10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,941 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2011 Ford F-150:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #222

Sep 132017

F-150

  • 49,400 miles
Takata recall - after making a 90degree right turn has a locking feel have to pull back center line. Noticing a difficulty going straight feels as if it wants to steer in manual mode like cars did without power steering. Only have 49400 miles.

- Haltom City, TX, USA

problem #221

Sep 142017

F-150

  • 124,000 miles
My vehicle no longer will assist with the power steering. The wheel feels like it's sticky and won't return to center. If making a turn the steering wheel just stays in place.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #220

Aug 142017

F-150

  • 79,250 miles
When driving on the highway, if I make a slight turn to the left, there is resistance when trying to return the wheel to straight ahead. Also, the advance track mechanism (skid control) has been disabled which also limits the turn signal availability. I have been told by my Ford dealer that I have to replace the entire rack and pinion steering mechanism to fix this. This is definitely a safety hazard and hard to understand given that I have less than 80,000 miles on the truck. Ford needs to issue a recall on this before someone gets killed.

- Vaughn, WA, USA

problem #219

Aug 022017

F-150

  • 146,540 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. While driving approximately 55 mph around a curved road, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle started to jerk and the power steering assist and advance traction system warning indicators illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and was able to drive home despite the difficulty steering. The contact called preaus Ford motor (206 S main St, farmerville, la 71241, phone number: (318) 368-3805) and was informed to bring the vehicle in for a diagnostic test at the contact's expense. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer due to the diagnostic and repair fees. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 146,540.

- Farmville, LA, USA

problem #218

Jun 012017

F-150

  • miles
My truck's steering is "sticking" like the power steering is going in and out. When going around turns my truck often gets stuck in turn position. Even when going straight it goes in and out like it sticks.

- Des Allemands, LA, USA

problem #217

Aug 262017

F-150

  • 110,000 miles
While driving the traction control light will come on and the electronic steering goes out rendering the truck unable to steer. After the truck is restarted the light goes out only to happen again at some point. I was told this is a very common problem by Ford mechanics with the 2011 F-150. I have talked to 4 other owners that have the same year truck and three of them have had this very same thing happen, how come Ford has not been forced to recall these effected trucks and fix the deadly situation or at the very least had to cover the repairs as these symptoms arise. This seems to happen more right after a bump in the road or while on a left turn. It takes super human strength to then try to keep from striking a car head on in the left lane.

- Cape May Court House, NJ, USA

problem #216

Jul 092017

F-150

  • 104,882 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. While driving 5 mph and making left turns, the steering wheel locked up without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (apple Ford of lynchburg, located at 2113 lakeside dr lynchburg, va 24501) where it was confirmed that the steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,882.

- Gladstone, VA, USA

problem #215

Jul 012017

F-150

  • 87,000 miles
When driving and you make slight turns and go back to straighten wheel out the steering locks up for a few seconds. From all the research I have done it seems like the electronic power steering assist is the issue. I noticed this to happen as we were driving through the mountains. I see online others having the same issue. It is very dangerous. The wheel gets very hard to hold onto and I would hate to have to be in a big turn and can't turn the wheel back especially if we are going at a normal speed. This will act up at anytime on any type of road. From research this can be quiet expensive for the repair, as it is causing other things to be affected that may need repairs as well.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #214

Aug 222017

F-150

  • 83,200 miles
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 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.

- Monponsett, MA, USA

problem #213

Aug 182017

F-150

  • 50,000 miles
I was backing my F-150 down an alley out into the street when I had a sudden and complete steering failure. The steering wheel did not just feel stiff but locked up as if it were being held by something. There was no indication from either symptoms or any type of warning light as to the fail prior to this. After torquing on it. It finally broke to the right and then was able to move the wheels but it wanted to lock in certain positions. I am a big guy and could hardly move the wheel when it was trying to lock up. My wife would not have been able to move it at all. I have read the information since on this system and have found that the problem is consistent to the type of devise used to drive the power assist. When the electromagnet fails it locks into position rather than assisting the steering. This is very dangerous as it takes an incredible amount of power to move to steering wheel if this happens. This should not be an issue on a 5 year old truck that has just 50K this month.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #212

