Ford F-250 SD Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 692 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford F-250 SD across 29 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (101). The words owners use most often: “spark plug” (25% of reports).
- 692engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Spark plug: mentioned in 175 of 692 complaints (25%)
- Super duty: mentioned in 110 of 692 complaints (16%)
- Position sensor: mentioned in 65 of 692 complaints (9%)
- Cylinder head: mentioned in 40 of 692 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Ford F-250 SD at $1,700, and half of them between $760 and $4,650.
Based on 69 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 618 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 692 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 32 a fire, 10 an injury.
Ford F-250 SD engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 F-250 SD | 1 | 3% | 9,000 |
| 2023 F-250 SD | 1 | 2% | 400 |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 2 | 2% | 56,227 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 3 | 2% | 74,122 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 101,500 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 2 | 0% | 110,000 |
| 2018 F-250 SD | 1 | 0% | 73,785 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 3 | 0% | 55,000 |
| 2016 F-250 SD | 7 | 2% | 105,269 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 2 | 1% | 25,150 |
| 2014 F-250 SD | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 1 | 5% | 45,000 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 7 | 12% | 54,236 |
| 2011 F-250 SD | 4 | 3% | 14,700 |
| 2010 F-250 SD | 11 | 34% | 15,268 |
| 2009 F-250 SD | 5 | 22% | 25,000 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 33 | 23% | 30,000 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 4 | 7% | 14,050 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 18 | 7% | 77,403 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 37 | 13% | 45,550 |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 101 | 40% | 30,750 |
| 2003 F-250 SD | 72 | 40% | 55,238 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 101 | 41% | 82,116 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 91 | 32% | 92,338 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 69 | 30% | 99,450 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 95 | 38% | 111,912 |
| 1997 F-250 SD | 11 | 28% | 89,000 |
| 1996 F-250 SD | 4 | 36% | 93,538 |
| 1995 F-250 SD | 2 | 22% | 157,605 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on december 29, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-250. While driving at approximately 20 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer stated that the cause of the abnormal…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the EGR valve was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact indicated that while the EGR…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal valve noise detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with delaminated lifter cam and rockers and push rods. There…
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a service update on the vehicle, which required a software update. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-250 SDs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 692 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Ford F-250 SD. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford F-250 SD engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford F-250 SD?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,700 (half paid between $760 and $4,650), from 69 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford F-250 SD?
The most frequent phrase is “spark plug”, in 175 of 692 complaints, followed by “super duty” (110).
Other Ford F-250 SD problems
- Steering problems (2,485)
- Suspension problems (2,211)
- Electrical System problems (500)
- Power Train problems (455)
- Engine problems (322)
- Wheels problems (284)
- Tires problems (244)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (225)
See all Ford F-250 SD problems.