Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2011 Ford E-450 with NHTSA between 2012 and 2020.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Across this model's run it ranks 10 of 17 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 18
Against the median year of the Ford E-450. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 85
50% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2011 Ford E-450
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
440.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 60,000 mi
Electrical System
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 22,500 mi
Wheels
110.0%
Median failure at 45,000 miles
Tires
110.0%
Median failure at 4,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
Median failure at 14,500 miles
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
Median failure at 65,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
112.5%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
337.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
112.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
337.5%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 2012peak 2Dec 2020
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Baton Rouge, LAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS VEHICLE WAS CONVERTED TO AN AMBULANCE BY WHEELD COACH. THE AMBULANCE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. A PARAMEDIC SMELLED SOMETHING COMING FROM THE BAY, AND, WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE AMBULANCE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE LUG CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY WHEELED COACH. THE CONNECTION PRODUCED A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION, PRODUCING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE A COMPETENT FUEL SOURCE AND/OR CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO FAIL, PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT PROVIDED A COMPETENT IGNITION SOURCE TO CAUSE THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10671038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LAFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS VEHICLE WAS CONVERTED TO AN AMBULANCE BY WHEELD COACH. THE AMBULANCE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. A PARAMEDIC SMELLED SOMETHING COMING FROM THE BAY, AND, WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE AMBULANCE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE LUG CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY WHEELED COACH. THE CONNECTION PRODUCED A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION, PRODUCING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE A COMPETENT FUEL SOURCE AND/OR CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO FAIL, PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT PROVIDED A COMPETENT IGNITION SOURCE TO CAUSE THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10671038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 22,500 milesWest Seneca, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AND AGAIN ON AN INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS 23,000.
NHTSA complaint #11377857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,500 milesWest Seneca, NY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AND AGAIN ON AN INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS 23,000.
NHTSA complaint #11377857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesArlington, TX
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD E-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR FILTER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PLASTIC CAP BECAME UNGLUED AND WAS SUCKED INTO THE INTAKE, PREVENTING AIR FROM ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, REMOVED THE FRAM AIR FILTER TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE AIR FILTER MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11091397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,500 milesRonceverte, WV
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON TWO OCCASIONS, OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE, I HAVE HAD THE "WRENCH" LIGHT COME ON, ON THE DASH DISPLAY. THIS IS CAUSED BY ME USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THEN STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO BRING IT BACK UP TO SPEED, THE LIGHT APPEARS AND I GO INTO "LIMP MODE". ONCE I PULL OVER AND STOP THE ENGINE, APPARENTLY THIS RE-SETS THE SYSTEM, AND THE VEHICLE DRIVES OKAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A FORD TECH THAT THIS IS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND THAT IT MAY BE NORMAL, BUT I FEEL IT IS TOO SENSITIVE. I AM WONDERING IF IT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10874818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS VEHICLE WAS CONVERTED TO AN AMBULANCE BY WHEELD COACH. THE AMBULANCE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. A PARAMEDIC SMELLED SOMETHING COMING FROM THE BAY, AND, WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE AMBULANCE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE LUG CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY WHEELED COACH. THE CONNECTION PRODUCED A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION, PRODUCING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE A COMPETENT FUEL SOURCE AND/OR CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO FAIL, PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT PROVIDED A COMPETENT IGNITION SOURCE TO CAUSE THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10671038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LAFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS VEHICLE WAS CONVERTED TO AN AMBULANCE BY WHEELD COACH. THE AMBULANCE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. A PARAMEDIC SMELLED SOMETHING COMING FROM THE BAY, AND, WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE AMBULANCE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE LUG CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY WHEELED COACH. THE CONNECTION PRODUCED A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION, PRODUCING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE A COMPETENT FUEL SOURCE AND/OR CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO FAIL, PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT PROVIDED A COMPETENT IGNITION SOURCE TO CAUSE THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10671038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesEGG Harbor Township, NJ
WHEELS
AS INSTRUCTED BY NHTSA 13T-012 TIRE RE CALL MICHELIN HAS FAILED TO PROVIDED REPLACEMENT TIRES THRU ITS FORD AND DEALER NETWORK TO ME.
NHTSA complaint #10582805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesTN., TN
TIRES
SIDEWALL CRACKING.
NHTSA complaint #10565910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesPalmer, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
MY 2011 F450 WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT, WOULD NOT START AFTER JUST RUNNING. IT HAD NEVER GIVEN ANY INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO NOT STARTING. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS TAKEN WORKED ON IT FOR 9 DAYS HAND IN HAND WITH FORD WARRANTY DEPT AND CAME UP WITH FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO FORD INSPECTORS, FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED. FUEL PUMP HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN FILTER SYSTEM. FUEL PUMP WAS RUSTED AND HAD NO LUBRICANT. BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS. WE ARE OUT OVER $5,000 (DON'T HAVE THE FINAL $$$$$ AMOUNT AT THIS TIME). SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINATES IN FUEL LINES. FUEL SYSTEM HAS TO BE FLUSHED TO ELIMINATE METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT FUEL LINES AND INJECTORS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, ANY DIESEL USED IN FORD DIESEL TRUCKS SHOULD HAVE A RATING OF 20...AND NOT ABOVE (LIKE 25). THE BIGGER THE NUMBER, THE MORE TRASH IN THE DIESEL. ALSO, BIODIESEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED AND CAN BE USED TO VOID THE WARRANTY. LOTS OF LUCK WITH THIS!!!
NHTSA complaint #10479939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesPalmer, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY 2011 F450 WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT, WOULD NOT START AFTER JUST RUNNING. IT HAD NEVER GIVEN ANY INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO NOT STARTING. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS TAKEN WORKED ON IT FOR 9 DAYS HAND IN HAND WITH FORD WARRANTY DEPT AND CAME UP WITH FAILURE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO FORD INSPECTORS, FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED. FUEL PUMP HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN FILTER SYSTEM. FUEL PUMP WAS RUSTED AND HAD NO LUBRICANT. BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS. WE ARE OUT OVER $5,000 (DON'T HAVE THE FINAL $$$$$ AMOUNT AT THIS TIME). SYSTEM FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINATES IN FUEL LINES. FUEL SYSTEM HAS TO BE FLUSHED TO ELIMINATE METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT FUEL LINES AND INJECTORS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, ANY DIESEL USED IN FORD DIESEL TRUCKS SHOULD HAVE A RATING OF 20...AND NOT ABOVE (LIKE 25). THE BIGGER THE NUMBER, THE MORE TRASH IN THE DIESEL. ALSO, BIODIESEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED AND CAN BE USED TO VOID THE WARRANTY. LOTS OF LUCK WITH THIS!!!
NHTSA complaint #10479939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.