Steering. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Tires. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

9 reports

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Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2019

Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

SOME TIMES THE FIRST GEAR LIGHT WILL COME ON DURING DRIVING NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY

NHTSA ODI #11179919

178,000 miles · Aug 26, 2015

Electrical System

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SUMMARY: PURCHASED THIS 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY NEW AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN FLA. ON FEB. 29, 2008 AND CONTINUE TO BE THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4 TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TSB 07-26-2 (WIRING HARNESS DEFECT ON HPFP) ISSUED AUGUST 2007.IN JANUARY 2015, WHILE ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE DIED. BRAKING AND STEERING WERE ALSO DIMINISHED.GOT LUCKY AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A SHORT IN THE WIRING OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP GASKET WIRING HARNESS (THE SUBJECT OF TSB 07-26-2 WHEREIN FORD RECOGNIZED IN AUGUST OF 2007 A PROBLEM WITH UNPROTECTED WIRING WITHIN THE HPFP WIRING HARNESS). REPAIRS WERE EXTREMELY COSTLY (OVER $3,000.00)MORE IMPORTANTLY THIS INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH; IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.I URGE NTSB TO INVESTIGATE UNPLANNED SHUT DOWNS OF THIS VEHICLE'S POWER PLANT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, COLLISION, INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE AUGUST OF 2007 YET HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL.REPLACE THE HPFP GASKET AND WIRING HARNESS. RUN # 2 FOR US: MY FORD 2008 F250, IS BACK IN THE SAME FORD SHOP ON RUN #2 OF THE SAME WIRING HARNESS. WHILE ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE DIED. BRAKING AND STEERING WERE ALSO DIMINISHED. WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND COAST ACROSS TWO LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED.DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A SHORT IN THE WIRING OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP GASKET WIRING HARNESS. ( ALREADY SEE 7 COMPLAINTS).

NHTSA ODI #10759410

80,121 miles · Apr 8, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

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WE PURCHASED THIS 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY NEW AT THE FORD STORE IN SAN LEANDRO, CA ON JULY 21, 2007 AND CONTINUE TO BE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4 TURBO-DIESEL ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TSB 07-26-2 (WIRING HARNESS DEFECT ON HPFP) ISSUED AUGUST 2007. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 27, 2015, WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY AND AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I LOST ALL ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE DIED. BRAKING AND STEERING WERE ALSO DIMINISHED. I GOT LUCKY AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP (BUD ADAMS - CASTRO VALLEY, CA; BAR#:228593 CAL#:66801). DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A SHORT IN THE WIRING OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP GASKET WIRING HARNESS (THE SUBJECT OF TSB 07-26-2 WHEREIN FORD RECOGNIZED ON OR ABOUT AUGUST OF 2007 A PROBLEM WITH UNPROTECTED WIRING WITHIN THE HPFP WIRING HARNESS). REPAIRS WERE EXTREMELY COSTLY ($3,791.89 REDUCED TO $2,591.89) BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THIS INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH; IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I GOT LUCKY. I SEE OTHER COMPLAINANTS WHO HAD HOURS STUCK IN THE DESERT, SOMEONE WITH A LOAD OF CATTLE STUCK WITHOUT WARNING, THE LIST GOES ON. IN EACH REPORTED INSTANCE THE OPERATOR DESCRIBED AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER PLANT WITH NO WARNING. I URGE THE NTSB TO INVESTIGATE THESE UNPLANNED SHUT DOWNS OF THIS VEHICLE'S POWER PLANT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, COLLISION, INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE AUGUST OF 2007 YET HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. SOME MAY SAY THIS IS DUE TO THE LARGE COSTS INVOLVED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE HPFP GASKET AND WIRING HARNESS (IN PART INVOLVING THE REMOVAL OF THE VEHICLE'S CAB). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704582

