas temperature sensors that shut the engine down. Some owners report a rough-running or misfire condition during exhaust regeneration, and one describes an EGR cooler replacement that did not resolve the problem. Others report being told the engine needed replacement. Reported across a broad range, from a few thousand miles up to about 160,000, with several cases in the 25,000-80,000 mile range.

   Recall 13V5350007 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the diagnostic history and whether exhaust sensor or emission-related service bulletins were performed, and scan for stored trouble codes before buying. A recall covers a stalling condition on certain ambulance-package trucks with the 6.7L diesel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our truck lost all power and quit running while we were traveling on us50 at approx. 55 MPH we were towing our 37ft fifth wheel at the time. It was 100+ degrees and we had to wait for over 3 hour for road assistance to arrive. Our truck is a 2011 with only 42,215 miles on it. Ford doesn't know exactly what caused this to happen, but needed to replace DPF pressure sensor & filter and all egt sensors. This was very dangerous for us. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11021663, filed 2017-09, 42,215 miles

   “Truck cut off .the egt exhaust sensor keep going out. This is the four time the sensor have gone out .now the AC is out at 51000. Miles I buy a new Ford f350 about ever two to five years I have a lot of problen with this 2011 f350 my next truck may not be a Ford.”

   NHTSA complaint #10682016, filed 2015-02, 31,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Diesel fuel leaks from injector clamps and fuel lines

   • 10 complaints (7%)
   • median 50,500 mi at 5.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Owners describe strong diesel smell and fuel pooling under the hood or on the ground, with one complaint reporting a clamp securing the fuel injectors failed and injectors came loose while driving. Other reports involve fuel escaping from the lower pump area and hoses needing replacement. Complaints say dealers replaced injector clamps, injectors and hoses, and some owners noted the part had been superseded by a newer design. Mostly reported between roughly 17,000 and 70,000 miles, often noticed at start-up or shortly after driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for diesel residue or a strong fuel smell around the engine bay and underneath the truck, and ask whether the fuel injector clamps and fuel lines have been updated or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the fuel injector clamp fractured causing a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000. Updated 05/06/16”

   NHTSA complaint #10822919, filed 2016-01, 62,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed that the fuel tank was leaking. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer, where the contact was informed that an object from the road pierced the lower fuel pump cover. The vehicle was repaired. The contact expressed concerns over the fuel pump being positioned out in the open. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 17,500. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10429650, filed 2011-10, 17,500 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and body control module electrical faults

   • 14 complaints (10%)
   • median 79,500 mi at 7.1 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe repeated body control module replacements without the fault going away, interior harness damage where wiring near the seatbelt housing melted, and inoperative displays and power outlets. One complaint describes smoke and fire from the engine compartment while parked, with electrical items operating on their own. Reported mostly above 70,000 miles, with the harness and fire reports appearing at higher mileage.

   Recall 11V128000Recall 10V6590002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all interior displays, power outlets and accessories work, and ask whether the body control module has been replaced or whether the recall for the module was completed for this truck.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The interior wiring harness shorted via the seatbelt and melted the entire wiring harness. The car was in motion and a city street and started smoking from the driver seatbelt housing. No fuses blew from the short which caused the harness to melt.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376702, filed 2020-11, 150,000 miles

   “Vehicle parked at approximately 10:50 am after being driven, within 15 minutes smoke was noticed coming from under the hood. Fire department was called and then own forces were used to try to extinguish what had now become a flaming fire. As fire was going, electrical items such as lights, windshield wipers, and dump bed started operating on their own. Fire was extinguished with both water and extinguishers before fire department arrived. Complete engine and engine compartment destroyed as a result of fire. Manufacturer was notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #10465180, filed 2012-07, 33,181 miles

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.