Know Your Truck

2011–2016 Ford F-350 Super Duty common problems and fixes

Front-end shake is the top complaint by far; the 6.7L's high-pressure fuel pump is the costliest risk, and 2011–2012 add turbo and sensor issues.

What owners should know

Covers 2011–2016 · 6.7L Power Stroke diesel and 6.2L V8 gas · Updated 2026-10-07

Most 2011–2016 F-350s have the 6.7L Power Stroke diesel. The F-350 shares its engines, front end and most of its problems with the F-250 of the same years.

We counted 830 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for 2011–2016 F-350s (retrieved October 5, 2026; each complaint counted once): 721 from 6.7L diesel trucks and 74 from 6.2L gas trucks, identified by VIN; the rest (35) couldn't be matched to an engine. We left out 4 whose VIN belongs to another vehicle (e.g. an F-450 or an E-Series van). Complaint counts show what owners report most often, not how many trucks have a problem.

At a glance

  • Front-end shake ("death wobble") is the most frequently reported problem by far: 4 in 10 diesel complaints (298 of 721) mention a wobble or shimmy or shaking after a bump.
  • The high-pressure fuel pump (CP4.2) is the most expensive known 6.7L failure.
  • 2011–2012 trucks have extra early problems: turbochargers, exhaust temperature sensors and NOx sensors.
  • The 6.2L gas engine draws far fewer complaints than the diesel.

Front-end shake ("death wobble")

Owners describe a violent shaking of the front end and steering wheel after a bump at highway speed. Owners on forums discuss a 2011 Ford service bulletin involving the steering damper (stabilizer), but frequently report that the shake comes back unless worn parts are replaced, especially the track bar and its bushings, plus ball joints and tie rods. Bigger tires and lifts make it more likely.

When buying: have a helper rock the steering wheel with the engine running while you watch the track bar ends for movement. Hit bumps at 50–70 mph on the test drive.

High-pressure fuel pump (CP4.2)

When the 6.7L's Bosch CP4.2 pump fails, it can send metal through the whole fuel system, and the repair often means replacing the pump, injectors, lines and rails. Owners commonly describe bills of $8,000 or more. Failures are commonly linked to water or contamination in the fuel. Ford's 2024 CP4 recall (Ford 24S78) covers certain 2020–2022 trucks only, not these years.

When buying: ask for fuel filter service records and whether the pump has ever been replaced.

2011–2012 early-production issues

  • Turbocharger: repair shops and owners on forums report that early turbos used ceramic bearings that often failed, and that Ford later switched to steel bearings. Ask whether the turbo was replaced.
  • Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) sensors can cause power loss or shutdowns (26 F-350 complaints). Ford recalled certain 2011–2015 F-350s with ambulance or fire truck packages for a false EGT fault (recall 15V175000), but not regular pickups.
  • NOx sensors (2011): owners on forums posted letters for Ford program 12B33, which reprogrammed the engine computer and replaced the NOx sensor if needed on certain 2011 trucks until April 30, 2013.

Emissions, cooling and rust

  • DEF, exhaust fluid or NOx sensors come up in 35 diesel complaints. Look for exhaust fluid warnings and ask whether the emissions system has been removed ("deleted").
  • Radiator leaks and leaks at the upper radiator hose fitting and coolant bottle are commonly reported on 6.7L trucks.
  • Check cab corners, rocker panels, wheel arches and cab mounts for rust in salt-belt states.

Maintenance tips for owners

From Ford's Power Stroke Diesel Supplement for these years (2011 supplement, pages 72–89): engine oil every 10,000 miles or sooner when the dash asks, both fuel filters every 22,500 miles (15,000 miles for heavy use), and transmission fluid every 150,000 miles. The supplement lists shorter intervals for some items if you tow, plow or idle a lot, so check it for the way you use the truck. Drain the water separator whenever the dash says "water in fuel."

