Home · 2011 Ford F-150 Regular Cab · Complaints

What 2,137 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford F-150 Regular Cab

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,137)Crash / fire / injury (67)Transmission & drivetrain (786)Engine (477)Steering (413)Electrical system (224)Speed control (203)Brakes (178)Visibility & wipers (147)Fuel system (114)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (44)Body & structure (33)

44 of 2,137 complaints match · Electronic Stability Control (esc) · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Oct 26, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

"TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT" AND 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR (TRS) THAT WAS CALIBRATED OUT OF SPECIFICATION FOR REVERSE GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11366554

Sep 28, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY BACK SIGNAL LIGHT DOESN'T WORK AND HAS A RAPID FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY BCM CONTROL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHICH IS EXPENSIVE IS THERE ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THE BCM CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11361467

Aug 11, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE BACKING UP AND UPON TURNING THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT FORD HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE 2011 FOR THE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK AND PINION (IT WAS NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE 2011 MODEL) GOING BAD AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AND THERE HAVE BEEN TSB'S ABOUT SAID PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE REGARDING THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED KNOWING THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND HAVING TO PAY OVER $2K TO GET THIS FIXED WHEN FORD KNOWS ABOUT SAID PROBLEM AND WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER FOR THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT.

NHTSA ODI 11348537

Jun 2, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326911

May 25, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

AS YOU ARE DRIVING THE SLIGHTEST BUMP MAKES THE STEERING HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM SWERVING . THE HOTTER IT IS OUTSIDE THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO MANEUVER .

NHTSA ODI 11325845

May 16, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324832

Mar 4, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH STEERING ANGLE SENSOR INSIDE THE STEERING GEAR. SENSOR HAS FAILED AND IS NOT SERVICEABLE AND WILL COST $2200 FOR REPAIR. SINCE THE SENSOR HAS FAILED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM IS DISABLED CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. FORD USED THIS DESIGN FROM 11/03/10 TO 01/03/11. THIS DESIGN WAS REPLACED WITH ONE WHICH PLACES THE SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR EASY REPLACEMENT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD FOR REPAIR ASSISTANCE AND SO FAR ALL CLAIMS HAVE BEEN DENIED.

NHTSA ODI 11316127

Oct 26, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THERES A PARALYTIC SHORT IN THE TRUCK THAT DRAINS THE BATTERY WITHIN HOURS. THE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE JUMPED EVERYTIME I TRY TO START THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY BUT THE SOURCE IS COMING FROM THE ECU. !

NHTSA ODI 11271189

Oct 22, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT STARTED SENDING SIGNALS FOR ERROR CODES. TAKEN TO SHOP CLEARED CODES ,STARTED AGAIN A WEEK LATER. NOW THE ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT. NO WARNING JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE HAS 91037 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11270263

Sep 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING AUTO TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT UP FROM 1ST GEAR AND WHILE TRAVELING TRUCK WILL DOWN SHIFT TO FIRST FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THUS CAUSING A STRAIN ON ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11258242

Sep 16, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH WITH NO OTHER PREVIOUS INDICATIONS THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED HARD TO THE RIGHT THEN THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE. THE POWER STEERING FAULT MESSAGE AND SERVICE ADVANCETRAC MESSAGE WERE DISPLAYED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED A SHUT DOWN AND RESTART. THE SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW MESSAGE WAS THEN DISPLAYED.

NHTSA ODI 11255964

May 6, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GJOVIK FORD INC (LOCATED AT 2600 US-34, SANDWICH, IL 60548, (630) 552-8058) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *BF *AS

NHTSA ODI 11205759

May 3, 2019SteeringSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC LIGHT COMES ON REGULARLY WHILE TRYING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. IT USED TO NOT BE AS COMMON, BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE I. THE PAST 6 MONTHS. TODAY I TRIED SLOWING DOWN WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING G LOCKED UP ON ME MID-TURN. BASED ON THE SAME DIAGNOSTICS AS HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, IT'S INDICATED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK WILL NEED REPLACED. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH NOT JUST THE 2011 MODELS, BUT WITH THE 2012 AND 2013 MODELS AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11205590

Apr 25, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

UPON STARTING VEHICLE AND BEGINNING MOVEMENT, THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK FOR A SHORT TIME. ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON. PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL MOVEMENT IS SLUGGISH.

