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Vehicle Stats/FORD/F 250 Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Aug 2026Methodology

FORD F 250 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 3,104 complaints and 42 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used FORD F 250 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

3,104
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
42
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
51
Crash-Related
crash complaints
37
Fire-Related
fire complaints
35
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2017–2026

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Found a FORD F 250? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the FORD F 250 has 3,104 owner complaints and 42 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is STEERING. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.

FORD F 250 — key reliability facts
Make
FORD
Model
F 250
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
3,104
Safety recall campaigns
42
Crash-related complaints
51
Fire-related complaints
37
Worst model year (by complaints)
2019 (2,308 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2025 (15 complaints)
Top reported issue area
STEERING
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Aug 18, 2026
This F 250 has 42 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

FORD F 250: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
20192,308 complaints2018382 complaints2021160 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
202515 complaints202343 complaints202474 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2019 FORD F 250? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The FORD F 250 has 3,104 NHTSA complaints and 42 recalls on record. 51 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 3,104 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 42 federal recall campaigns
  • 51 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2018
382
2019
2308
2021
160
2022
122
2023
43
2024
74
2025
15

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

42 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

#25V686000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWAREOctober 10, 2025
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#25V455000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPJuly 7, 2025
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

#23V420000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUALSeptember 6, 2023
Safety recall

STEERING

#20E090000STEERINGOctober 12, 2020
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT

#21V805000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT
Safety recall

AIR BAGS

#21V923000AIR BAGS
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

#22V087000STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

#22V193000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

#22V250000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

#22V384000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#24V957000FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

#25V048000BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

#25V132000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

#25V442000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

#25V729000VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

#26V104000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#26V158000FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

#26V204000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD:CRITICAL FASTENERS

#21V090000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

#22V013000FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 3,104 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
STEERING1,823 complaints
02
SUSPENSION1,572 complaints
03
UNKNOWN OR OTHER319 complaints
04
WHEELS204 complaints
05
POWER TRAIN164 complaints
06
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM143 complaints
07
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM101 complaints
08
ENGINE94 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

3,104 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMApr 2026

Hello,  I am reporting a safety issue involving my Ford F250 vehicle related to Safety Recall 25S75 (low-pressure fuel pump failure). Approximately one month ago, while driving on the freeway at approximately 65 mph, my vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power. This created a dangerous situation as I was traveling at highway speed and the vehicle became unable to maintain normal operation. The vehicle is now inoperable. The failure is consistent with the condition described in Recall 25S75. This is not a preventative concern — the defect has already occurred and has rendered the vehicle undrivable. I contacted Ford Customer Relations and explained that the failure matches the recall condition. However, my case was closed without resolution, without any determination of responsibility, and without conducting a repair or transportation support. Ford has indicated that the official recall remedy is not yet available. Despite this, I have been told I may be responsible for out-of-pocket repair costs, even though the failure is consistent with an active safety recall.  This situation presents both a safety concern and an unreasonable financial burden, as the vehicle cannot be safely operated and no interim remedy or support has been provided. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter, as the manufacturer is not addressing a recall-related failure that has already occurred and resulted in a loss of power at highway speed. If you need any additional details, please do not hesitate to reach out.  Thanks, [XXX]   INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMFeb 2026

1. Fuel Pump failure occurred September 4th 2025 2. While towing a travel trailer from Raleigh NC to Surf City NC. When the truck stalled we lost all power and power steering and there was no clear path to pull off the single lane road with no shoulder. With a line of vehicle's behind us, including tractor trailers this created very serious safety situation not only for us but other travelers heading toward us and behind us. We were fortunate that the tractor trailer behind us was alert. I was able to restart the vehicle and drive to a safe location. We left the travel trailer at the coast, and returned vehicle to Capital Ford on or about September 9th. So yes, our safety and the safety of other was in serious risk. 3. No the problem has not been reproduced. 4. Yes the dealer, Capital Ford, Inc of Raleigh, NC has inspected and confirmed root cause to be fuel pump recall. 5. As I recall the truck hesitated, check engine light came on, and truck stalled ( unsure if light came on before or after stall) in a very short period of time. I do not recall the exact amount of time but I do recall the hesitation, I told my wife something is not right, engine stalled and we lost all power. Currently it has been 8 months since notification and, for the safety of the driver and other on the road, we have been unable to use vehicle for reason purchased since the incident.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2025

I brought my 2022 F-250 in to Tasca Ford in Seekonk, MA in July 2024 because the camera system was malfunctioning. It would sometimes freeze, or certain cameras would work and others wouldn't, or sometimes choosing a different camera would do nothing and the current camera would stay on the screen and never leave. Sometimes the camera would be a little distorted. Obviously unreliable cameras are annoying, but this can also be dangerous. And sometimes the cameras all worked fine! Tasca replaced a wiring harness and it was covered under warranty. In April 2025, I took the truck back in to Tasca as the camera problems were happening again. Same symptoms as before. They said the fix is to replace the APIM(?) image processing module, and that it would cost $3000 and that I was 6 months out of warranty. They submitted a request to Ford to cover this as a pre-existing condition and it was denied. I contacted Ford today because of the recall "25S49" which covers similar trucks, but not 2022 F-250's. I explained to Ford that my truck is having the exact same symptoms described in the recall. I asked them to extend the recall to my truck. They said they can't do that, and that I should contact NHTSA.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERAug 2026

