RoadVitals

2011 Ford F-250 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest Jul 21, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 248 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jul 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle vigorously shuddered. In addition, the contact allowed the vehicle to decelerate independently to come to a stop. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID
11675094
Incident
Jun 10, 2024
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2024

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID
11617277
Incident
Dec 14, 2023
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2023

Valve cover bolts keep bracken (32) and leaves oil running all over the motor and transmission

NHTSA ID
11514950
Incident
Mar 29, 2023
Engine
Filed Jan 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated while her husband was driving at an unknown speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) heater and the sending unit to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF heater to be replaced for the second time. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure for a third time. The contact took the vehicle back to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF heater to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure for a fourth time. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF heater, the DEF pump, and the sending unit to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure for a fifth time. The contact stated while towing a trainer, the vehicle lost acceleration and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the back local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the DEF heater, the DEF pump, the injector, and the sending unit to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11504730
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
150,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 2, 2021

Hold down clamps for the fuel injectors are breaking or coming loose on diesel engine. Injectors are not visible for a person to look at as they are buried by covers. Due to the injector coming loose it would allow combustion gasses to escape the cylinder causing other injectors to become damaged and possibly causing a fire. This issue has happened 2 times on my truck and both times the Ford Technicians stated that it is not something that should happen. Vehicle was inspected/fixed by Ford dealership Techs back in March of 2021 and again in May of 2021(still there at this time). A check engine light came on and i immediately drove to the dealership both times. I will provide a picture of a Ford tech site where they talk about this issue happening and their internal memo. Ford at this time refuses to fix the issue and is making me pay for their defective parts.

NHTSA ID
11419388
Incident
May 22, 2021
Engine
Filed May 13, 2021

WITH ABSOLUTE ZERO NOTICE A CYLINDER MISFIRED WHICH CAUSED THE CRANK SHAFT TO BREAK AND THE ENGINE TO BLOW. WE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE VERY REGULARLY AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11416477
Incident
May 10, 2021
Mileage
123,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 2019

WHEN STATIONARY EXHAUST FUMES ARE DRAWN INTO CAB OF TRUCK BY THE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11258244
Incident
Aug 8, 2015
Mileage
22,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2019

PURCHASED VEHICLE 11-2018 HAVE TAKEN TO TWO SERVICE SHOPS ENGINE KNOCK. METAL IN FILTER. CYLINDER #1 LOW COMPRESSION DUE TO BAD MACHINING OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. VEHICLE NON DRIVABLE.

NHTSA ID
11230247
Incident
May 23, 2019
Mileage
193,172 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2018

2011 F250 6.2L ENGINE. TRUCK DIES RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT RESTART FOR SOMETIMES DAYS. SOMETIMES IT STARTS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. WEATHER IS NOT A FACTOR, SOMETIMES ITS WARM SOMETIMES ITS COLD. VERY RANDOM START AND NO START ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11088473
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD, VEHICLE WENT INTO REDUCE SPEED MODE. WHEN SLOWED DOWN, ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START.

NHTSA ID
11088442
Incident
Apr 16, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED, EMITTED A KNOCKING NOISE, AND THE ENGINE EMITTED SMOKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND A FAILURE CODE FOR THE ENGINE VALVE WAS DETECTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID
11084558
Incident
Apr 6, 2018
Mileage
146,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 16, 2016
Fire reported

OUR LADY OF THE LAKES ROAD IN ST. MARTIN PARISH, LOUISIANA, IS A CURVY ROAD. THE "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK AND HILL DESCENT CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BREAK LIGHT" CAME ON. THE "!" AND THE "ABS" LIGHT CAME ON. BREAK PEDAL WAS HARD TO DEPRESS, WHILE IN MOTION. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND BURNT FRONT SEATS AND ENGINE ON

NHTSA ID
10935629
Incident
Dec 14, 2016
Mileage
186,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 29, 2016

THE TRUCK WENT TO LIMP MODE FOR 3 SEC THEN SHUT OFF. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND IT SHUT OF ON A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD WITH NOWHERE TO GO ,NO POWER STEERING ,BRAKES ,NO MOTOR NOTHING. LET IT BE KNOWN AND I AM COPING THIS LETTER. THIS COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS EVEN DEADLY. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE OR MULTIPLE PEOPLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT HAPPEND.

NHTSA ID
10899388
Incident
Aug 28, 2016
Mileage
115,342 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 4, 2016

PULLING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER UP A HILL AT 50MPH THE ENGINE JUST SHUT DOWN VERY ABRUPTLY. NO ALARMS OR LIGHTS THAT I SAW. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A MINUTE OR SO, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT RESTARTED, OIL TEMP AT 240, TRANS: TEMP AT 201. FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10882426
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
53,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 16, 2016

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON CITY STREET "STOP SAFELY NOW" APPEARED ON THE DASH SCREEN. WITHIN A FEW SECOND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, WHICH ELIMINATED THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING, WHILE STILL AT 35 MPH. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND STOP. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE ANY EGT SENSOR FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10874518
Incident
Jun 26, 2015
Mileage
29,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2016

MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED NO POWER WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A STATE HIGHWAY. ACCELERATION WAS EXTREMELY SLOW AND CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, WHICH WAS VERY FAR AWAY WHEN I INITIAL PULLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT RANDOM. THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY REACH 40 MPH ON FLAT HIGHWAY AND WHILE DRIVING ON MOUNTAIN ROADS, THIS WOULD DECREASE TO A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 20 MPH. THIS WOULD CREATE A SIGNIFICANTLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF ON WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AND

NHTSA ID
10874517
Incident
Jun 12, 2016
Mileage
35,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 2, 2016

THE TRUCK THAT I OWN HAS NO ACCIDENTS, NO DAMAGES, 75K MILES ON IT AND THE RADIATOR IS PREMATURELY FAILING. THIS COOLANT LEAK ON THE LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS REFUSED TO RECALL THE PART.