NHTSA ODI 11203696

Feb 12, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING ONE AFTERNOON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL IT WOULD LET OUT A HIGH PITCHED SCREECHING NOISE AND MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. I COULDN'T TURN IT LEFT NOR RIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK BUT IF I FORCED IT IT WOULD UNLOCK BUT STILL MAKE THE SCREECHING SOUND. AND THIS IS WHERE I AM AT ALMOST WRECKING 5 TIMES THAT DAY TRYING TO GET HOME AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK WITH MY CAR DUE TO THE FACT MY POWER STEER IS FAILING FOR NO REASON WHAT SO EVER.

NHTSA ODI 11176650

Jan 19, 2019Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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 ODI 11170981

Jan 2, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. I NOTICED MY DIGITAL ELECTRONIC GEAR DISPLAY WAS IN 5TH WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I ACCELERATED, ALL OF SUDDEN, THE WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED AND EVERYTHING ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY APPEARED AS (---). THE TRUCK COULD BARELY ACCELERATE. I DROVE THE TRUCK TO A SAFE AND LOCATION, WITH THE TRUCK BARELY ACCELERATING. I PARKED AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND PLACED IN DRIVE. THE DIGITAL ELECTRONIC GEAR WAS IN THE 3RD GEAR. MY TRUCK WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE. I WENT TO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS PERFORMED AND THE TROUBLE CODE CAME BACK AS P0720 OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY RISK. I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE MY TRUCK MAY ALL OF SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A NEWBORN CHILD AND I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY NEWBORN. I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND I ONLY HAVE APPROX 83,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AS OF TODAY. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THERE HAS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. SOME VEHICLES PRODUCED AT THIS TIME MAY BEEN LEFT OFF THIS RECALL. I FIRMLY BELIEVE MY VEHICLE WAS LEFT OFF THE RECALL LIST. I AM AWARE OF A RECALL SIMILAR TO MY INCIDENT BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI 11164616

Dec 26, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

SUDDEN AND RANDOM DOWNSHIFTING. WHILE IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR, COMPLETELY AT RANDOM. THIS CAUSES A MAJOR LURCH AND "JUMP" IN THE TRANSMISSION AND SPEED DECREASES GREATLY. HAPPENS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE INDUCED BY "HARD" DRIVING OR GENTLE DRIVING. CANNOT FORCE IT TO OCCUR. HAVE NOT TAKEN IT INTO DEALER TO BE CHECKED AS NO CODES (ENGINE LIGHT OR GEAR) APPEARS. THIS IS A KNOWN RECALL ISSUE FOR OTHER F150'S BUT MY TRUCK ISN'T COVERED, BUT IS DEFINITELY HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11163451

Dec 7, 2018SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING AND UNDER NO PARTICULAR COMMON CONDITIONS, THE DASHBOARD, INSTRUMENT GAUGES, INTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS, NAVIGATION PANEL SUDDENLY BEGIN FLASHING AND BLACKING OUT. THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS, COME BACK TO NORMAL, BUT TYPICALLY WITH A "TRACTION CONTROL SERVICE" MESSAGE ON WITH THE TROUBLE LIGHT REMAINING ON. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. ONCE IN A WHILE, IT LASTED LONGER AND CLUNKING NOISES SEEMED TO COME FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. HOWEVER, A FEW OCCURRENCES WERE WHILE TURNING AND THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. I TOOK IT TO A BELLE TIRE NEARBY AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, SAYING THE DEALER HAD TO UPDATE THE ABS MODULE AND GAVE ME A PRINTOUT OF TSB 12-11-18 [ATTACHED SCAN]. THEY CIRCLED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES C1278 AND C1963 AS THE ONES THAT POPPED UP IN THEIR ANALYSIS. I FIND NO RECALLS OF THIS ITEM, BUT THE STEERING ISSUE IS CERTAINLY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11156786

