2016 Ford F-250 SD Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-250 SD years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 290 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-250 SD. That ranks 6th out of 32 F-250 SD model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (118 complaints, 41%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 5 fires, 6 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 290owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Ford F-250 SD problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 118 | 41% | 80,000 | “death wobble” (56%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 112 | 39% | 55,800 | “death wobble” (63%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 37 | 13% | 49,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 35 | 12% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 27 | 9% | 55,370 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 25 | 9% | 53,500 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 17 | 6% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 16 | 6% | 42,326 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 5% | 137,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 10 | 3% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 8 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 2% | 105,269 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 2% | 26,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 1% | 22,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 1% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1% | 37,006 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 76,880 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | 18,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Ford F-250 SD recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
Air bags:frontal:driver clockspring/spiral cassette
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Dust may accumulate in the steering wheel clock spring, causing a disconnection in the electrical connection resulting in the driver's air bag not deploying as intended.
Risk: A disconnected driver's air bag can result in it not deploying, as intended, during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering wheel clock spring, free of charge. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 3rd Quarter of 2023. An interim notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on July 6, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S35.
Tires:sidewall
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured April 5, 2016, to April 11, 2016. The tires installed during assembly of the affected vehicles may have sustained damage to the inner sidewall, possibly resulting in a loss of air or a tire rupture.
Risk: A rapid loss of air or a tire rupture while the vehicle is being driven may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires for damage and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 23, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S17.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak (PE24014) — opened May 9, 2024, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Failure of Bosch CP4 fuel pump causing me to be stranded on the side of the road. No recalls currently issued and cannot afford a $15,000 fix
I was driving my truck on a highway in [XXX]. I was going 70 MPH when we crossed over a bridge. The pavement was lower than the bridge cement. that cause the truck to have a slight bump when crossing over it. That cause the entire truck to begin a violent shaking (death wobble). it was very hard to…
My 2016 Ford F250 was flagged under safety recall notice 25S89, NHTSA recall 25V572 for the issue of where the backup camera could display a blank/distorted image, or message that the rear view camera is unavailable. The camera on my F250 has not completely failed, but has exhibited the known…
Death wobble at highway speeds
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle went into the death wobble and started shaking violently. The contact pulled off the roadway and parked the vehicle. The failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…
Other Ford F-250 SD years
← 2015 F-250 SD · 2017 F-250 SD →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-250 SD | 9 | 6 |
| 2025 F-250 SD | 17 | 7 |
| 2024 F-250 SD | 40 | 4 |
| 2023 F-250 SD | 43 | 16 |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 126 | 17 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 166 | 12 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 265 | 14 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 1,164 | 11 |
| 2018 F-250 SD | 398 | 9 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 1,155 | 14 |
| 2016 | 290 | 3 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 296 | 2 |
| 2014 F-250 SD | 26 | 0 |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 57 | 0 |
| 2011 F-250 SD | 122 | 0 |
| 2010 F-250 SD | 32 | 0 |
| 2009 F-250 SD | 23 | 0 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 141 | 0 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 54 | 1 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 274 | 1 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 295 | 3 |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 254 | 2 |
| 2003 F-250 SD | 178 | 4 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 245 | 3 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 288 | 2 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 233 | 2 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 249 | 2 |
| 1998 F-250 SD | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 F-250 SD | 39 | 2 |
| 1996 F-250 SD | 11 | 1 |
| 1995 F-250 SD | 9 | 1 |
See all Ford F-250 SD problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford F-250 SD?
Owners most often report steering, suspension, unknown or other problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 118 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Ford F-250 SD?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Ford F-250 SD a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-250 SD model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.