Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 2011 Ford F-450 SD with NHTSA between 2012 and 2018.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 11 of 14 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 — 14
Against the median year of the Ford F-450 SD. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 47
9.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 62
36% 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 F-450 SD
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
545.5%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 77,000 mi
Fuel & Propulsion
218.2%
Median failure at 68,750 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
19.1%
Median failure at 15,000 miles
Brakes
19.1%
Median failure at 39,500 miles
Steering
19.1%
Median failure at 39,500 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
19.1%
Median failure at 15,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
19.1%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
327.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
327.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
436.4%
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.
Mar 2012peak 3May 2018
NHTSA investigations into the 2011 Ford F-450 SD
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
RQ14005Opened 13 Jan 2015Closed 15 Mar 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V-535 were inadequate. Recall 13V-535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect. Ford manufactured approximately 555,985 subject vehicles between February 22, 2010 and January 30, 2015 that may be affected by defective EGT sensors and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software calibration. The subject vehicles are equippe...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 800 milesArlington, VAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE FIRE. THE VEHICLE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. UPDATED 03/21/12 *BF UPDATED 04/30/12*BF UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 05/12/2012
NHTSA complaint #10452028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 15,000 milesNichols, IA
POWER TRAIN
WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIWAY,SOMETIMES YOU WILL LOSE POWER. YOU WILL FEEL A JERK. THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. PRETTY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE. YOU TRY TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. YOU HAVE NO MEANS OF MOVEMENT. YOU CAN NOW TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE,YOU CAN NOW CONTINUE DOWN THE HIWAY UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE HAVE DRIVEN WITH OUR HORSE TRAILER DOWN TO ARIZONA 3 TIMES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES EACH WAY. FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW.
NHTSA complaint #11096659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesNichols, IA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIWAY,SOMETIMES YOU WILL LOSE POWER. YOU WILL FEEL A JERK. THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. PRETTY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE. YOU TRY TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. YOU HAVE NO MEANS OF MOVEMENT. YOU CAN NOW TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE,YOU CAN NOW CONTINUE DOWN THE HIWAY UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE HAVE DRIVEN WITH OUR HORSE TRAILER DOWN TO ARIZONA 3 TIMES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES EACH WAY. FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW.
NHTSA complaint #11096659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesNichols, IA
ENGINE
WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE HIWAY,SOMETIMES YOU WILL LOSE POWER. YOU WILL FEEL A JERK. THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. PRETTY SCARY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE. YOU TRY TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. YOU HAVE NO MEANS OF MOVEMENT. YOU CAN NOW TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE,YOU CAN NOW CONTINUE DOWN THE HIWAY UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE HAVE DRIVEN WITH OUR HORSE TRAILER DOWN TO ARIZONA 3 TIMES AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES EACH WAY. FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW.
NHTSA complaint #11096659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,000 milesWest Bend, WI
