Ford F-250

Where it stands out against its peers

• Steering: more complaints than 99% of 2017 cars — 62% of its 3,465 complaints, where an ordinary 2017 car has 7%.
• Suspension: more complaints than 99% of 2017 cars — 51% of its 3,465 complaints, where an ordinary 2017 car has 3%.
• Wheels: more complaints than 91% of 2017 cars — 6% of its 3,465 complaints, where an ordinary 2017 car has 3%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• STEERING,SUSPENSION — 981 owners reported this, 9 involving a crash
• STEERING — 765 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• SUSPENSION — 417 owners reported this
• STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS — 150 owners reported this
• STRUCTURE — 114 owners reported this
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 84 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash, 6 involving a fire
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 54 owners reported this, 3 involving a fire

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

4% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 11V582000

  THIS WILL ALLOW THE OPERATOR TO INADVERTENTLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR INJURY TO A NEARBY PEDESTRIAN.

  FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SWITCH FUNCTION AND REPLACE THE SWITCH IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

• 14V204000

  If the vehicle is in "Reverse" while the while the gear selection shows "Drive," unexpected movement could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the transmission software, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2014. Owners may contact Fords customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C04.

• 17V331000

  If the doors unlatch and open in a side impact collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the accessory covers and refund the purchase price. The recall began July 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 17C09.

• 18V802000

  Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

  Ford will notify owners and dealers will inspect the transmission case, replacing the transmission as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 7, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S36.

• 18V894000

  When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.

• 19V278000

  A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.

• 19V401000

  The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.

• 19V633000

  A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

31 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2024, still open.

• Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance

  Recall query, opened August 2021, still open.

• Power Tailgate Release Systems

  Recall query, opened January 2021, closed January 2024.

• Power tailgate opens unintended

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2018, closed December 2019.

• Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown

  Recall query, opened January 2015, closed March 2016.

• Alleged Loss of Steering

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2013, closed January 2014.

• Violent front end oscillation

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2008, closed March 2009.

• Violent front end oscillation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2007, closed March 2008.

• Engine stalling

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2006, closed December 2007.

• Engine stalling

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 2006, closed June 2006.

• Spark plug ejection from cylinder head

  Defect petition, opened September 2005, closed January 2006.

• Engine compartment fires

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2005, closed August 2006.

• Front seat belt buckle assembly

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2005, closed July 2005.

• Engine stalling

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2005, closed November 2005.

• Front seat belt buckle assembly

  Recall query, opened October 2004, closed February 2005.

• Engine stalling

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2004, closed February 2005.

• Accelerator pedal sensor (etc)

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2004, closed February 2005.

• Steering shaft separation

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2002, closed May 2003.

• Sector shaft fractures

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2001, closed August 2003.

• Parking brake failure

  Recall query, opened March 2000, closed January 2001.

• Steering shaft fracture

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 1998, closed December 1998.

• Separated front suspension

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 1996, closed January 1997.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Ford filed 45 bulletins about the 2026 F-250.

• Electrical system: 22
• Power train: 9
• Visibility/wiper: 4
• Fuel/propulsion system: 2
• Service brakes: 2
• Structure: 2
• Engine: 1
• Steering: 1
• Other: 2

• Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the… · July 2026
• Some 2025-2026 Bronco/Bronco Sport/Corsair/F-150/F-Super Duty/Maverick/Mustang/Mustang Mach-E/Ranger vehicles may exhibit a no audio/sound condition. This may be due to the software in the audio… · July 2026
• Some 2023-2025 Mustang Mach-E and 2024-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera may exhibit a distorted or corrupted 360-degree camera image in the center display screen, but the… · July 2026
• Some 2023-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 10R100 or 10R140 transmission may exhibit an intermittent failure to engage forward or reverse gears and/or a loud whining noise. Additionally,… · July 2026
• Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display after welcome animation. The rear-view camera will… · June 2026
• Some 2023-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 10R100 or 10R140 transmission may exhibit an intermittent failure to engage forward or reverse gears and/or a loud whining noise. Additionally,… · June 2026
• This bulletin supersedes 26-2112. Reason For Update: add 2026 model year vehicles, update LV fluid XT-10-QLVC and CXT-10-LV6 description to add "Transfer Case Fluid 4WD Only", and update Step 4 to… · June 2026
• Quality improvements include: -Prevents window bounce backs after using the one touch up feature · May 2026

37 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.