Ford F-350 SD Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 368 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford F-350 SD across 24 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (51). The words owners use most often: “super duty” (12% of reports).
- 368engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $6,000typical 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.
- Super duty: mentioned in 44 of 368 complaints (12%)
- Position sensor: mentioned in 36 of 368 complaints (10%)
- Spark plug: mentioned in 35 of 368 complaints (10%)
- F350 diesel: mentioned in 19 of 368 complaints (5%)
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-350 SD at $6,000, and half of them between $1,800 and $8,100.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2014), 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 323 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 368 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 24 a fire, 7 an injury.
Ford F-350 SD engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-350 SD | 2 | 14% | 7,806 |
| 2024 F-350 SD | 1 | 2% | 110,000 |
| 2023 F-350 SD | 1 | 2% | 17,000 |
| 2022 F-350 SD | 3 | 3% | 30,051 |
| 2021 F-350 SD | 1 | 1% | 92,567 |
| 2019 F-350 SD | 2 | 0% | 103,500 |
| 2018 F-350 SD | 3 | 1% | 42,600 |
| 2017 F-350 SD | 2 | 0% | 26,300 |
| 2016 F-350 SD | 3 | 1% | 52,500 |
| 2015 F-350 SD | 3 | 1% | 120,000 |
| 2012 F-350 SD | 5 | 17% | 35,000 |
| 2011 F-350 SD | 5 | 12% | 56,378 |
| 2010 F-350 SD | 2 | 4% | 19,675 |
| 2009 F-350 SD | 2 | 11% | 31,525 |
| 2008 F-350 SD | 21 | 21% | 31,000 |
| 2006 F-350 SD | 16 | 13% | 30,000 |
| 2005 F-350 SD | 48 | 22% | 39,150 |
| 2004 F-350 SD | 42 | 32% | 68,000 |
| 2003 F-350 SD | 51 | 39% | 28,001 |
| 2002 F-350 SD | 41 | 33% | 63,050 |
| 2001 F-350 SD | 40 | 25% | 79,500 |
| 2000 F-350 SD | 41 | 26% | 92,000 |
| 1999 F-350 SD | 32 | 23% | 103,500 |
| 1997 F-350 SD | 1 | 33% | 150,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Equipment; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline
Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: Somerset Welding & Steel, doing business as J&J Truck equipment (J&J), is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis with 6.8L gasoline engines modified by J&J to be equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: Somerset will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began August 2014. Owner's may contact Somerset customer service at 1-800-777-2671.
Equipment; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline
Model years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: Utility Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Utility Truck) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 UTLI41A, 2011 UTLN41, and 2012 UTLN46 aerial trucks manufactured December 2010 to September 2013 equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies installed on 2010-2013 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Fix: Utility Truck will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Utility Truck customer service at 1-254-857-8813.
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.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the driveway of their residence, the DPF regeneration process activated and completed, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact exited the vehicle. Approximately 15 minutes later, the contact discovered…
The contact called on behalf of a Federal Agency that owned a 2019 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Reduce Power Mode" was displayed. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle shut off. The…
The contact owns a 2025 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) level reading became inoperable with the message â500 Miles to Empty - Refill Soonâ displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-350. 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 DEF Pump, DEF Pump Lines needed, and DEF heater element needed to be replaced. The vehicle…
See attached document for complaint.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-350 SDs have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 368 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Ford F-350 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-350 SD engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 3 safety recalls 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-350 SD?
Owners report a typical cost of $6,000 (half paid between $1,800 and $8,100), from 24 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-350 SD?
The most frequent phrase is “super duty”, in 44 of 368 complaints, followed by “position sensor” (36).
Other Ford F-350 SD problems
- Steering problems (1,091)
- Suspension problems (868)
- Electrical System problems (332)
- Power Train problems (288)
- Tires problems (247)
- Wheels problems (222)
- Engine problems (220)
- Fuel System, Diesel problems (197)
See all Ford F-350 SD problems.