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Ford F-250Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 4,657 NHTSA owner complaints across 47 model years, the Ford F-250 years to avoid are 1997, 1999 and 2000, and the strongest years are 1987, 1998, 2007 and 2009. The F-250 has 122 safety recalls on record.

Ford F-250
Years to avoid'97 '99 '00Use caution: 1995, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012Best years'87 '98 '07 '09Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints4,657Top: SteeringSafety recalls1221967–2014 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Sarah Larson from Ann Arbor, MI, USA, CC BY 2.0.

Best & worst years

Ford F-250 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-250 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'67'68'69'70'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2014Solid51/100143 complaints · 0 recalls2013Solid60/10095 complaints · 0 recalls2012Caution35/100266 complaints · 1 recall2011Caution37/100248 complaints · 2 recalls2010Solid64/10073 complaints · 0 recalls2009Best74/10054 complaints · 0 recalls2008Caution40/100197 complaints · 7 recalls2007Best70/10060 complaints · 4 recalls2006Caution37/100221 complaints · 4 recalls2005Solid50/100144 complaints · 3 recalls2004Solid45/100154 complaints · 2 recalls2003Solid51/100116 complaints · 2 recalls2002Solid42/100156 complaints · 2 recalls2001Caution32/100220 complaints · 4 recalls2000Avoid25/100326 complaints · 5 recalls1999Avoid17/100581 complaints · 14 recalls1998Best72/10056 complaints · 6 recalls1997Avoid28/100304 complaints · 10 recalls1996Caution38/100176 complaints · 4 recalls1995Caution38/100184 complaints · 3 recalls1994Solid46/100123 complaints · 8 recalls1993Solid50/100130 complaints · 6 recalls1992Solid51/100119 complaints · 4 recalls1991Solid53/100107 complaints · 5 recalls1990Solid51/100111 complaints · 6 recalls1989Solid51/100112 complaints · 6 recalls1988Solid63/10062 complaints · 3 recalls1987Best70/10038 complaints · 2 recalls1986Best69/10038 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/10021 complaints · 2 recalls1984Not rated–/10010 complaints · 3 recalls1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 6 recalls1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1981Not rated–/1001 complaint · 5 recalls1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1002 complaints · 8 recalls1978Not rated–/1002 complaints · 9 recalls1977Not rated–/1002 complaints · 5 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1974Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1970Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1968Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Ford F-250 problems

All model years combined: 4,657 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering84442
Suspension80713
Tires52137
Engine and engine cooling49254
Service brakes, hydraulic46249
Power train43439
Electrical system387125
Fuel system, gasoline31125
Engine24718
26 other systems1264216
122 recalls

Ford F-250 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

17%Seats19V-238 · 2007 · Mar 26, 2019 · 12 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission11V-582 · 2012 · Dec 8, 2011 · 16,091 vehicles–Tank assembly: mounting11V-385 · 1997–1999 · Jul 29, 2011 · 1,100,000 vehicles–Exterior lighting: brake lights11V-352 · 2002–2007 · Jul 13, 2011 · 26,715 vehicles–Electrical system: software11V-128 · 2011 · Feb 24, 2011 · 8,022 vehicles–Structure: body10V-659 · 2011 · Dec 29, 2010 · 14,737 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility09V-026 · 2005–2008 · Jan 26, 2009 · 108 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility09V-025 · 2005–2008 · Jan 23, 2009 · 111 vehicles–Trailer hitches08V-344 · 2006 · Jul 28, 2008 · 108 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: delivery08V-191 · 2008 · Apr 25, 2008 · 64,754 vehicles–Seats08V-096 · 2008 · Feb 28, 2008 · 87,515 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: cruise control08V-051 · 1993 · Feb 4, 2008 · 225,000 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 122 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

39 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the F-250

  1. Power tailgate opens unintendedPE18011 · 2017–2019 · closed Dec 12, 2019
    Led to recall 19V-864
  2. Vehicle Commanded Engine ShutdownRQ14005 · 2011–2015 · closed Mar 15, 2016
    Led to recall 15V-175
  3. Alleged Loss of SteeringPE13014 · 2008 · closed Jan 31, 2014
    No recall
  4. VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATIONEA08007 · 2005–2007 · closed Mar 31, 2009
    No recall
  5. VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATIONPE07057 · 2005–2007 · closed Mar 14, 2008
    No recall
  6. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · 1997–2004 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  7. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · 1994–2002 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 05V-388
  8. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYEA05004 · 2001 · closed Jul 6, 2005
    No recall
  9. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYRQ04011 · 2001 · closed Feb 17, 2005
    No recall
  10. ENGINE STALLINGPE04070 · 2003–2004 · closed Feb 15, 2005
    No recall