Aug 142017

F-150

  • 43,727 miles
I have a 2011 F150 with just under 44K miles. Took the truck in for a set of front brakes and was advised that there was a small leak not exactly sure where it was coming from. Within less that a week the engine was not engaging took it back to the dealership they advised that I needed a new transmission as there were no fluids in it. Needless to say I was quite surprised as we had just topped off all the fluids in the past two weeks. Not real sure about this, but I had a new transmission put in picked it up upon leaving the dealership I had another problem the steering seemed a little tight ended up taking I the truck back to the dealership the advised that I replace the electronic power steering assy and program module to vehicle. I wasn't too sure about this so I had the vehicle towed to the dealership that I normally deal with as the current one had terrible customer service and was unwilling to contact Ford on my behalf they said it was coincidence that this was happening. I have not had any problems with the truck in the past it has run perfectly. My guy at my dealership took the truck in and had to put in the power steering assy. This all happened within a period of 3 weeks and I had to pay for a rental car.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #211

Aug 092017

F-150

  • 110,000 miles
Mileage on 2011 truck is 110,000. At low speeds, steering will seize and need to use my own strength to turn. This happens intermittently, and Ford really needs to do something about this. I have come close to hitting many cars in parking lots. Also happens usually when I am backing out of my driveway for work, not a good time to scare me.

- Norwich, NY, USA

problem #210

Jul 152017

F-150

  • 155,987 miles
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

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #209

Jul 192017

F-150

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various low speeds, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact used excessive force to regain control of the steering wheel. Norm reeves Ford of ceritos, ca was made aware of the failure and it was determined that the rack and pinion failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was not available.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #208

Jul 282017

F-150

  • 110,000 miles
This week I had a total failure of my epas(electric power assisted steering) in a 2011 F150. I'm very thankful that this happened while I was in a parking lot on a military base. I didn't have the slightest clue on what was going on with my vehicle until I had to do a little research and the over following concerns reported about the epas shocked me! being a mother of two little boys I've very great full that this did not happen while I was driving on the highway. Ford needs to address this concern because the outcome could have been very bad for my family.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #207

Jul 292017

F-150

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. While driving approximately 35 mph, the power steering suddenly failed. The contact slammed on the brakes to avoid crashing into a nearby building. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Victoria, TX, USA

problem #206

Jul 182017

F-150

  • 161,000 miles
The steering sticks while driving, most of the times while driving streight, but sometimes while turning it will become hard to turn.

- Hampton, GA, USA

problem #205

Jun 202017

F-150

  • 44,000 miles
With 44,000 miles on my truck the power steering literally just stopped working on my way home from work. Truck is 6 years old well maintained and low mileage. Ford warranty has expired and truck was just payed off a month ago. Called Ford about issue and read online of all the issues with same problem acrossed the nation. Was givin standard sorry for your luck it will be a total of $1900 to fix your problem.

- St.Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #204

Jul 122017

F-150

  • 181,000 miles
The epas steering system has intermitent hard steering issues. Sometimes it will want to stick when turning and very hard to turn back straight. It is like it is manual steering.

- Lebanon, OH, USA

problem #203

Jul 052017

F-150

  • 100,251 miles
While driving thru a parking lot I received a warning "service advantrac" then while making a turn into a food drive thru another alarm went off. Power steering assist fault. I lost all power steering and nearly crashed into the drive thru sign. This all happened within minutes. When the steering goes out there is not advanced indications or warnings until it happens. The electric assist motor is just disabled. You have no steering at that point. It is harder to turn then an older manual steering vehicle. The entire rack N pinion steering unit has to be replaced due to under engineering. It is one motor but is embedded into the rack. The cost alone is $1200 for the rack not including labor to install and reprogram. To me this is an extreme safety issue that will some day get someone severely injured or death due to a non steering vehicle. At the time of the failure I had just driven over a very steep and windy mountain road. Scary to think what might have happened if it had failed on that road.

- Visalia, CA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »