Ford F-250 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 244 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Ford F-250 across 18 model years. The 2011 model year has the most (30). The words owners use most often: “spark plug” (14% of reports).
- 244engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $6,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%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 34 of 244 complaints (14%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Ford F-250 at $6,300, and half of them between $2,800 and $8,400.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2020), 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 problems happen?
Based on 207 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 244 complaints, 17 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford F-250 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 F-250 | 8 | 6% | 64,500 |
| 2013 F-250 | 9 | 9% | 59,697 |
| 2012 F-250 | 27 | 10% | 50,000 |
| 2011 F-250 | 30 | 12% | 82,500 |
| 2010 F-250 | 9 | 12% | 102,000 |
| 2009 F-250 | 5 | 9% | 156,742 |
| 2008 F-250 | 18 | 9% | 100,000 |
| 2007 F-250 | 5 | 8% | 81,500 |
| 2006 F-250 | 21 | 10% | 108,013 |
| 2005 F-250 | 26 | 18% | 97,500 |
| 2004 F-250 | 19 | 12% | 129,000 |
| 2003 F-250 | 13 | 11% | 112,688 |
| 2002 F-250 | 12 | 8% | 156,000 |
| 2001 F-250 | 13 | 6% | 140,000 |
| 2000 F-250 | 10 | 3% | 144,000 |
| 1999 F-250 | 16 | 3% | 148,043 |
| 1997 F-250 | 2 | 1% | 167,000 |
| 1995 F-250 | 1 | 1% | 78,955 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine 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.
Terrible exhaust fumes in the truck cab when using the heat or ac probably due to the extremely common exhaust manifold issues with these trucks. It could kill me and my child
I just had to replace the ECM because it fired. after replacing that it still won't start. I've talked to multiple people who have had the same problem.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle vigorously shuddered. In addition, the contact allowed the vehicle to decelerate independently to come to a stop. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was…
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving uphill at approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was HOT before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The…
it keeps throwing a check engine light for miss fire but ive replaced all of the ignition and fuel parts and it keeps happening now its loosing power and getting hot for no reason.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-250s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 244 owner complaints about engine 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?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Ford F-250?
Owners report a typical cost of $6,300 (half paid between $2,800 and $8,400), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Ford F-250?
The most frequent phrase is “spark plug”, in 34 of 244 complaints.
Other Ford F-250 problems
See all Ford F-250 problems.