Recalls to check

NHTSA lists 14 recalls for 2011–2016 F-350 Super Duty trucks (checked October 7, 2026). Eight of them cover only work trucks modified by body builders (power take-off switches), one covers F-350s with ambulance or fire engine packages (15V175000, above) and one covers an aftermarket steering stabilizer kit. The ones to check on a pickup:

  • Driver airbag may not deploy on certain 2016 trucks: dust in the steering wheel clock spring can break the airbag's connection. The dealer replaces the clock spring (recall 22V337000).
  • Transmission may briefly engage Reverse when shifting from Park to Drive on certain 2015 trucks built September 2013 to March 2014. The dealer updates the transmission software (recall 14V204000).
  • Rearview camera may show a distorted, upside-down or blank image on certain 2015–2016 trucks. The dealer inspects the camera and replaces it if needed; Ford is mailing owner letters in phases during 2026 (recall 25V572000).
  • Tires on certain 2016 trucks built in one week of April 2016 may have been damaged during assembly. The dealer inspects them and replaces any that are damaged (recall 16V246000).

Before you buy

Researched from owner forums and NHTSA complaints and written by Know Your Truck. These are patterns in what owners report, not a guarantee about any particular truck.

Sources (14)

Common failures & how to fix them

Parts and video buttons search for your 2011-2016 Ford F-350 Super Duty. Always confirm a part fits using your VIN. Brakes, steering, fuel and airbag work affects your safety, so if you're not sure, have a qualified mechanic do it.

  • Driver airbag may not deploy (2016 recall)

    Dealer job

    Signs: Often an airbag warning light, but there may be no warning: dust in the steering wheel clock spring can break the airbag's electrical connection.

    Fix: Covered by Ford recall 22V337000 (Ford 22S35) on certain 2016 trucks: the dealer replaces the clock spring for free. Recalls cover only specific trucks, so check this VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if it's included and whether the repair was done.

    May be covered free by recall 22V337000. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

  • Front-end shake (death wobble)

    Moderate DIY

    Signs: Violent shaking of the steering wheel and front end after hitting a bump, usually at 45+ mph. Slowing down hard is often the only way to stop it.

    Fix: Find and replace the worn parts, most often the track bar or its bushings, then check ball joints, tie rod ends, the drag link and alignment. A new steering stabilizer alone usually only hides the problem.

    Shop: track barShop: steering stabilizer▶ How-to videos

  • High-pressure fuel pump (CP4) failure

    Best left to a shop

    Signs: Sudden stalling or no-start, low fuel pressure codes, metal in the fuel filter. Often there's little warning.

    Fix: Prevention is the part you can do: change both fuel filters on schedule, drain the water separator, and buy fuel from busy stations. Some owners add a kit that keeps pump debris away from the injectors. If the truck stalls or won't start, have a diesel shop confirm the cause (fuel pressure tests and checking the filters for metal) before quoting a pump. A confirmed pump failure that sent metal through the system usually means replacing the whole high-pressure fuel system.

    Shop: fuel filter kitShop: CP4 disaster prevention kit▶ How-to videos

  • 6.7L exhaust temperature (EGT) sensor failure

    Moderate DIY

    Signs: Check engine light, reduced power, or the engine shutting down. Most common on 2011–2012 trucks.

    Fix: Scan for codes and check the wiring and connector to find which sensor failed, then replace it. There are four on the exhaust.

    Shop: 6.7 Powerstroke EGT sensor▶ How-to videos

  • 6.7L coolant leaks

    Moderate DIY

    Signs: Low coolant, a sweet smell, dried coolant crust on the upper radiator hose fitting, radiator or coolant bottle.

    Fix: Find the source. The upper radiator hose O-ring is a common and simple fix. Radiators and coolant bottles are bigger jobs.

    Shop: 6.7 Powerstroke upper radiator hoseShop: 6.7 Powerstroke degas bottle▶ How-to videos

  • 6.7L DEF heater and NOx sensors

    Moderate DIY

    Signs: DEF or exhaust fluid warnings, reduced power, check engine light.

    Fix: Scan for codes and test before replacing parts; DEF quality and wiring can set the same warnings. Common fixes are a NOx sensor or the DEF heater and pump assembly.

    Shop: 6.7 Powerstroke NOx sensor▶ How-to videos

Each year in this generation

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared with the typical truck of the same kind and model year. Open a year for its recalls and complaints.

Factory maintenance schedules

Going to look at one?Bring our free inspection checklist, with these known problems added →