vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Ford F250 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

264 owner complaints analyzed

73 distinct recall campaigns

130,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 264 complaints (6.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior5621.2%
Fuel system concerns3011.4%
Electrical and battery issues207.6%
Steering behavior186.8%
Transmission and shifting114.2%
Engine operation62.3%

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.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
17
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
16
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
16
Tires:Tread/Belt
16
Electrical System:Ignition
15
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
14
Tires
14
Fuel System, Gasoline
13
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch17
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices16
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly16
Tires:Tread/Belt16
Electrical System:Ignition15
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip14
Tires14
Fuel System, Gasoline13

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 17; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices: 16; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 16; Tires:Tread/Belt: 16; Electrical System:Ignition: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 14; Tires: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 6

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 239 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
62
1996
80
2000
41
2001
24
2002
10
2003
16
2004
8
2005
6
2006
3
2008
3
2009
2
2010
7
2011
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199562
199680
200041
200124
200210
200316
20048
20056
20063
20083
20092
20107
20112

1995: 62; 1996: 80; 2000: 41; 2001: 24; 2002: 10; 2003: 16; 2004: 8; 2005: 6; 2006: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 7; 2011: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 30 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 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 866203 · 2000-07-27 (July 27, 2000)

AFTER INSTALLING AN OFF MARKET BRAKE PRODUCT ONTO VEHICLE CALLED TEKONSHA BRAKE SYSTEM, MANUFACTURED BY VOYAGER, LEARNED THAT SYSTEM WILL NOT BRAKE IN REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 866203 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006837 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)

THE FIREWALL CRACKED, WHICH REDUCED THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006837 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 962808 · 1995-03-30 (March 30, 1995)

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING, UNDER THE HOOD, FLAMES NEAR THE FUEL TANK, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962808 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960564 · 1995-02-24 (February 24, 1995)

VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN OVER 5MPH DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILURE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960564 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 800562 · 1996-09-06 (September 6, 1996)

DURING OPERATION SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND THE HOOD, RESULTING IN THE WIRING HARNESS BEING BURNED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800562 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 982959 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)

THE TRUCK BURNED UP FROM A FIRE THAT WAS STARTED AT THE FIR WALL OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIREMAN SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982959 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 984181 · 1996-05-07 (May 7, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984181 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504135 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)

STEERING COLUMN BECOMES VERY WARM TO THE TOUCH WHEN DRIVING FOR A LENGTH OF TIME. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504135 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 801377 · 1996-08-27 (August 27, 1996)

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY IN PARK, LEFT IDLE POSITION, OPENED THE DOOR, JUMPED OUT OF THE GEAR AND GRABBED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OUT TRUCK AND THE TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARD, CAUSING FATALITY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801377 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484698 · 1995-08-08 (August 8, 1995)

LIGHT WEIGHT DESIGN OS DRIVE TRAIN CAUSED TRANSFER CASE TO CRACK, DUE INABILITY TO SUPPORT WEIGHT OF MOTOR/TRANSMISSION. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484698 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 785681 · 2001-09-20 (September 20, 2001)

THE HAULING CAMPER HAD NUMEROUS ENGINE SHUT OFFS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DUE TO IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFECT. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785681 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 482276 · 1995-03-21 (March 21, 1995)

FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILED TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER/FUEL LEAK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482276 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

2005
3
2006
3
2007
2
2008
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20053
20063
20072
20082

2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 2

Year-by-year records

Ford F250 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196703Not available
196811-2
1969010
197010-1
197203Not available
197305+2
197422-3
197505+3
197602-3
197725+3
197829+4
197918-1
198003-5
198115+2
198203-2
198316+3
198493-3
1985162-1
19862920
19872520
1988383+1
1989686+3
19906860
200503Not available
2006030
200702-1
2008020