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6.7 DIESEL FUEL INJECTOR HOLD DOWN CLAMP BROKE AND FUEL INJECTOR BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD SPRAYING FUEL ALL OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS SERVICED BY AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERS PER SCHEDULE. VEHICLE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. HAS 98,000 MILES ON IT, BUT IS A FEW MONTHS OVER THE 5 YEAR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. LOCAL FORD TECH SAYS ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINE, AND FORD HAS RECOGNIZED IT AND IS MAKING ENGINEERING CHANGES TO REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS MAY BE, BUT HAVING A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM BLOW APART ON THE ROAD IS NOT COMMON FOR ME. AND OF COURSE NO WARRANTY COVERAGE SO I HAVE TO COVER ALL COSTS. I HAVE NO NOTIFICATION FROM ANYONE ABOUT RECALLS OR TSBS EFFECTING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10907073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 77,000 milesAurora, IN
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450 SD. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V659000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
NHTSA complaint #10726562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,500 milesPalm Coast, FL
STEERING
TRUCK WAS PULLING MY 16K 5TH WHEEL CAMPER OVER THE PASSES BETWEEN MONTANA AND IDAHO IN TOW HAUL MODE UP AND DOWN. THESE ARE ONLY 4,200 FOOT PASSES BUT STEEP. USUALLY IN 6TH GEAR BUT SOMETIMES 4TH GOING 50-55; OIL TEMPS SHOW AS 220 TO 239 THEN THE BIG FAN KICKS IN TO COOL IT. ON ONE OF THE SMALLER PASSES, SHORTLY AFTER I CRESTED THE HILL THE TRUCK SHARPLY DOWN SHIFTED (I THINK IT SKIPPED 4TH AND WENT INTO 3RD. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, ?TOOL? EMBLEM SHOWED ON DASH, "LOW POWER" NOTICE SHOWED ON DASH, AND I BARELY HAD TIME TO GET HALFWAY OFF THE ROAD BEFORE I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIFIC DISASTER ON JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY LOCATION, LET ALONE TWO LANE ROADS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITH OUR TRUCK/TRAILER. AS IT WAS, IT WAS ONE VERY SCARY TEN SECONDS. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. LATER I LEARNED THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THAT I SHOULD KEEP IT ABOVE 5 MPH TO GET OFF ROAD AND LINED UP, THEN STOMP ON BRAKES BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE. ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, "?CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS RED, BUT NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS NOW. I CAN GET NO REVS OUT OF ENGINE. I TURN OFF KEY AND SHUT DOWN. CHECK FLUIDS UNDERNEATH, AND UNDER HOOD ALL IS WELL. TRY PHONE - NO COVERAGE. CLOSEST TOWN IS 16 MILES. RESTART ENGINE AFTER 5 MINUTES. IT WAS ABOUT 60 OUTSIDE AT THE TOP OF THE PASS, AND I CAN NOW REV ENGINE, BUT ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HEAD TO TOWN, GET CELL COVERAGE ON NEXT RISE AND CALL AHEAD TO NEAREST FORD DEALER FOR DIRECTIONS. ANOTHER PASS IS BETWEEN US - 4TH OF JULY, A TALLER ONE THAN THE SHUTDOWN EVENT. IDAHO DEALER ([XXX], LAKE CITY FORD) KINDLY SQUEEZES ME IN. SEE ENGINE LIGHT ON. TECH [XXX] SEES LIGHT AND RUNS SCAN AND SEES NO RECORD OF ANY CODES IN ANY SYSTEMS. WHAT THE?? NEXT MORNING, FORD TOLD DEALER THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT A CODE DID NOT REGISTER IF THE LIGHT WAS ON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10689858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,500 milesPalm Coast, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
TRUCK WAS PULLING MY 16K 5TH WHEEL CAMPER OVER THE PASSES BETWEEN MONTANA AND IDAHO IN TOW HAUL MODE UP AND DOWN. THESE ARE ONLY 4,200 FOOT PASSES BUT STEEP. USUALLY IN 6TH GEAR BUT SOMETIMES 4TH GOING 50-55; OIL TEMPS SHOW AS 220 TO 239 THEN THE BIG FAN KICKS IN TO COOL IT. ON ONE OF THE SMALLER PASSES, SHORTLY AFTER I CRESTED THE HILL THE TRUCK SHARPLY DOWN SHIFTED (I THINK IT SKIPPED 4TH AND WENT INTO 3RD. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, ?TOOL? EMBLEM SHOWED ON DASH, "LOW POWER" NOTICE SHOWED ON DASH, AND I BARELY HAD TIME TO GET HALFWAY OFF THE ROAD BEFORE I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIFIC DISASTER ON JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY LOCATION, LET ALONE TWO LANE ROADS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITH OUR TRUCK/TRAILER. AS IT WAS, IT WAS ONE VERY SCARY TEN SECONDS. