2008 Ford F-350: complaints, problems and recalls

TWO ISSUES REALLY: A SLOPPILY INSTALLED VALVE COVER GASKET ON THE RIGHT VALVE COVER CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. THE SECOND IS A CONSTANT DRIFT TO THE LEFT. 2008 F-350 LARIAT 4X4 CREWCAB LONG BED POWERSTROKE DIESEL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198219 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I PURCHASED MY 2008, FORD F350 IN AUGUST 2007 AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THE 5 RECALLS FROM FORD. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY THAT TRAVEL WITH ME. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD FOR NOT NOTIFYING ME ABOUT THE RECALLS, AND ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME ABOUT ANY OF THE RECALLS. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE FROM YOU ON WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT MY COMPLAINT. THANKS, *TR UPDATED 07/21/09

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10229178 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. ON JUNE 4, 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE EXHAUST FILTER FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EXHAUST FILTER. ON JUNE 22, 2008, THE CONTACT'S FATHER WAS TRANSPORTING A TRAILER AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THE TRAILER SLAMMED INTO THE VEHICLE. HIS FATHER LOST CONTROL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER,…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,624 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232205 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VAST AMOUNT OF OIL ON THE GROUND WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE WARNING, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL OIL BURNING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.…

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239912 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED A NEW 2008 FORD F-350 AND FOUND OUT FROM A FRIEND THAT THERE ARE TWO RECALLS ON MY TRUCK THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10240865 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITHOUT POWER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND IDLED ROUGHLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN RAINY WEATHER…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243260 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Reported: 2008-07-28 (July 28, 2008)

KNAPHEIDE IS RECALLING 108 MY 2006-2008 PRO SERIES TRUCK BEDS EQUIPPED WITH AN ICC BUMPER WHICH INCLUDED A PROVISION FOR A BALL HITCH. THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT WELD ATTACHING THE HITCH CHANNEL TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN BENDING OF THE HITCH CHANNEL OR THE HITCH COULD BE PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: KNAPHEIDE WILL OFFER TWO REMEDIES TO ITS CUSTOMERS: (1) FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT USE THE HITCH, THE HITCH WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK BED AND REPLACED WITH AN ICC BUMPER; OR (2) FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO NEED A HITCH, A RECEIVER HITCH ASSEMBLY WILL BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING HITCH ASSEMBLY AND ALL SUSPECT WELD JOINTS WILL BE RE WELDED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KNAPHEIDE AT 1-877-473-5763.