NHTSA ID
10862512
Incident
Apr 22, 2016
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE TOOK AWHILE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10846200
Incident
Mar 10, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2015

TURNED ONTO BUSY HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WARNING CHIMED A FEW TIMES AND MESSAGE CENTER SAID 'STOP SAFELY NOW" VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND THEN SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE IF AN INTERSECTION WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. I HAD TO HAVE MY WIFE EXIT THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION AND THEN HAVE THE VEHICLE PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I CONTACTED A TOWING COMPANY TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED NUMBER 4 EGT SENSOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10790406
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Mileage
180,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2015

DRIVING THE CAR AT 50 MILES PER HOUR ON A HIGHWAY, THE MESSAGE "PULL OVER SAFELY NOW" CAME ON, WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE ENGINE AND SUBSEQUENTLY STEERING SHUT ITSELF DOWN. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OVER EXCEPT FOR A TURN OUT LANE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR TO PULL MY 2 HORSE TRAILER AND DRIVE ON INTERSTATE FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS. I DRIVE AT NIGHT SINCE THAT IS EASIER ON MY HORSES. IF THE ENGINE AND STEERING CAN SHUT ITSELF DOWN GOING AT 75 MILES PER HOUR ON INTERSTATE, 10 SECONDS IS NOT A SAFE ENOUGH TIME TO PULL OVER WHEN CARRYING A LIVE ANIMAL LOAD. I WAS TOLD THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. NO PIECE OF MIND DRIVING AND TOWING WITH A VEHICLE THAT CAN SHUT ITSELF DOWN WITHOUT ADEQUATE WARNING DUE TO BAD SENSORS WITHIN 10 SECONDS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! APPARENTLY THE SENSORS ON THESE VEHICLES GO OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED DUE TO A $50 FAILED SENSOR AND THE ENGINE SHUTTING ITSELF DOWN AND LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALERS I HAVE TALKED TO ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE BUT SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL ENGINE SHUTS ITSELF DOWN. DEALERS SAY IT'S RANDOM AND UNPREDICTABLE WHEN EGT SENSOR WILL FAIL. SOME OF THE SENSORS ARE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT ENGINE NEEDS TO SHUT DOWN BEFORE DEALER WILL FIX IT! INSANE. I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE WIFE DIED ON THE FREEWAY IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A SIMILAR ISSUE ON HER VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS DECLARED A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THE SENSOR ISSUE ON THE FORD 250 WILL LEAD TO SIMILAR SITUATIONS. IT'S TIME THIS IS LOOKED INTO BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10695249
Incident
Mar 3, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID
10680925
Incident
Feb 3, 2015
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 31, 2015

WHILE GOING UP THE HIGHWAY THE MESSAGE OF " STOP SAFELY NOW" WAS DISPLAYED. ONCE PULLING OVER TO STOP THE TRUCK DIED AND WOULD NOT START BACK. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. TURNS OUT THE EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680240
Incident
Sep 18, 2014
Mileage
64,981 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 2015

TRUCK SHUT DOWN BY ITSELF. TOWED TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE EGT EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE SENSOR WENT OUT. DISCOVERED THAT FORD WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION ON A PARTIAL RECALL OF SAME PART FOR SAME ENGINE FOR AMBULANCE PACKAGE TRUCKS. CALLED FORD TO ASK IF MY TRUCK WAS COVERED AND WAS TOLD NO EVEN THROUGH IT IS THE SAME PART AND THE SAME ENGINE AS THE OCTOBER 2013 RECALL OF 2011-2012 FORD F 250 AMBULANCE PACKAGE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6.7LT DIESEL POWER STROKE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10679764
Incident
Jan 29, 2015
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 20, 2015

STARTED VEHICLE AND DROVE ABOUT 1/4 MILE AND WARNING CAME ON TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SOON AS I SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD SENSOR. SOMETHING TO DO WITH EGR/ OIL PRESSURE. THIS IS SECOND TIME THIS HAPPEN. PREVIOUS TIME WAS WHILE DRIVING THROUGH TOWN, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND TRUCK SHUT OFF FOR OVERHEATING. AGAIN HAD TO TOW IT IN, AND AGAIN WAS A BAD SENSOR SENSING THE TRUCK HAD OVERHEATED. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK EITHER TIME EXCEPT SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676579
Incident
Jan 18, 2015
Mileage
107,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 19, 2015

DRIVER WAS PILOTING VEHICLE THROUGH TURN AT INTERSECTION FULLY LOADED WITH SALT AND A SNOW PLOW. VEHICLE DASH DISPLAY READ SHUT DOWN VEHICLE SAFELY AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN. TRUCK WAS STRANDED IMPEDING TRAFFIC FOR 40 MINUTES UNTIL A GOOD SAMARITAN WAS ABLE TO PULL IT BACK OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND EGT EXHAUST TEMP SENSOR WAS FOUND TO BE BAD. THE CHARGE WAS $100 FOR THE WORK PLUS THE TOW BILL WHICH WAS $113.50. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I USE THIS AND ANOTHER TRUCK WITH THE SAME ENGINE (ALSO SUBMITTED COMPLAINT FOR THAT VIN) TO TOW AND HEAVY HAUL ALL THE TIME. THIS IS NOT SAFE IF IT HAPPENS WHEN TRAVELING DOWN HILL, FULLY LOADED AND THE TRUCK SHUTS DOWN. THAT IS NOT SAFE, BUT IN FACT RATHER SCARY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676483
Incident
Jan 6, 2015
Mileage
79,803 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .