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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,639 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Ford F-150 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2011 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 35)

problem #691

Feb 012023

F-150

  • 31,870 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford 150. The contact stated that while pressing the accelerator pedal a thumping noise was present coming from the transmission and the vehicle had experienced jerking and loss of power along with reduced speeds while driving and the service wrench had displayed. After restarting the engine the vehicle operated as normal but the failure continued to intermittently occur. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 31,870.

- Hobe Sound, FL, USA

problem #690

Apr 082024

F-150

  • miles
1.) P2112- Throttle Actuator Control System stuck in closed position, no as I was able to get it to work again but looking at replacing the throttle body, so in the future yes. 2.) My saftey was at risk as it failed going over 70+ mph and made my vehicle shake violently. 3.)No but this is the 2nd time in 6 months this has happened. 4.) No 5.)had a power train lamp come on (2011 ford f150 wrench light) right as I lost complete throttle response going 72 MPH

- Crete, NE, USA

problem #689

May 032023

F-150

  • miles
The lead frame on my truck was experiencing issues. The truck would intermittently randomly downshift at high speeds or get stuck in one gear. I was going 65+ mph on the freeway and and my truck shifted to second gear with no warning causing me to swerve and slam on the brakes. Other times my truck did it on surface streets. There were no warning lights or anything to let me know it would happen. After it downshifted, the wrench popped up on the dash, my speedometer went to 0, and my odometer read blank. Forcing me to pull over, restart the truck, in order to get it out of limp mode to be able to make it home. I took my truck to Ford of Valencia California where they inspected the truck and confirmed it was the lead frame. The issue was that at the time the part was on an 8 month back order so my only option was to replace the entire Valve body instead of only the lead frame. My truck was no longer under the recall and I was forced to pay for this out of pocket less than a month of purchasing the truck from a used dealership. My truck was only inspected by Ford of Valencia and no other agencies. Since this truck was my only form on transportation, I could not wait the 8 months for the lead frame to come in and had to pay out of pocket for the new valve body.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #688

Jan 202023

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was traveling down highway pulled into a gas station to get gas. Left gas station headed down road. Went to go pass a car when truck started to shift down a gear to pass it shifted all the way to 1st gear at 55 mph. It locked back wheels up for a moment but then released. Check engine light come on and I still on. Haven't drove truck but a few times since that happen. The truck is doing the same thing the ford recall of 2019. So I took it to ford where they diagnosed that it needed a new transmission and it had nothing to do with the recall. So it just been mainly seating in the yard.

- Red Boiling Springs, TN, USA

problem #687

Sep 102020

F-150

  • miles
Lead frame. Known issue and was never replaced. Putting families at risk on highways

- San Antonio , TX, USA

problem #686

Feb 012024

F-150

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission erroneously downshifted to first gear causing the vehicle to abruptly decelerate. During the failure, the service vehicle warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission leadframe had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 144,000.

- Surfside Beach, SC, USA

problem #685

Jan 152024

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission downshifts un-expectantly intermittently. The transmission also downshifts on the highway and locks up the wheels. The dealership indicated the time to have the repair made pursuant to the recall has expired. This appears to be a Ford F-150 eco Transmission problem as I've communicated with others online who have the same issues.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

problem #684

Mar 172024

F-150

  • miles
Over the last few months on at least 15 occasions my transmission has tried to downshift into 1st gear while traveling highway speeds (55-65). Causing the tires lock up but I have always caught it and shifted into neutral to not cause any problems. After researching it sounds like this is a VERY COMMON issue that apparently hasn't been resolved with Fords TSB and software reflash. Also, while this happens my speedometer goes to zero and a wrench screen come up on the instrument panel for a split second.

- Walla Walla, WA, USA

problem #683

Jan 282024

F-150

  • miles
My truck when accelerating, it pulls and shifts hard. Also the speedometer sometimes does not work right and the truck loses power..

