2016 Ford F-350 SD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
208 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
48,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 80 of 208 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 65 | 31.3% |
| Braking behavior | 27 | 13.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 80 |
| Steering | 74 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 16 |
| Power Train | 15 |
| Wheels | 12 |
Suspension: 80; Steering: 74; Engine: 22; Air Bags: 21; Unknown Or Other: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Power Train: 15; Wheels: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 7
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 91 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2022 | 34 |
| 2023 | 31 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2016: 7; 2017: 17; 2018: 9; 2019: 25; 2020: 26; 2021: 30; 2022: 34; 2023: 31; 2024: 14; 2025: 9; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 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 10837193 · 2016-02-19 (February 19, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FRACTURED METAL FRAGMENT IN THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX CLOGGED THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. ..UPDATED 06/28/16 *BF UPDATED 06/14/18*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10837193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10945404 · 2017-01-15 (January 15, 2017)
VEHICLE BOUNCES VERY DANGEROUSLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE INTO OTHER LANE. POT HOLES SHAKE VEHICLE INTO OTHER LANES. BRAKES DO NOT HOLD WELL DURING SHAKING. MYSELF INSIDE SHAKE VERY HEAVILY AS WELL FEELING LIKE A BOBBLE HEAD. STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT WHILE SHAKING. IT IS SO BAD SPEAKING IS DIFFICULT DURING THE SHAKE. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 55MPH. THIS OCCURS MOST ON HIGHWAYS BUT ALSO ON CITY STREETS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10945404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10950302 · 2017-02-08 (February 8, 2017)
THE BRAKE DUST FROM THE STOCK OEM BRAKES BITES INTO THE RIMS OF THE STOCK WHEELS AND CANT GET IT POLISHED OUT , EVEN THE DEALER IN LABELLE FORD FL AGREES BUT FORD WILL NOT WARRANT THESE UNDER MY 12000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER . THEY DECLINED BECAUSE I DONT WASH IT OFTEN ENOUGH (I WASH IT WEEKLY , DID I EVER GET A WASHING SCHEDULE FROM THEM?) TWO WEEKS AGO I MET A YOUNG MAN WITH A NEW F250 AND HAD THE EXACT SAME WHEELS AND AND GUESS WHAT, HE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT HE WASHES HIS TRUCK ALMOST DAILY.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10950302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015355 · 2017-08-15 (August 15, 2017)
THE ANIMAL ARE EATING PLASTIC FUEL LINES CAUSING FUEL LEAK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11015355 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015415 · 2017-08-15 (August 15, 2017)
VEHICLE HAS 10K MILES ON IT. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, VEHICLE SHUT UP, AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP. TOOK TO DEALER, STATED IT WAS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM, THAT THE FUEL PUMP IN THE TRUCK BLEW UP AND SENT METAL SHREDS THROUGH THE FUEL RAIL SYSTEM AND INTO THE ENGINE. FORD DENIED THE WARRANTY STATING THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED WITH TO MUCH WATER. UPON HAVING MY FUEL TESTED, IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS NOT CONTAMINATED AND THEY PAID 9000 OF REPAIR COST, AND I PAID 1000. I HAVE TWO VEHICLES (THE OTHER WHICH I WILL ALSO MAKE A COMPLAINT AS WELL) AND BOTH …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11001272 · 2017-06-25 (June 25, 2017)
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, WITH THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK POINTING UP THE SLOPE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED, AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT UNATTENDED, AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT, IT ROLLED 10-15 FEET BACKWARDS, WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, AND THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY APPLIED. IT WAS FOUND STOPPED ON LEVEL GROUND. UPON REALIZING WHAT HAPPENED, I REPEATED THE PARKING PROCESS USING THE SAME SHIFT SEQUENCE, D-N-P, WITH THE SAME RESULT…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351021 · 2020-08-24 (August 24, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING ON US HWY 395 NORTHBOUND AT BUCKEYE RD IN MINDEN NV IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE FADING WHILE STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT. WHILE STOPPED THE TRUCK WAS LURCHING FORWARD AND I HAD TO FORCEFULLY STEP ON BRAKE AGGRESSIVELY TO KEEP IT FROM ENTERING INTERSECTION. I PUT IT IN PARK WHILE WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT AND AS I PUT IN DRIVE IT REVVED UP AS IT PAST REVERSE AND SLOWED IN NEUTRAL AND REVVED AGAIN AS IT HIT DRIVE. IT CONTINUED TO LURCH AND JERK WHEN PUTTING IT INTO GEAR AS I DROVE IT HOME FROM CARSON CITY NV. THIRTY MINUTES INTO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865897 · 2016-05-19 (May 19, 2016)
WHEN THE 6.7 DIESEL ENGINE GOES IN TO REGENERATION FOR THE EMISSION SYSTEM THE ENGINE SOMETIMES SHUDDERS AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE VALVES RATTLE AND THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND TRUCK SLOWS. SEEMS TO BE MOSTLY WHEN THE TRUCK IS IN A SLIGHT PULL UP A GRADE. BUT, IT HAS DONE IT ON FLAT GROUND. THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND WIDE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE FORD 6.7 DIESEL ENGINES. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS COMMON WITH THESE 6.7 DIESEL ENGINES AND A FIX WAS COMING BUT IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 YEARS AND NO FIX IN SITE. MY TRUCK IS A 2016 WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11033031 · 2017-10-12 (October 12, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT DRASTICALLY WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CRASHED INTO SOME CONCRETE, AND THEN SPED ACROSS THE ROAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TWO LANE TRAFFIC ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT, BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER (SAM WAMPLER'S FREEDOM FORD, 720 S GEORGE NIGH EXPY, MCALESTER, OK…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11033031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11176553 · 2019-02-12 (February 12, 2019)
REFERENCED FORD HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOY WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A HEATED GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. WE DO NOT HAVE A TIME FRAME FOR HOW LONG IT WAS PARKED BEFORE DEPLOYMENT. AFTER THIS DEPLOYMENT FOUND THAT THE TRUCK NO LONGER HAD POWER TO START THE VEHICLE OR ANY DASHBOARD INDICATORS/GAUGES WORKING. THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON/OFF RANDOMLY TILL BATTERY IS COMPLETELY DEAD WHILE PARKED AND SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 6 MONTHS TO REPAIR. …
Owner-reported narrative. 87,198 miles reported. Look up ODI 11176553 at NHTSA ↗