Ford F-350 problems
50 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 4 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Was on freeway about 55 to 65 MPH and all of a sudden the truck went into what I would call a death wobble where it seemed to be shaking the truck to death. Once I pulled to the side of the road and stopped and started out again it was fine. 2 days later it did it again only…
I was passing a transport truck and just as I got even with the door of the truck my Ford f350 super duty motor quit, just shut down. A bus was coming in my lane as I was passing, the truck slowed down to let me by but I had no power, no power brakes or power steering. The bus…
Vehicle wobbles/vibrates "death wobble" at high speed or when hitting a bump on freeway, only way to stop the wobble is to reduce vehicle speed to under 30 MPH, vehicle only has 35k miles, I have heard of many complaints about this issue occurring around 30k miles on fords,…
While usually traveling at highway speeds and hitting small bumps such as expansion joints on bridges the truck will shake violently. It has done this with varying degrees, and most recently has gotten worse. The most extreme and recent episode was having to slow down to about…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2011 Ford F-350 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Ford F-350 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2011 Ford F-350?
On the NHTSA data, the 2011 Ford F-350 does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2011 Ford F-350?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 16 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 68,223 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 68,223 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford F-350 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Ford F-350?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 50 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.