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2008 Ford F-250: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

195 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 160 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 79 of 195 complaints (40.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior7136.4%
Braking behavior3819.5%
Transmission and shifting105.1%
Electrical and battery issues84.1%
Engine operation73.6%
Fuel system concerns42.1%

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
79
Suspension
31
Engine
18
Tires
15
Electrical System
11
Service Brakes
11
Power Train
9
Unknown Or Other
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering79
Suspension31
Engine18
Tires15
Electrical System11
Service Brakes11
Power Train9
Unknown Or Other8

Steering: 79; Suspension: 31; Engine: 18; Tires: 15; Electrical System: 11; Service Brakes: 11; Power Train: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
20
25,000 to 49,999
40
50,000 to 74,999
22
75,000 to 99,999
16
100,000 to 149,999
34
150,000 and above
28
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00020
25,000 to 49,99940
50,000 to 74,99922
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,99934
150,000 and above28

Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 34; 150,000 and above: 28

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 35 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.

2007
3
2008
4
2009
8
2010
13
2011
11
2012
10
2013
20
2014
21
2015
14
2016
6
2017
10
2018
15
2019
15
2020
13
2021
9
2022
3
2023
5
2024
10
2025
4
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20073
20084
20098
201013
201111
201210
201320
201421
201514
20166
201710
201815
201915
202013
20219
20223
20235
202410
20254
20261

2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 8; 2010: 13; 2011: 11; 2012: 10; 2013: 20; 2014: 21; 2015: 14; 2016: 6; 2017: 10; 2018: 15; 2019: 15; 2020: 13; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 5; 2024: 10; 2025: 4; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10196507 · 2007-07-16 (July 16, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FAST IDLE MODE AND SUDDENLY LUNGED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO DO THIS AS A SELF-CLEANING PROCESS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204173 · 2007-09-26 (September 26, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 40 MPH WITHIN FIVE SECONDS, WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THEY RE-SECURED THE CONNECTION. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE APC SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SHOULD BE REPLACED. THEY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW IF THE APC SENSOR WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS L…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,310 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204173 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10204675 · 2007-10-02 (October 2, 2007)

2008 F250: HAD THIS TRUCK SINCE 9-28-08. SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN APPLYING BRAKE MY FOOT ALSO TOUCHES ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE. ENGINE IS VERY QUITE AND DO NOT IMMEDIATELY REALIZE THAT CONDITION. THIS IS BAD ENOUGH WITH MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD FAR WORSE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204675 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10218264 · 2008-02-17 (February 17, 2008)

MY HUSBAND AND I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2008 FORD F-250 CREW CAB PICKUP. WHEN I WAS INSTALLING THE CAR SEAT, AFTER WE GOT HOME, I NOTICED THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY LOWER ANCHORS FOR THE LATCH SYSTEM. I DID NOTICE THE UPPER TETHERS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT, SO I FIGURED IT WOULD HAVE THE LOWER ANCHORS. WHY ISN'T THERE ANY LOWER ANCHORS, THAT IS PART OF THE LATCH SYSTEM. ALSO, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IN THE BACK SEAT IS NOT A RETRACTABLE ONE, BUT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS. THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, YOU ARE NOT TO HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218264 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10229675 · 2008-06-02 (June 2, 2008)

IN THE 2008 FORD SUPER DUTY PICKUP (ALL BODY STYLES) THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS EXCEPT THE CENTER SEAT ARE APPROXIMATELY 50% IN THE CRUSH ZONE IN THE CASE OF A SIDE CRASH. THIS RENDERS THESE CONSUMERS VERY LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE HEAD AND CHEST TRAUMA, OR MORE LIKELY DEATH IN THE CASE OF A SIDE CRASH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED NO LATER THAN 13 MONTHS BEFORE BEING RELEASED INTO THE PUBLIC, BUT THE PROGRAM LEVEL MANAGERS IN THE COMPANY CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY LAUNCHED A VEHICLE WITH A KNOWN RISK OF FATALITIES. THE DESIGN IS BEING CHANGED IN …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10229675 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10241169 · 2008-09-06 (September 6, 2008)

IT HAPPEN ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I FIRST GOT THE TRUCK. I WAS GETTING TO A STOP SIGN AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED, I WASN'T ABLE TO TURN AT ALL AND I HAD A REALLY HARD TIME BRAKING, I HAD TO USE A LOT OF FORCE TO BRAKE OR TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN A LITTLE. THAT HAPPENED 3 DIFFERENT TIME. AT A STOP SIGN AND ONCE AT A TURN LIGHT WHICH WAS THE WORST CAUSE I HAD TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THAT WAS ALL IN A 2 WEEKS AFTER THE ONE MONTH OF HAVING THE TRUCK. IT WAS COMPLETELY STOCK. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY SAID N…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241169 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10251391 · 2008-12-10 (December 10, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR CONTINENTAL TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE TIRES WERE LEAKING AIR. THE REMAINING TIRE HAS NINE HOLES INSIDE THE THREAD AND THE CONTACT HAS TO PLACE AIR IN IT EVERYDAY. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT FORD WOULD NOT HONOR THE REPAIR. THE TIRE LINE AND SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251391 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10260192 · 2009-02-27 (February 27, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE RISK OF A CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VACUUM HOSE FOR THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WAS MANUFACTURED TOO SHORT. THEREFORE, WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS, THE COMPONENT WOULD EASILY FAIL. THE HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT THE COST OF $56 PER HOSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 3/24/09 *CN UPDATED 03/27/09.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260192 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

07V139000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Reported: 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES IN THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY RESULT FROM EXCESS HYDROCARBONS IN THE EXHAUST.

Consequence: LACK OF POWER OR ROUGH OPERATION, UNUSUAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, AND POTENTIALLY A VISIBLE FLAME OUT THE TAILPIPE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
07V140000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery

Reported: 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE OF THE BATTERY POSITIVE (B+) WIRE TO THE RIGHT HAND SPLASH SHIELD BOLT MAY RESULT IN THE BATTERY B+ WIRE CONTACTING THE SPLASH SHIELD BOLT.

Consequence: LONG TERM CONTACT COULD CAUSE WIRE CHAFE, RESULTING IN COPPER WIRE BEING EXPOSED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE BATTERY B+ WIRE COULD SHORT TO GROUND INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY B+ WIRE LOCATION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION THE WIRE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
07V541000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2007-11-21 (November 21, 2007)

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING AND REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE YOUR DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V096000 · Seats

Reported: 2008-02-28 (February 28, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 87,515 MY 2008 F250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." SOME 40% SPLIT AND CAPTAIN'S CHAIR DRIVER'S SEATS, EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORTS, MAY HAVE IMPROPER WELDS AT THE JOINT OF THE SEAT BACK PIVOT BRACKET AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT SIDE PIVOT BRACKET MAY CRACK OR BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE 40% SPLIT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORT OR, IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT BACK FRAME WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V191000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery

Reported: 2008-04-25 (April 25, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 64,754 MY 2008 F-250 AND F-350 SINGLE REAR WHEEL, 4X4, 156 INCH WHEEL BASE PICK UP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO PIECE DRIVE SHAFT FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE FUEL SPILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A RIGID BARRIER, THE FUEL TANK CAN MOVE FORWARD AND CONTACT A FRAME CROSS MEMBER, POTENTIALLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE WHICH CAN RESULT IN FUEL SPILLAGE.

Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