U.S. public vehicle records

Ford F-350 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,514 owner complaints analyzed

50 distinct recall campaigns

74,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1989 to 2014 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 1,229 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 394 of 2,514 complaints (15.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	490	19.5%
Steering behavior	478	19.0%
Engine operation	204	8.1%
Fuel system concerns	144	5.7%
Transmission and shifting	122	4.9%
Electrical and battery issues	79	3.1%

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.

Steering

394

Suspension

296

Tires

199

Engine

163

Tires:Tread/Belt

148

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

100

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Steering	394
Suspension	296
Tires	199
Engine	163
Tires:Tread/Belt	148
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	100
Electrical System	99
Engine And Engine Cooling	93

Steering: 394; Suspension: 296; Tires: 199; Engine: 163; Tires:Tread/Belt: 148; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 100; Electrical System: 99; Engine And Engine Cooling: 93

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

213

25,000 to 49,999

202

50,000 to 74,999

208

75,000 to 99,999

173

100,000 to 149,999

231

150,000 and above

202

Under 25,000: 213; 25,000 to 49,999: 202; 50,000 to 74,999: 208; 75,000 to 99,999: 173; 100,000 to 149,999: 231; 150,000 and above: 202

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (231). 1,285 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.

1995

1996

2000

299

2001

256

2002

179

2003

128

2004

150

2005

109

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	73
1996	46
2000	299
2001	256
2002	179
2003	128
2004	150
2005	109
2006	42
2007	45
2008	61
2009	53
2010	58
2011	98
2012	87
2013	77
2014	95
2015	67
2016	68
2017	57
2018	46
2019	76
2020	78
2021	74
2022	56
2023	56
2024	37
2025	37
2026	6

1995: 73; 1996: 46; 2000: 299; 2001: 256; 2002: 179; 2003: 128; 2004: 150; 2005: 109; 2006: 42; 2007: 45; 2008: 61; 2009: 53; 2010: 58; 2011: 98; 2012: 87; 2013: 77; 2014: 95; 2015: 67; 2016: 68; 2017: 57; 2018: 46; 2019: 76; 2020: 78; 2021: 74; 2022: 56; 2023: 56; 2024: 37; 2025: 37; 2026: 6

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 490 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 478 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 204 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 10567499 · 2014-03-05 (March 5, 2014)

SINCE NOVEMBER 19, 2014 I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A STRONG FUEL VAPOR SMELL FROM MY TRUCK. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL I GOT INTO MY TRUCK AND TURNED THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION. ALL OF A SUDDEN I NOTICED THAT MY REAR GAS TANK WAS EMPTY. I FLIPPED THE SWITCH TO THE FRONT TANK AND IT WAS OVER FULL. AFTER QUITE A PERIOD OF RESEARCHING ONLINE WHEN I HAD TIME TO, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE. THE 91S39 RECALL LIST 1989 F350 ON IT BUT MY TRUCK DOESN'T APPARENTLY FALL UNDER THE RECALL CAUSE TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567499 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121913 · 2005-05-23 (May 23, 2005)

DT: CONSUMERS STATES THE BRAKES FADE. CONSUMER STEPS ON THEM AND THEY GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR SLOWLY. IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO PUMP THE BRAKES, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE VEHICLE STOP COMING DOWN A HILL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 133,867 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121913 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974988 · 1995-11-09 (November 9, 1995)

STEERING WHEEL FLIP FLOPS WHILE DRIVING, PIN CAME OUT OF COLUMN. TT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974988 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10166902 · 2006-08-22 (August 22, 2006)

1992 FORD F-350 HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE, CAUSING IT TO STRIKE THE MEDIAN WALL. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166902 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10404296 · 2011-06-03 (June 3, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED WHERE THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED ONE OF THE DUAL FUEL TANKS WAS FULL AND ONE WAS EMPTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 93V125000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE F…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404296 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502328 · 1996-03-15 (March 15, 1996)

CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAME COMPLETELY PLUGGED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601444) *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 721627 · 2000-04-18 (April 18, 2000)

WE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWO TIMES, THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE OF THE FUEL RUNNING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TANKS. THE NEXT TIME IS BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NOT SEND FUEL TO ENGINE PROPERLY, IT WOULD CUT OUT. NOW WE CAN'T USE TH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721627 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 860362 · 2000-04-14 (April 14, 2000)

WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE TRUCK. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PLATE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGONG PROBLEM SINCE 1993. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860362 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 959236 · 1995-01-27 (January 27, 1995)

AUTO-TRAN: GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR DOES NOT SHOW WHAT GEAR ITS IN; DRIVER HAVE TO FEEL AROUND TO DETERMINE WHAT GEAR TRANSMISSION IS IN. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959236 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983060 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING, FIRE STARTED COMING FROM THE DASH AREA, REPLACED IGNITION/WIRING/DASH BOARD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 877747 · 2001-01-09 (January 9, 2001)

SHORTLY AFTER CHANGING BATTERY A FIRE IGNITED IN DASH AREA, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FUTHER DETAILS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 877747 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1998

1999