2008 Ford F-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
131 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
67,532 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 117 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 131 complaints (35.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 42 | 32.1% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 12.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.5% |
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 | 47 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 15 |
| Suspension | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
Steering: 47; Engine: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling: 15; Suspension: 14; Service Brakes: 9; Structure:Body: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 12
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2008: 9; 2009: 3; 2010: 13; 2011: 12; 2012: 10; 2013: 14; 2014: 11; 2015: 12; 2016: 7; 2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 7; 2023: 3; 2025: 2; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 42 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 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 10223024 · 2008-04-01 (April 1, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A PRESSURE CHECK OF THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE DEALER FOUND A RADIATOR LEAK AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242779 · 2008-09-18 (September 18, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE VEHICLE HAS TREADWAYS TEMPRA TRAILCUTTER RADIAL RT TIRES, SIZE 30570R16 (NA). EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT HAS BEEN PULLING TOWARDS THE LEFT. SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS WERE PERFORMED, BUT THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A TIRE ROTATION, WHICH ONLY MADE THE FAILURE WORSE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE. HE SLOWED DOWN AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW OUT. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363476 · 2010-11-01 (November 1, 2010)
BRAKE PEDAL LOCATION AND DEPRESSING VEHICLE'S BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. STREET DEPARTMENT WORKERS WEARING PROPER WORK BOOTS HAVE FOUND THAT THE PEDAL SPACING IS NOT ADEQUATE BETWEEN GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 10 TIMES WHERE THE EMPLOYEE HAS DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL PLACEMENT ARE TO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AND BOTH PEDALS CAN BE DEPRESSED AT THE SAME TIME GIVING THE OPERATOR THE FEELING OF NO BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409631 · 2011-06-24 (June 24, 2011)
DRIVER, ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR A LIGHT RAIL CROSSING, DEPRESSED BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY, MOVING FORWARD INTO THE PATH OF ONCOMING TROLLEY. VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVER BELIEVES BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND ALIGNED WHEN DEPRESSED.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,813 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343288 · 2010-07-14 (July 14, 2010)
2008 FORD 350 DIESEL PICK UP. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LOCKED UP ON HIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 19,300 MILES. THE CONSUMER FOUND A TSB REGARDING SYMPTOMS OF WATER IN THE FUEL TANK VENT AREA. THE CONSUMER STATED IT SEEMED THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF WATER ENTERING THE FUEL TANK VENT AREA DUE TO SNOW AND ICE BUILD-UP.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423106 · 2011-09-02 (September 2, 2011)
WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK STALLED AND QUITE RUNNING. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP THEY DETERMINED THAT 2 FUEL INJECTORS ALONG WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WERE BAD. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THEY DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY CORRISON IN THE FUEL TANK. THEY SAID FORD WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THE PROBLEM AS THEY BLAMED IT ON THE DIESEL FUEL. WE BUY THE SAME DIESEL FUEL THAT OTHER TRUCKS USE AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS BOUGHT AT REPUTABLE GAS STATIONS. FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,410 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445228 · 2012-01-25 (January 25, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 40-55 MPH OR WHEN TURNING ON ROUGH ROAD SURFACES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRACK LINK AND THE STEERING GEARBOX BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479989 · 2012-10-13 (October 13, 2012)
UPON INSPECTION OF THIS VEHICLE,OUR MECHANIC FOUND THE AUTOMATIC DIPSTICK TUBE RUSTED IN HALF ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. AT THE BRACKET THAT BOLTS TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE A POTENTIAL FIRE /SAFETY HAZARD IF SOME ONE WAS TO FILL OR CHECK THE TRANSMISSION WHILE THE ENGINE IS HOT. WE ALSO FOUND THE RIGHT SIDE SHOCK TOWER SEVERELY DEGRADED BECAUSE OF RUST. THE TOP OF THE TOWER HAS LARGE PIECES OF RUST SCALE ON TOP OF THE TOWER THAT WE FEEL COULD POSSIBLY ALLOW THE COIL SPRING PRESSURE TO FRACTURE THE STEEL AND CAUSE A …
Owner-reported narrative. 39,080 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10379159 · 2011-01-31 (January 31, 2011)
2008 FORD F350. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A CODE CAMP UP THAT STATED CLEAN EXHAUST FILTER. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE EXHAUST SENSOR WAS BAD AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. ALSO, PARTS ON THE RADIATOR WERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKS AROUND THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TRUCK WAS NOT RUNNING RIGHT AND REQUESTED THE SERVICE RECORDS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE AND HER HUSB…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10379159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10672945 · 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS CYCLING MORE THAN DESIGNED BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY CAUSING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10672945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10887997 · 2016-07-23 (July 23, 2016)
MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK TO WORK. SHE SAID IT WAS ACTING WEIRD. IT HAD SLACK GOING TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT. WHEN SHE GOT HOME IT WAS WORSE. I OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK IT FOR FLUID.THE FLUID WAS GOOD. I GOT INSIDE TO CHECK OUT THE STEERING. IT HAD A LOT OF SLACK BOTH DIRECTIONS. AFTER A FEW TURNS THE HORN WENT OFF AND I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO GET IT TO GO OFF. I THEN TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING AGAIN. I COULD HEAR SOME GRINDING FROM THE GEAR BOX. I DISCONNECTED THE HORN AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY. I STARTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10887997 at NHTSA ↗