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. LATER I LEARNED THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THAT I SHOULD KEEP IT ABOVE 5 MPH TO GET OFF ROAD AND LINED UP, THEN STOMP ON BRAKES BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE. ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, "?CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS RED, BUT NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS NOW. I CAN GET NO REVS OUT OF ENGINE. I TURN OFF KEY AND SHUT DOWN. CHECK FLUIDS UNDERNEATH, AND UNDER HOOD ALL IS WELL. TRY PHONE - NO COVERAGE. CLOSEST TOWN IS 16 MILES. RESTART ENGINE AFTER 5 MINUTES. IT WAS ABOUT 60 OUTSIDE AT THE TOP OF THE PASS, AND I CAN NOW REV ENGINE, BUT ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HEAD TO TOWN, GET CELL COVERAGE ON NEXT RISE AND CALL AHEAD TO NEAREST FORD DEALER FOR DIRECTIONS. ANOTHER PASS IS BETWEEN US - 4TH OF JULY, A TALLER ONE THAN THE SHUTDOWN EVENT. IDAHO DEALER ([XXX], LAKE CITY FORD) KINDLY SQUEEZES ME IN. SEE ENGINE LIGHT ON. TECH [XXX] SEES LIGHT AND RUNS SCAN AND SEES NO RECORD OF ANY CODES IN ANY SYSTEMS. WHAT THE?? NEXT MORNING, FORD TOLD DEALER THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT A CODE DID NOT REGISTER IF THE LIGHT WAS ON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10689858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,500 milesPalm Coast, FL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TRUCK WAS PULLING MY 16K 5TH WHEEL CAMPER OVER THE PASSES BETWEEN MONTANA AND IDAHO IN TOW HAUL MODE UP AND DOWN. THESE ARE ONLY 4,200 FOOT PASSES BUT STEEP. USUALLY IN 6TH GEAR BUT SOMETIMES 4TH GOING 50-55; OIL TEMPS SHOW AS 220 TO 239 THEN THE BIG FAN KICKS IN TO COOL IT. ON ONE OF THE SMALLER PASSES, SHORTLY AFTER I CRESTED THE HILL THE TRUCK SHARPLY DOWN SHIFTED (I THINK IT SKIPPED 4TH AND WENT INTO 3RD. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, ?TOOL? EMBLEM SHOWED ON DASH, "LOW POWER" NOTICE SHOWED ON DASH, AND I BARELY HAD TIME TO GET HALFWAY OFF THE ROAD BEFORE I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIFIC DISASTER ON JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY LOCATION, LET ALONE TWO LANE ROADS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITH OUR TRUCK/TRAILER. AS IT WAS, IT WAS ONE VERY SCARY TEN SECONDS. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. LATER I LEARNED THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THAT I SHOULD KEEP IT ABOVE 5 MPH TO GET OFF ROAD AND LINED UP, THEN STOMP ON BRAKES BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE. ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, "?CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS RED, BUT NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS NOW. I CAN GET NO REVS OUT OF ENGINE. I TURN OFF KEY AND SHUT DOWN. CHECK FLUIDS UNDERNEATH, AND UNDER HOOD ALL IS WELL. TRY PHONE - NO COVERAGE. CLOSEST TOWN IS 16 MILES. RESTART ENGINE AFTER 5 MINUTES. IT WAS ABOUT 60 OUTSIDE AT THE TOP OF THE PASS, AND I CAN NOW REV ENGINE, BUT ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. HEAD TO TOWN, GET CELL COVERAGE ON NEXT RISE AND CALL AHEAD TO NEAREST FORD DEALER FOR DIRECTIONS. ANOTHER PASS IS BETWEEN US - 4TH OF JULY, A TALLER ONE THAN THE SHUTDOWN EVENT. IDAHO DEALER ([XXX], LAKE CITY FORD) KINDLY SQUEEZES ME IN. SEE ENGINE LIGHT ON. TECH [XXX] SEES LIGHT AND RUNS SCAN AND SEES NO RECORD OF ANY CODES IN ANY SYSTEMS. WHAT THE?? NEXT MORNING, FORD TOLD DEALER THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT A CODE DID NOT REGISTER IF THE LIGHT WAS ON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10689858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,500 milesLansford, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450 SD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,500.
NHTSA complaint #10568674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,500 milesLansford, PA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-450 SD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITH AN ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY EGT EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,500.
NHTSA complaint #10568674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 800 milesArlington, VAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE FIRE. THE VEHICLE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. UPDATED 03/21/12 *BF UPDATED 04/30/12*BF UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 05/12/2012
NHTSA complaint #10452028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.