Ford F-250 SD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6,506 owner complaints analyzed
67 distinct recall campaigns
38,106 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 4,554 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2,427 of 6,506 complaints (37.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1,895 | 29.1% |
| Braking behavior | 971 | 14.9% |
| Engine operation | 333 | 5.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 286 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 244 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 224 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 2427 |
| Suspension | 1955 |
| Unknown Or Other | 443 |
| Electrical System | 375 |
| Engine | 319 |
| Power Train | 294 |
| Wheels | 271 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 222 |
Steering: 2,427; Suspension: 1,955; Unknown Or Other: 443; Electrical System: 375; Engine: 319; Power Train: 294; Wheels: 271; Fuel/Propulsion System: 222
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1446 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1271 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 644 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 463 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 490 |
| 150,000 and above | 240 |
Under 25,000: 1,446; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,271; 50,000 to 74,999: 644; 75,000 to 99,999: 463; 100,000 to 149,999: 490; 150,000 and above: 240
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,446). 1,952 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 27 |
| 2003 | 139 |
| 2004 | 176 |
| 2005 | 209 |
| 2006 | 206 |
| 2007 | 254 |
| 2008 | 241 |
| 2009 | 236 |
| 2010 | 284 |
| 2011 | 202 |
| 2012 | 84 |
| 2013 | 111 |
| 2014 | 114 |
| 2015 | 116 |
| 2016 | 78 |
| 2017 | 63 |
| 2018 | 168 |
| 2019 | 883 |
| 2020 | 713 |
| 2021 | 478 |
| 2022 | 502 |
| 2023 | 353 |
| 2024 | 296 |
| 2025 | 374 |
| 2026 | 174 |
2000: 13; 2001: 12; 2002: 27; 2003: 139; 2004: 176; 2005: 209; 2006: 206; 2007: 254; 2008: 241; 2009: 236; 2010: 284; 2011: 202; 2012: 84; 2013: 111; 2014: 114; 2015: 116; 2016: 78; 2017: 63; 2018: 168; 2019: 883; 2020: 713; 2021: 478; 2022: 502; 2023: 353; 2024: 296; 2025: 374; 2026: 174
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1,895 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 971 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 333 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10039234 · 2003-09-21 (September 21, 2003)
6 SERP. BELTS & 3 TENSIONER ASSYS IN 65000 MILES. LAST ONE AT FREEWAY SPEED PULLING TRAV TRL. VERY LITTLE BRAKES OR STEERING. THE ONE AT 59000 MILES PULLED TRANS COOLING LINES INTO DAMP PULLEY, NOW MY TRANS (AUTO) IS MAKING NOISES. OCCURRED ON 3/94 7/96 9/96 2/03 6/03 8/03. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65,103 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240855 · 2008-09-04 (September 4, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC MY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING MY DIESEL ENGINE TO SHUT OFF, LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THIS ACTION ALMOST CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. I RETAINED THE SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,848 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357676 · 2010-09-26 (September 26, 2010)
1992 F-250 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION PARKED ON ROADSIDE WITH PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. APPROX 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE F-250 BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS DRIVING BY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 147,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864402 · 2000-06-28 (June 28, 2000)
INSIDE BOTTOM PULLEY/CRANKSHAFT KEPT BREAKING. DEALER REPLACED IT 2 TIMES, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED 4 OTHER TIMES. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THROUGH ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A REPIR KIT. VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES LOSE POWER & BRAKES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211098 · 2007-12-07 (December 7, 2007)
THE CAM POSITIONING SENSOR HAS FAILED TWICE ON A 1995 FORD F250 TURBO DIESEL. ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC LANE ON A NARROW MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY. PART REPLACED TWICE. WHY AREN'T THE 1995 FORD RECALLED UNDER FORD RECALL NO. 07S57 ? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 157,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180898 · 2007-01-27 (January 27, 2007)
TRUCK STALLED OR QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000597 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- REBUILD.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,851 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10416751 · 2011-08-02 (August 2, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT AND REAR FUEL STRAPS AND FUEL TANKS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH GAS TANK WERE RUSTED AS WELL AS THE FRONT AND REAR STRAPS. UPDATED 11/02/11
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272941 · 2009-06-05 (June 5, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FILTER HOUSING CRACKED AND LEAKED DIESEL FLUID FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ASSUMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL HOUSING CRACKED AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 230,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 230,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178037 · 2007-01-08 (January 8, 2007)
WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE DO TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON SPEED CONTROL . NO ONE HAS ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10493207 · 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH BECAME OILY AND STARTED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSIST…
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493207 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2010: 0; 2011: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 14; 2018: 9; 2019: 11; 2020: 14; 2021: 12; 2022: 17; 2023: 16; 2024: 4; 2025: 7; 2026: 5
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | 4 | 1 | +1 |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 39 | 2 | +1 |
| 1998 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 1999 | 248 | 2 | +1 |
| 2000 | 233 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 288 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 245 | 3 | +1 |
| 2003 | 178 | 4 | +1 |
| 2004 | 254 | 2 | -2 |
| 2005 | 295 | 3 | +1 |
| 2006 | 274 | 1 | -2 |
| 2007 | 54 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 141 | 0 | -1 |
| 2009 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 122 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 57 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 296 | 2 | +2 |
| 2016 | 287 | 3 | +1 |
| 2017 | 1,155 | 14 | +11 |
| 2018 | 397 | 9 | -5 |
| 2019 | 1,162 | 11 | +2 |
| 2020 | 263 | 14 | +3 |
| 2021 | 163 | 12 | -2 |
| 2022 | 120 | 17 | +5 |
| 2023 | 43 | 16 | -1 |
| 2024 | 37 | 4 | -12 |
| 2025 | 15 | 7 | +3 |
| 2026 | 8 | 5 | -2 |