IllustrationI WAS PULLING OFF EXPRESSWAY, SLOWING ON EXIT RAMP. TRUCK SHOOK AND I COULD NOT STEER FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR
2008 Ford F-250 Sd
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford F-250 Sd do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 89.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F-250 Sd years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
390–25K
3325–50K
2050–75K
775–100K
18100–150K
10150K+
127 reports with mileage · 14 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- 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
Steering complaints
39 reportsI WAS DRIVING TO A CROSS STREET INTERSECTION WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULDN'T TURN ON TO THE CROSS STREET AND I HAD TO STOP THE TRUCK AND BACK UP, THEN AFTER I STOPPED, THE WHEEL LET GO AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE TRUCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CHANGED LANES AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CHANGED LANES AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FLUSHED THE STEERING SYSTEM BUT THE SERVICE DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,145.
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE TRUCKS STEERING WHEEL PROCEEDED TO TURN LEFT WHEN IT ABRUPTLY STOPPED MOVING. LUCKILY I WAS MOVING AT A SLOW ENOUGH SPEED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND ROLL INTO THE PARKING LOTS CURB. I THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND WIT…
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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE TRUCKS STEERING WHEEL PROCEEDED TO TURN LEFT WHEN IT ABRUPTLY STOPPED MOVING. LUCKILY I WAS MOVING AT A SLOW ENOUGH SPEED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND ROLL INTO THE PARKING LOTS CURB. I THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND WITH ALL MY MIGHT I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IT MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND FREED UP. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME A SHORT DISTANCE AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A HARD TIME TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. *TR
STEERING IS HORRIBLE IN THESE TRUCKS! FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED. THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING. DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL CAN EXHIBIT 1/4 TURN OF PLAY EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, BUT THE TIRES AND TRUCK ARE STRAIGHT! NOW IF THAT'S NOT UNSAFE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS! I HAVE NO LIFT, AND STOCK TIRES. THE ALIGNMENT IS …
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STEERING IS HORRIBLE IN THESE TRUCKS! FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED. THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING. DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL CAN EXHIBIT 1/4 TURN OF PLAY EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT, BUT THE TIRES AND TRUCK ARE STRAIGHT! NOW IF THAT'S NOT UNSAFE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS! I HAVE NO LIFT, AND STOCK TIRES. THE ALIGNMENT IS STRAIGHT. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS OF STEERING GEAR PROBLEMS. I HAD MY STEERING LOOKED AT AND MECHANICS ARE CLUELESS. THIS IS A FORD TRUCK PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS. STEERING SHOULD BE TIGHT AND PRECISE NOT SLOPPY. I AM BEGGING THE NHTSA TO AT LEAST LOOK INTO THESE, THIS MATTER IS WORTHY OF YOUR TIME AND I AM SURE AN INVESTIGATION WILL REVEAL NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF STEERING BOXES THAT GO LOOSE OR WEAR PREMATURELY AND STEERING COMPONENTS THAT BREAK. I AM SURE FORD HAS RECORDS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS AND REPAIRS ON THIS BECAUSE ITS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. *TR
THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO GET SOME PLAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE STEERING EVENTUALLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPIN FREELY WITHOUT THE WHEELS MOVING WHATSOEVER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, HE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND MOVED TO THE SIDES INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, HE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE AND MOVED TO THE SIDES INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,107.
2008 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY DRIVING AT 40-70 MPH STRAIGHT OR TURNING (IE: ON A FREEWAY FLY-OVER). THE FRONT-END SHAKES/SHIMMIES WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR SURFACE THAT IS UNEVEN TO THE POINT YOU LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAPPENS MOST ALL THE TIME IF ON FLY-OVER, AND ON STRAIGHT ROADS SOMETIMES. HIT A MINOR SEAM IN THE PAVED R…
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2008 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY DRIVING AT 40-70 MPH STRAIGHT OR TURNING (IE: ON A FREEWAY FLY-OVER). THE FRONT-END SHAKES/SHIMMIES WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP, POTHOLE, OR SURFACE THAT IS UNEVEN TO THE POINT YOU LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAPPENS MOST ALL THE TIME IF ON FLY-OVER, AND ON STRAIGHT ROADS SOMETIMES. HIT A MINOR SEAM IN THE PAVED ROAD AND THE FRONT END STARTED TO WOBBLE (KNOWN ON MANY INTERNET SITES AT THE "FORD DEATH WOBBLE." THERE WAS A FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT DEALS WITH THE STEERING GEARBOX NEEDING REPLACEMENT. SEEMS THAT THIS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD WITH NO RECALLS ON THIS PART MALFUNCTIONING. *JS
SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT HIGHWAY AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AS IF THE TRUCK SHUT OFF, BUT IT WAS STILL RUNNING. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT REPLACE OR REBUILD THE STEERING BOX BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,200. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN THE REPAIR WAS FINALLY MADE ON 04/18/12 AT A COST OF $531.13
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE13014 · 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
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
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