The backup camera failed. Vehicle had a 1 year customer satisfaction program and Ford would not repair this because it failed outside the 1 year window. Now, they came out with a 15 year one time fix, but Ford does not have a remedy. This is a safety issue and should be a recall (just like it is on our 2 Ford Mavericks)! The camera was also hanging up and not allowing the sync system to shut off which was consistently draining our battery. Had our sync system updated at local mechanics shop and camera/sync started working again for a couple of weeks and its back to blue or black screen saying “camera unavailable contact dealership.” My dealership said no remedy available until Feb 2027. The vehicle also states “check your surroundings” but you can’t because it doesn’t work. This at a minimum should be a recall as it is a safety issue and it is on other Ford vehicles.

AIR BAGSJul 2026

The leather covering on the instrument panel top pad of my 2022 F-250 Limited has shrunk and pulled away from its substrate on both the driver and passenger sides. On the passenger side, the covering has contracted enough that it has separated at the seam and lifted at the A-pillar corner, leaving an open gap and exposed backing material. The affected passenger-side panel is the airbag deployment cover; the panel is embossed "AIRBAG" directly on the failed surface. I am concerned that a covering which has shrunk, delaminated from its substrate, and separated at the seam will not tear along its designed deployment path. Ford has previously acknowledged this failure mode in the same component family: NHTSA campaign 22V684000 (Ford 22C23) recalled 2022 F-150 vehicles because an incorrectly manufactured right-side instrument panel cover could break and project fragments into the cabin or allow the airbag to deploy improperly, in noncompliance with FMVSS 208. The vehicle was delivered new on 05/16/2022 and is four years old. It has never been in a collision and the dashboard has never been repaired or disturbed. No dressing, protectant, or conditioner of any kind has ever been applied to this panel — it has only ever been cleaned with mild soap and water. The vehicle is garaged or covered roughly half the time, and I have used a windshield sunshade over this panel consistently since delivery. The failed surface is therefore the single most protected surface in the cabin, and it is the one that failed. Nothing about normal driving contacts it. This is a materials or adhesive failure that originated in manufacture. I reported the condition to the selling dealer, Sam Pack's Five Star Ford of Lewisville, TX. Repair was declined on the basis of elapsed time and mileage. No inspection of the deployment integrity of the panel was performed. I am filing this complaint so the condition is on record and so that NHTSA can determine whether this failure is occurring across the Su

POWER TRAINJul 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds over a speed bump and raising the foot off the accelerator pedal, the engine continued to rev for an additional four seconds after releasing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, while pulling into the traffic and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to immediately accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions due to the failures and the throttle body and PCM was updated but the failures persisted. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 3,511.

Read 14 more owner reports
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJul 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact received a recall notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road, and the engine seized. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred while traveling out of the State on vacation, with a trailer hitched to the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the outside temperature was extremely hot, and the tow truck operator took three hours to arrive. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

TIRESJul 2026

4 out of 5 camper tire failures, 2 were catastrophic failures while moving. DOT code 0923 Brand: Triangle TR653 ST225/75R15 Purchased new on the camper in 2023. Mileage: approx 4005mi Tire pressures: 78 psi TPMS tire temperatures: 84 F and 102 F immediately before failures. Speed: 50 MPH No impact with road hazards, winds were calm, terrain was flat paved road. Failures were on separate axles. The Trailer was weighted on a certified CAT scale and was not overloaded. The remaining tires were replaced out of safety concern after blown tires and camper were inspected by an independent mechanic who found no defects or concerns with the camper but reported the tires "clearly failed from the inside." Camper VIN: [XXX] Trailer type: ZT32QB13 GVWR: 9750 Each axle has a 5000# capacity, Camper weight on the CAT scale was 8400# the same day as the blow out. The first blow out occurred XXX @ 2:41PM while driving 50-55mph on a flat road, I heard a loud explosion, my TPMS alarmed, I immediately slowed, pulled over, and changed the tire. The remainder of the trip was 23 miles; I did not exceed 30 MPH or make aggressive maneuvers. I backed it into the camp site. The second blow out Occurred Sunday XXX @ 12:00 PM. Tire pressures as we departed the campground were 72 cold. My husband was driving; I was following immediately behind him. Doing 45-50 on a flat road after a slight downhill, there was what appeared to be a flashing or vibration from the Drivers front tire, which I was watching to see if it was just road lines, or sun glare, it just didn't look right. There was a sudden explosion again and the drivers front axle tire went flat immediately. My husband immediately slowed, pulled over, and we changed the tire. About a month ago the passenger side rear axle tire had a suspected valve stem failure, the camper had been stationary in our driveway for a couple weeks prior to the flat. The spare tire valve stem began leaking air on XXX also. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