160,000 miles · Jun 20, 2013

Electrical SystemEngine

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2008 FORD F-250 SD DIESEL NO WARNING DRIVING 55 ON THE FREEWAY TOWING A TRAILER THE TRUCK SHUTS DOWN NO POWER. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS TRUCK HAS SHUT DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO WARNING. HOW CAN FORD SELL THEIR CUSTOMERS A TRUCK AS WHAT ONE OTHER PERSON STATES: A $55,000.00 TRUCK THAT IS ADVERTISED TO BE SUPER DUTY AND SHOULD LAST 400000 TO 500000 MILES WITH ONLY MINER ENGINE REPAIRS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. FORD KNOWS FOR A FACT THAT THEY HAVE A FAULTY MOTOR AND FAULTY INTERNAL PARTS ON ALL THE 2008 THRU 2010 6.4 L DIESEL MOTORS. THAT'S WHY THEY DESIGNED A NEW MOTOR AND ARE SUING NAVISTAR THE ENGINE DESIGNER. NOW YOU CAN GO ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FIND THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND MORE. THIS IS OUR SECOND TIME TO ENTER A COMPLAINT IN THE NHTSA (#10435125) DOES ANYTHING HAPPEN WITH THIS INFORMATION? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520802

49,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011

Electrical System

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WHEN STARTING MY 2008 FORD F-250 I BEGAN HAVING TO TRY IT MORE THAN ONCE, WHICH WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR MY TRUCK. THEN THE NEXT DAY THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER, THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THEIR DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND INFORMED ME THAT THE ERROR CODE INDICATED THAT EITHER I OR SOMEONE ELSE HAS ATTEMPTED TO MODIFY THE PCM (PROCESSOR) UNSUCCESSFULLY AND THAT RESULTED IN THE PCM BEING RUINED. I ASSURED THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT IN NO WAY HAVE I OR ANYONE ELSE DONE THAT. HE BASICALLY CALLED ME A LIAR AND SAID IT WOULD BE AROUND $1000 TO REPAIR. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NOW FOR 5 DAYS AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR TECH WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY REPROGRAMMING THE NEW PCM AND HAD TO CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY. I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375371

20,000 miles · Jul 8, 2010

Electrical System

2008 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY: IGNITION SWITCH WHEN TURNED TO START/CRANKING POSITION DOES NOT RETURN TO NORMAL RUN POSITION. THIS LEAVES INSTRUMENTS BLANK AND INOPERATIVE, AND ALL POWER ACCESSORIES FAIL TO OPERATE UNTIL TRUCK IS SHUT OFF & RESTARTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342112

10,000 miles · Nov 16, 2008

Electrical System

DETAILS: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, . ALL OF THE GAUGES DISPLAYED ZERO. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE, BUT NOTHING WOULD DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248934

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2008

Electrical SystemStructure

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2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN FALL 2007- WITH ZERO MILES. APPX. 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, TRUCKS CAB RUBBED THE INTERNAL WIRING HARNESS INTO..CAUSING THE TRUCK TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND DAMAGES. TRUCK WAS UN-ABLE TO BE DRIVEN OR USED FOR APPX. 2 WEEKS, DUE TO REPAIRS. PROBLEM WITH WIRING HARNESS FIXED UNTIL APPX. 4 MONTHS AGO, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, TRUCK SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK. HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TIME TRUCK IS DRIVEN.... VERY DANGEROUS! STILL CONTINUING TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING....ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS THESE ARE JUST TWO MAJOR ONES TO MENTION.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10237103

10 miles · Feb 29, 2008

Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, CRUISE CONTROL, AND AIR CONDITIONING FAILED. ALL OF THE GAUGES DISPLAYED ZERO. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE, BUT NOTHING WOULD DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STUTTER AND THEN THE GAUGES WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS FAULTY AND WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.

NHTSA ODI #10219699

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE13014 · Alleged Loss Of Steering

Opened May 7, 2013 · Closed Jan 31, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww

Additional source detail variants (2)

Steering

Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)