Ford F-250 Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 387 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford F-250 across 19 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (66). The words owners use most often: “spark plug” (10% of reports).
- 387engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 48%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 40 of 387 complaints (10%)
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 at $2,550, and half of them between $940 and $4,500.
Based on 28 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2012), 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 221 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 387 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 29 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford F-250 engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 F-250 | 3 | 2% | 147,000 |
| 2013 F-250 | 1 | 1% | 99,000 |
| 2012 F-250 | 12 | 5% | 30,000 |
| 2011 F-250 | 7 | 3% | 36,725 |
| 2009 F-250 | 2 | 4% | 15,750 |
| 2008 F-250 | 15 | 8% | 49,000 |
| 2007 F-250 | 3 | 5% | 15,550 |
| 2006 F-250 | 17 | 8% | 84,143 |
| 2005 F-250 | 17 | 12% | 60,770 |
| 2004 F-250 | 44 | 29% | 9,800 |
| 2003 F-250 | 24 | 21% | 12,550 |
| 2002 F-250 | 23 | 15% | 88,715 |
| 2001 F-250 | 21 | 10% | 63,000 |
| 2000 F-250 | 33 | 10% | 66,790 |
| 1999 F-250 | 66 | 11% | 120,000 |
| 1998 F-250 | 8 | 14% | 78,167 |
| 1997 F-250 | 29 | 10% | 85,700 |
| 1996 F-250 | 28 | 16% | 115,773 |
| 1995 F-250 | 34 | 18% | 120,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Ford F-250. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle started to shake, and the steering wheel seized, with the DEF warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine seizure due to coolant intrusion in the engine. The contact stated that while the dealer was in the process of replacing the engine, the dealer…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated while he was stopped at a traffic signal, he smelled a burning plastic smell. The contact observed that smoke was being emitted from under the vehicle's front end. The contact pulled off the road and parked. As he exited the vehicle, he…
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the engine power was significantly reduced and there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. While starting the vehicle, there was a high-pitched whining sound heard. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The…
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed hauling a trailer, the exhaust manifold dropped raw fuel into the exhaust and it caught fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. The exhaust filter over maximum limit message was displayed…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-250s have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 387 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Ford F-250. 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 engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford F-250?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,550 (half paid between $940 and $4,500), from 28 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?
The most frequent phrase is “spark plug”, in 40 of 387 complaints.
Other Ford F-250 problems
- Steering problems (808)
- Suspension problems (766)
- Tires problems (460)
- Power Train problems (319)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (290)
- Electrical System problems (259)
- Engine problems (244)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (182)
See all Ford F-250 problems.