I am writing to report a potential safety defect on my 2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty. Since purchasing the vehicle new, the hole in the towing receiver where the pin inserts has ovaled out while towing. On a recent drive, this caused the hitch pin to shift, knocking out the cotter pin that secures it. This created a dangerous situation where the trailer could have disconnected. I contacted the dealership, Ford Country at 280 N Gibson Rd Henderson nv 89014 but they stated this is not covered under warranty. My Vehicle is still under the 3yr 36k warranty and i have the extended 6yr coverage. I believe this is a manufacturing or design defect that could affect other F-250 owners who tow. Please investigate this issue for the safety of all drivers on the road. Thank you,

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

The Driver Door lock actuator has failed. The truck has only 78k miles on it. People can now break into my truck just by opening the driver door There was a TSB for older model super duty’s. There needs to be a recall for this because there are a lot of people that are having the same issue

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTUREJun 2026

Backup camera goes blurry and very distorted

FireELECTRICAL SYSTEMJun 2026

Car was parked in the driveway, it had not been driven for over two days and it caught on fire just sitting. It looks as if it is a electrical fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJun 2026

10 day roundtrip from [XXX] to [XXX]. 5 incidents of catastrophic engine failure on interstates. Truck started to jerk, sputter, lost power at an alarming rate. No engine light until failure ocurred. Very dangerous with heavy holiday traffic. Lives were in danger, us and other vehicles around us. No one expects travel to go from 70 mph,to 50, 30, 15 in such a short period of time. Pulled over to "investigate" code failures we deemed as o2 sensors. Afterwards the truck started back up, no engine lights and drove as normal. Started using premium gasoline, hoping it would help. Started driving in right lane as much as possible but had a failure ocurr right in front of on ramp as well at interstate speeds. Had another family following us so they also witnessed and pulled over all incidents. Brought into Ford 7/18/24 upon return home. Paid $125 inspection fee, concern not present, come back if happens again. Makes no sense that codes not present to pull. 12/13/2024 engine light on, catalytic converter replaced. 06/19/25 truck had catastrophic failure returning from work on hwy. XXX on [XXX], just two miles from leaving home another failure with no warning lights in heavy Friday traffic in construction zone. Couldn't clear the traffic lane completely. Very scary. Waited for clearing and limped it to a nearby off ramp. Same jerking, loss of power. Vehicle towed to shop for 2 weeks, testing, fuel pump replaced. Picked up 07/07/25. Next day received recall notice 25S75 in the mail 7/08/25. Everything made sense. 1/24/26 - Battery failed inspection @ 40% during oil change. Replaced battery ourselves from Costco. 04/23/26- Warning light, P0420 pulled, shop recommended engine tune -up. Paid $175 inspection fee + $671.20 tune up. 5/29/26 engine light on, P0420 pulled, recommend catalytic convertor replaced but not under factory warranty anymore so wants us to pay $4000 bill. Escalated up through Ford. As of 6/5/26 - Ford will pay half. I refuse. Should be covered by recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STRUCTUREMay 2026

While driving down a two-lane road at approximately 60 miles an hour I passed a semi truck coming in the other direction and the momentary change in air pressure caused my hood to unlatch. Thankfully the secondary latch kept the hood from fully opening but had that latch not worked the hood would have flown open into my windshield.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2026

I was driving down an empty two lane road the truck went from 9th to 10th gear. As it went into 10th the transmission shifted hard and then locked up. This caused my rear wheels to lock up and I skid off the road. Eventually it shifted back down into a lower gear where I could slowly drive into a safe place. I called for a tow and had it towed into the dealer where it’s at right now. I was lucky the road was empty and didn’t hit anything or anyone. But the transmission had been shifting bad for awhile but not to that extent. Note this truck has just hit 60000 miles.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMMay 2026

Cp4 pump failed and truck died pulling out onto the highway and won't restart! Luckily I didn't get hit by other vehicles and couple people helped push it out of the road!!! (I DO HAVE FORD DEALER REPORT STATING CP4 PUMP FAILURE!!!!!)

ENGINEMay 2026

Lifter failure causes cylinder to misfire resulting in loss of power while towing. Defect causes catastrophic failure to the engine.

VISIBILITYApr 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V204000 (Visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. In addition, the contact stated that the MVA denied renewing the registration because of the unrepaired recall. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were unavailable until December 2026. The contact had not experienced a failure.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEApr 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle due to the unrepaired recall. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEApr 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Showing 20 of 3,104 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact FORD F 250

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used FORD F 250, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The FORD F 250 has 3,104 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The FORD F 250 has 42 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 51 of the FORD F 250's 3,104 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all FORD F 250 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two FORD F 250 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The FORD F 250 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a FORD F 250 by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used FORD F 250.

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FORD F 250 reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the FORD F 250 reliable?

Poor. The FORD F 250 has 3,104 NHTSA owner complaints and 42 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STEERING. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which FORD F 250 years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (2,308 complaints), 2018 (382 complaints), 2021 (160 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common FORD F 250 problems?

Top reported issues: STEERING (1,823 complaints); SUSPENSION (1,572 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (319 complaints).

Does the FORD F 250 have recalls?

Yes — 42 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the FORD F 250. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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FORD F 250 Problems by Year, Recalls & Years to Avoid | VinSpectorAI