- Tucson , AZ, USA

problem #682

Jan 032024

F-150

  • miles
Driving down the highway my truck will downshift for no reason. Sometimes a big bang will be felt in the rear end & the big wrench symbol will appear & all other controls don't work. There is a recall for this 16S19 & 19S07. I took my truck to the Yreka Ford dealership & was told it needed the molded lead frame replaced but the recall has ended. Still a definite safety issue but it's not covered? How can a safety recall expire but issue is still a safety issue. Still happening & it's very scary when it does. Part is on backorder!! I can't locate my paperwork from Yreka Ford in Yreka, CA.

- Yreka, CA, USA

problem #681

Dec 182023

F-150

  • 46,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the speed odometer independently dropped to zero. The contact drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and turned the vehicle off. The contact restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle was driven to the destination. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The contact's son-in-law used a diagnostic tool and retrieved DTC fault codes and provided the codes to the contact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact informed the dealer of the codes that were retrieved. The contact was informed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

- Leavenworth, KS, USA

problem #680

Feb 092024

F-150

  • miles
Truck took off with out me touching the gas in a parking lot had to hit the brakes several times then shifted hard and speedometer quit work and the wrench symbol popped up on the dash and it throw code PO720 which is the output shaft speed sensor /lead frame

- Myrtle Beach , SC, USA

problem #679

Dec 222023

F-150

  • miles
I have a 2011 Ford F150 that I bought brand new from Capitol Ford Wilmington NC. This truck had a recall in 2020 that involved violent downshifting of transmission while at highway speeds. I took it for recall servicing by Capitol Ford Wilmington NC. I trusted them to repair this vehicle. They simply reprogrammed the LEAD FRAME inside the transmission. They said that would take care of the problem. See attached service ticket. I have only driven this vehicle in my local area as it only has 97k original miles on it. Recently I tried to drive it on a trip at highway speeds. Suddenly without warning the transmission shifted into low gear at highway speed with engine light coming on. We narrowly averted being killed. This vehicle has shifted in an odd manner for a long time. I just thought it was Fords design that did this. I took it to my local shop they immediately diagnosed the transmission LEAD FRAME as faulty. Ford should have replaced this when they had it in 2020. They said they didn't because the engine light wasn't on. Well, it's not on now either. I think this has been a problem inside the transmission for a long time. And Ford knew it. The Ford reps I contacted told me that I'm out of the extended recall period of 10 years for this problem. They also claim I was sent further recall requests for this in 2021. I received NO SUCH RECALL REQUESTS. They should have fixed this when they had it for the recall in 2020 well within the extended warranty recall period. Now not only did it try to kill us but I'm stuck fixing something Ford should have corrected. Please help us. Very disingenuous on Fords Part.

- Southport Nc, NC, USA

problem #678

Nov 152023

F-150

  • miles
Timing chain broke

- Rockford, IL, USA

problem #677

Dec 202023

F-150

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted, and vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #676

Dec 152023

F-150

  • miles
My truck transmission suddenly shifted down to first gear and would not shift back out. fortunately I was travelling only about 30 mph. Eventually it shifted into 3rd gear and locked into "limp mode". Factory told me they will not honor their recall on this since my truck is more than 10 years old. This is a serious safety issue especially if travelling above 60 mph and in heavy traffic. Consumers need better safety responsibility from Ford on these serious safety design flaws.

- Townville, SC, USA

problem #675

Dec 172023

F-150

  • miles
This vehicle has an automatic transmission. It will not shift out of first gear in the drive setting and the speedometer registers 0 mph when moving in first gear. If I shift to the manual setting, I can shift up. I did not notice if the speedometer registered my speed at that point.

- Othello, WA, USA

problem #674

Nov 252023

F-150

  • miles
Lead frame went out while driving. This needs to be a payed for fix not safe

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #673

Nov 212023

F-150

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owned a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly jerked, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and swerve into the next lane. As a result, the contact's vehicle was T-boned on the passenger's side by an oncoming vehicle. The air bags did deploy. A police report was filed, but no injuries were reported. The contact stated that although he did not seek treatment the day of the accident, he scheduled an appointment the following day after feeling soreness in a nondescript location. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number:?19V075000 (Power Train), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #672

Mar 022023

F-150

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the transmission shifted unintendedly. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was diagnosed that the lead frame rail or valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.

- Monroe, NC, USA

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