The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. While driving 50 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear and the rear wheels locked up. The contact stated that while in third gear, the vehicle shifted to fourth gear unexpectedly. The transmission failed to shift above fifth gear. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift out of first gear. After turning off the vehicle, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the wrench symbol was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the failure was associated with the sensor. The transmission sensor was replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure persisted over time. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case and confirmed that the vehicle was previously repaired in 2017 under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V248000 (Power Train). The manufacturer declined to provide any additional assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 159,599.
2011 Ford F-150 engine problems
511 complaints (23% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 50,000. 10 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 511
- of this car's complaints
- 23%
- typical mileage
- 50,000
- crashes
- 10
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe1
- Engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM): software1
- Engine: crank/camshaft position sensor1
- Engine1
- Cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Ford F-150 engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Ford F-150 engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Check engine light 256Loss of power 239Misfire 86Stalling 85Engine failure 72Won't start 15Knocking 14Overheating 14
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Reduced power during hard acceleration
On May 22, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-018 to investigate 95 complaints alleging incidents of reduced engine power during hard accelerations in model year (MY) 2011 through 2013 Ford F-150 trucks.ODI was aware of three technical service bulletins (TSBs) issued by Ford for a condition that was related to moisture accumulation in the Charge Air Cooler (CAC) for the turbochargers.A Preliminary Evaluation was opened to gather information to assess whether the subject vehicles contain a safety related defect.The subject vehicles are powered by Ford?s 3.5L EcoBoost engine which uses twin turbochargers to obtain a balance of fuel economy and engine power based on the driver?s demand.When the driver requests more power from the engine, as in accelerating to pass, merge, ascend hills or haul a load the two turbochargers will spin up compressing the air which is then used to increase the power created by the combustion in the engine.The compressed air, which gains heat by the compression process, is passed through a Charge Air Cooler (CAC) which is designed to lower the temperature of the air in order to make the combustion process even more efficient (Figures 1 and 2).In response to ODI?s Information Request letter, Ford indicated that a misfire condition could occur after steady-speed operation under significantly humid and rainy conditions.Ford?s analysis found that under those conditions, condensation could form and accumulate on the inside of the CAC tubes which could then be ingested into the engine during particularly hard acceleration near wide-open throttle.An engine misfire of up to three cylinders could occur if the amount of condensed water released from the CAC exceeded the engine?s operating threshold for water ingestion.Ford noted that due to regulations set by the EPA, the powertrain software would disable up to two of the misfiring cylinders for no more than 30 seconds and until the driver tips out the throttle in order to protect the catalytic converter from damage. Ford?s testing of this condition on the subject vehicles showed that a vehicle experiencing such a condition would continue to maintain its speed as well as accelerate, albeit at a lower rate than expected by the driver.Similar results were obtained in testing done by the federal safety agency?s Vehicle Research and Testing Center in East Liberty, Ohio (Figure 6).In an ongoing process to address the problem Ford issued a series of TSBs where a deflector shield was installed onto the CAC (Figures 3, 4 and 5).In January 2014 Ford indicated that its data shows that the TSBs have been effective in resolving the problem, that for the MY 2013 vehicles their remedy is 100% effective and the latest TSBs for MY 2011 ? 2012 are 95% effective.The 525 complaints to ODI and the total 4,120 unique VIN complaints listed in the Failure Report are incidents of alleged reduced power or driveability symptoms and not all are necessarily related to the condition created by water ingestion.Reduced power conditions can occur for a variety of reasons including faults with ignition coils, spark plugs, a catalytic converter, the throttle body, turbocharger, fuel pump/filter, powertrain control module (hardware or software) or transmission shifting problems.Ford also noted that in a large number of warranty claims on the subject vehicles, the CAC was replaced or a TSB procedure was performed when the symptoms exhibited were inconsistent with a CAC water ingestion related issue.Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of
PE13018
What 2011 Ford F-150 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Made a complete stop and vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed and could not stop.
I've sent earlier not sure if it went through transmission dropingvout of gear at any time putting my. Life in danger, and family, hope I don't end up needing a lawyer if a major fatality happens
The display will show a wrench icon and check engine light. The transmission will suddenly downshift and lose power. The RPMs will either rise or remain the same but unable to accelerate. The wheels will intermittently lock up. This occurs at high speeds on the highway and on back roads at slower speeds. Stopping the tuck, shutting it off and turning it back on will "reset" and it will run ok but the timing between incidents is intermittent. There is a recall for this issue however the dealership (Greico Ford in Raynham) refuses to make the repairs, instead telling me this is no longer covered by recall: Transmission molded leadframe extended coverage [XXX] Today was the latest event, however this has been ongoing since December 2024. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unintendedly downshifted to first gear, causing the vehicle to lose motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart and reset. The contact stated that the failure had recurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an output shaft speed sensor failure. The contact was informed that the transmission lead frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer advised the contact to report the failure to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 133,456.
