Ford F-250 Problems by Year
Ford F-250 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical F-250 year: 1999, 2000. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1999 F-250: 581 complaints, 14 recalls
- 2000 F-250: 326 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1997 F-250: 304 complaints, 10 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2009 F-250: 54 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1998 F-250: 56 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2007 F-250: 60 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford F-250 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 808 | 20 | 37 |
| Suspension problems | 766 | 20 | 10 |
| Tires problems | 460 | 20 | 31 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 387 | 19 | 4 |
| Power Train problems | 319 | 20 | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 290 | 17 | 19 |
| Electrical System problems | 259 | 20 | 3 |
| Engine problems | 244 | 18 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 182 | 20 | 11 |
| Structure problems | 133 | 19 | 3 |
| Wheels problems | 125 | 19 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 123 | 19 | 4 |
| Air Bags problems | 116 | 17 | 90 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 113 | 18 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 72 | 16 | 3 |
| Visibility | 71 | 15 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 59 | 13 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 36 | 17 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 35 | 15 | 1 |
| Seats | 30 | 11 | 0 |
| Equipment | 24 | 10 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 16 | 7 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 16 | 8 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ford F-250 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2014: suspension (81) · steering (74)
- 2012: suspension (125) · steering (112)
- 2011: suspension (111) · steering (102)
- 2008: steering (80)
- 2006: suspension (85) · steering (78)
- 2000: tires (107)
- 1999: tires (107) · service brakes, hydraulic (97) · engine and engine cooling (66) · power train (61)
All Ford F-250 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 F-250 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2018 F-250 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2017 F-250 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2015 F-250 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2014 F-250 | 142 | 0 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2013 F-250 | 95 | 0 | — | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 F-250 | 266 | 1 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 F-250 | 248 | 2 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 F-250 | 73 | 0 | — | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 F-250 | 54 | 0 | — | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 F-250 | 196 | 7 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 F-250 | 60 | 4 | — | Steering | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 F-250 | 221 | 4 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 F-250 | 144 | 3 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 F-250 | 154 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 F-250 | 116 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 F-250 | 156 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 F-250 | 220 | 4 | — | Tires | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 F-250 | 326 | 5 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 F-250 | 581 | 14 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 F-250 | 56 | 6 | — | Suspension | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 F-250 | 304 | 10 | — | Tires | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 F-250 | 176 | 4 | — | Tires | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 F-250 | 184 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-250 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (581), 2000 (326) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical F-250 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford F-250?
Steering, with 808 complaints across 20 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford F-250 have?
41 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.