Sep 10, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TAKATA RECALL'- OUR TRUCK KEEPS SHIFTING INTO SEVERAL GEARS CAUSING THE TRUCK TO PULL BACK HARD AND UNABLE TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAY DUE TO SHIFTING CHANGES WHICH CAN'T BE CONTROLLED BY THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ODI 11128390

Sep 5, 2018SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS TURNING MY 2011 F150 AROUND IN A LOT WHEN A STEERING ERROR WARNING POPED UP ON DASH ALONG WITH A STABILITY CONTROL ERROR. STEERING FROZE AND I DID NOT HAVE STEERING CONTROL. TOOK ALL EFFORT TO FORCE VEHICLE TO TURN AND AVOID A COLLISION STEERING WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN WITH A LOUD BUZZING NOISE AND LIMITED TURNING RANGE (ABOUT 2/3 OF NORMAL RANGE LEFT AND RIGHT. DROVE HOME THIS WAY (ABOUT 15 MILES). WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE AND VERY NERVE RACKING. BEING A MECHANIC I SCANNED CODES AND IT APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING GEAR FAILED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SYSTEM I SHUDDER WHEN I THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IF THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE THERE SHOULD BE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I INCLUDED THE SCANNED CODES BELOW.

NHTSA ODI 11124633

Jun 2, 2018SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING EPAS STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN CAUSING ME TO ALMOST STRIKE DRIVERS SIDE OF A CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11099314

Nov 4, 2017SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY TRUCK WOULD INTERMITTANLY MAKE A CHIRPING NOISE AND WOULD TEMPORARILY BE HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. ONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SO I TOOK IT INTO THE FORD DEALER. THE FIRST TIME, WHICH OCCURRED IN JUNE, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN (7/21/17), THE FORD DEALER CALLED AND TOLD ME THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WAS SHOT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS LUCKY I BROUGHT IT IN AS IT WAS HARD TO STEER. I HAVE DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED FORD TRUCKS TO CRASH. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD DETAILING THE PROBLEM (ATTACHED) AND SENT THEM LINKS TO COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11043327

Aug 23, 2017SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TOOK VEHICLE 2011 F-100 TO FORD SERVICE CENTER FOR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT DIAGNOSIS. FORD DEALER INFORMED ME VEHICLE WAS MISFIRING AND NEEDED PLUGS AND COILS. DEALER THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDS STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT AS CODES REVEAL A RACK FAILURE. SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK LIGHT WAS ON. QUOTED $1800.00 FOR STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE NOW HAS 83200 MILES ON IT. THIS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 2 YEARS. DEALER SAYS TOTAL FAILURE IS A CERTAINTY IN TIME. AFTER RESEARCH ON INTERNET I FIND THAT FORD HAS IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM ON VEHICLES IN MY MODEL YEAR AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT . SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT STEERING COULD FREEZE WHILE DRIVING AND RESULT IN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11019059

Aug 7, 2017SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

2011 F150 STEERING FAILURE , WHEN FAILED STEERING FAILED STABILITY CONTROL AND STEERING WENT. WHILE MAKING TURN STEERING WOULD " LOCK" PREVENTING TEMPARY CONTROL OF PICKUP, BEFORE COMPLETING TRIP POWER ASSIST WENT TOTALLY OUT. CONTACTED FORD THEY STATE THAT THE POWER ASSIST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FROM DESCRIPTION ALONE, THEY ALSO HAD RECALLED MULTIPLE OTHER VEHICLES FOR THIS ISSUE HOW EVER THE F 150 IS NOT ONE OF THOSE AND IT WILL COST 3 K TO FIX.... UMM IF ALL YOUR OTHER VEHICLES ARE DOING THIS AND THIS ONE IS DOING THE SAME THING THEN ITS A DEFECT! THE ONLY THING THAT HELPED ME PREVENT THE ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING WAS MY TRAINING AS AN EVO ( EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATOR) AT THE TIME OF FAILURE I WAS TURNING IN FRONT OF SEMI , IF I WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THE DITCH AND PREVENTED MEASURES THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A QUAD FATALITY . TRUCK IS PARKED AT A DRESS GIVEN UNABLE TO DRIVE HOME

NHTSA ODI 11013327

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Working with the data? Download all 2,137 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 15, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Ford F-150 Regular Cab verdict →