The contact owned a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 15 MPH and making a left turn, in the middle of the turn, the instrument panel turned off, and the vehicle jerked forward before losing automotive power. The contact was not able to clear the intersection in time and the vehicle crashed into another vehicle on the passenger’s side. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled over onto the driver’s side. The contact was thrown halfway through the window while the vehicle was flipping over onto the side of the vehicle, and the contact lay underneath the vehicle. Soldiers arrived at the scene and lifted the vehicle to release the contact out of the driver-side door. The air bags had deployed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The contact was unaware if a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained a crushed pelvis, six fractured ribs, and nerve damage. Medical attention was required for the injuries. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
I have a wrench 🔧 showing up in the screen, the gears downshift,the gears shift from 3 to 6
Transmission, shifted into 4th gear and would not shift out of 4th, Take the truck and inspect it if need be! Safety of my self and others as truck down shifted to 4th gear while driving speeds of 45mph, shot rpm’s over 6k. Problem has not been reproduced yet as of today 11/23/2024 Component wasn’t inspected by any option listed above but was mentioned in the NDOT accident report attached. No symptoms or warning likes before it appeared. Truck has NO warning lamps on including but not limited to check engine light or abs.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to respond as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated, with an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact shifted to neutral to allow the vehicle to come to a stop on the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing chain had fractured, and a part of the timing chain was stuck to the lower engine block. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer for a secondary diagnostic test. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.
Purchased TRUCK at Gus Machado of Kendal Mia Fl. Informed dealership of downshifting transmission issues, I was told "there's No recall on my vehicle ", its normal that new truck has as breaking in period. AT 10,000 miles- Drove to Gus dealership for TRANSMISSION ISSUES, NO RESOLVE -AT 70,679 miles - 01/11/17 Drove AGAIN to Gus dealership, for severe engine and transmission issues. Dealership noted severe engine problems. Insurance.& warranty rep. and Ford rep. arrived at dealership and AGREED that ORIGINAL engine was BAD. Insurance would cover repair cost & Engine was replaced. R/O [XXX]-AT 71,429 miles 04/18/17, Drove to Gus Dealership noted my Transmission concerns, found driveshaft to be slipping and issues addressed. Transmission continues to date to be problematic. I researched ford forums and found that several ford owners also have similar Transmission Issues and FORD has recalls on Transmission, ONLY MY VIN ISN'T ON recall R/O [XXX]- 93,868 miles 05/28/19 Drove to Bill Jarrett FOR RECALL 19N01, In less than 15 minutes truck was returned INFORMED COMPUTER had to be reprogrammed. 11/19 I returned to Miami for surgery &treatment at the Miami VA. Truck continued to downshift, so I went into Gus dealership and they explained the recall fix. I was told there are no recall on transmission and eventually Transmission would streamline. AT 156,000 miles- Since reprograming truck has been double downshifting/bucking in first gear, which I have been stating to Ford dealership since purchase IS A SAFETY CONCERN. To date NO LIGHTS ON DASH DISPLAYS OF Transmission, but BUCKING/DOWNSHIFTING CONTINUES (A SAFTY CONCERN). 05/17/24, I called Ford and stated my concerns. I was told to go into dealership to have it checked. 05/18/24 went to Bill Jarrett where my concerns was noted. They Informed that there is NO RECALL on my truck and I would have to purchase a new transmission for$ 7,000.00. Filed complaint with Better Business Bureau INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Questions about the 2011 Ford F-150 engine
Does the 2011 Ford F-150 have engine problems?
Owners have filed 511 complaints about the engine of the 2011 Ford F-150, 23% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford F-150 engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 50,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Ford F-150 engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Ford F-150 have bad engine?
The Ford F-150 model years with the most engine complaints are 2018 (591 complaints), 2013 (567 complaints) and 1997 (544 complaints).
Other 2011 Ford F-150 problems
Transmission 830Steering 419Electrical 235Acceleration 213Brakes 184Visibility 147Fuel system 117Driver assistance 54Body 33Lights 30Tires 18Airbags 14Suspension 14Wheels 13Seats 9Seat belts 8Locks 1
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