IllustrationHEAT SHIELD AROUND TURBOS ON 08 F-250 WITH THE 6.4 DIESEL IS LOSING ITS SHAPE AND BEGINNING TO HANG TOO CLOSE TO THE TURBO AND CAN CATCH FIRE. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN WITH NO CLIPS TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. *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
What owners actually said
141 reports18" RIMS ON FORD F-250SD REPLACED IN AUG. 2009 WITH SAME STYLE RIM. OUTER COVER SEPARATES FROM RIM. NOW, OCT. 2010, SAME PROBLEM, NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ONLY THING HOLDING THE "GLUED" COVERS ON WERE THE WHEEL WEIGHTS. RIM COVERS COULD OF FLEW OFF TRUCK AT ANY TIME. FORD IS WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND HELP OUT (AFTER CONTACTI…
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18" RIMS ON FORD F-250SD REPLACED IN AUG. 2009 WITH SAME STYLE RIM. OUTER COVER SEPARATES FROM RIM. NOW, OCT. 2010, SAME PROBLEM, NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ONLY THING HOLDING THE "GLUED" COVERS ON WERE THE WHEEL WEIGHTS. RIM COVERS COULD OF FLEW OFF TRUCK AT ANY TIME. FORD IS WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND HELP OUT (AFTER CONTACTING DEALER PRESIDENT) BUT STILL HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO UPGRADE TO ALUMINUM RIMS. DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR AN OBVIOUS FORD DEFECT. LIKE I STATED BEFORE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR. *TR
2008 FORD F-250 SD. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM REGARDING FORD COMPLAINT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER HUSBAND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE AND WOBBLY. HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO LIFT THE STEERING WHEELS OUT OF THE SHAFT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING AND BOLT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, THE TRUCK INSTANTLY "TOOK OFF", THE TACHOMETER WENT TO BETWEEN 5500 & 6000 RPM, AND SPEED INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY TO ALMOST 90MPH. I TAPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE TO TRY TO INTERRUPT WHAT WAS OCCURRING. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WHERE THE RPMS DROPP…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, THE TRUCK INSTANTLY "TOOK OFF", THE TACHOMETER WENT TO BETWEEN 5500 & 6000 RPM, AND SPEED INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY TO ALMOST 90MPH. I TAPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE TO TRY TO INTERRUPT WHAT WAS OCCURRING. I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WHERE THE RPMS DROPPED TO 3000. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF IN HOPES OF RESETTING WHATEVER HAD JUST OCCURRED. WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK BACK UP, IT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN DOING WHAT IT WAS DOING BEFORE. I PLACED THE TRUCK INTO "DRIVE" AND ATTEMPTED TO GET OUT OF THE ROADWAY. AT THIS TIME, EVERYTHING RETURNED TO "NORMAL". I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (UNIVERSITY FORD, DURHAM NC). THEY DETERMINED WITHIN 40 MINUTES THAT IT WAS THE FLOOR MAT. HOWEVER, I HAVE TRIED FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR TODAY TO RECREATE A FLOOR MAT ACCELERATOR STICKING WITHOUT SUCCESS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN UNABLE TO RECREATE THE MAXIMUM RPMS THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH MY FOOT IN A NORMAL DRIVING POSITION. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY OCCURRENCE, BUT I DO NOT AGREE THAT IT WAS A FLOOR MAT PROBLEM OR THAT MY ISSUE WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THE SERVICE REP (KENNETH) ADVISED THAT THE TRUCK DID NOT PROVIDE ANY COMPUTER CODES INDICATING A PROBLEM, SO THERE WAS DEFINITELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK OTHER THAN THE FLOOR MAT BEING OUT OF POSITION. *TR
MY FORD F-250 SD ENGAGES INTO 4X4 HIGH AND LOW WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ALL ON ITS OWN. *TR
MY 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY HAS A GAS PEDAL THAT STICKS TO THE FLOOR MAKING YOU GO FULL THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT I AM USED TO THROWING THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP FROM HITTING PEOPLE AND THEN KICKING THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL IT RELEASES. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG THAT THEY CAN FIX, THEY THI…
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MY 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY HAS A GAS PEDAL THAT STICKS TO THE FLOOR MAKING YOU GO FULL THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT I AM USED TO THROWING THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP FROM HITTING PEOPLE AND THEN KICKING THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL IT RELEASES. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG THAT THEY CAN FIX, THEY THINK THE CARPETING IS CATCHING THE PEDAL. *TR
2008 FORD F 250 SUPER DUTY DIESEL 6.4 ENGINE - ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WITH NO WARNING, WOULD NOT RESTART. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. TSB 07-26-2 WAS PERFORMED TO FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM OF AN UNPROTECTED WIRE IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP GASKET CHAFFING THROUGH. A NEW AND IMPROVED GASKET WITH PRO…
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2008 FORD F 250 SUPER DUTY DIESEL 6.4 ENGINE - ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WITH NO WARNING, WOULD NOT RESTART. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. TSB 07-26-2 WAS PERFORMED TO FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM OF AN UNPROTECTED WIRE IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP GASKET CHAFFING THROUGH. A NEW AND IMPROVED GASKET WITH PROTECTED WIRE WAS INSTALLED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT TOWING MY BOAT OR TRAVEL TRAILER AT THE TIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AND FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES ASAP! *TR
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. DEALER SAYS IT IS TIRE PRESSURE…
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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. DEALER SAYS IT IS TIRE PRESSURE, DOES NOT WORK. THEN TOLD TO REPLACE STRUTS OR ADJUST STEERING DAMPER. WORKS TEMPORAILY. NO USED PARTS. *TR
ON 8/10/2010, AFTER DRIVING MY 2008 F-250 ON INTERSTATE 5 FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS CONTINUOUSLY AT APPROX. 70MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE, I OVERRODE CRUISE CONTROL TO ACCELERATE AND PASS A VEHICLE. AS I RETURNED TO THE RIGHT SIDE DRIVING LANE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN AN UNCONTROLLED FASHION. WI…
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ON 8/10/2010, AFTER DRIVING MY 2008 F-250 ON INTERSTATE 5 FOR ABOUT 6 HOURS CONTINUOUSLY AT APPROX. 70MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE, I OVERRODE CRUISE CONTROL TO ACCELERATE AND PASS A VEHICLE. AS I RETURNED TO THE RIGHT SIDE DRIVING LANE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE IN AN UNCONTROLLED FASHION. WITH HEAVY BRAKING I WAS ABLE CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER WHERE I SHIFTED IT INTO NEUTRAL AND CUT THE IGNITION OFF. A RESTART OF THE VEHICLE RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE RUN-UP IN RPM WHICH COULD ONLY BE CONTROLLED BY SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE. NO ENGINE OR OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED. BY OPENING THE HOOD AND MANUALLY RESETTING THE AIR FILTER CONTAMINATION SENSOR ON THE AIR INTAKE DUCT, IT WAS POSSIBLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND HAVE IT OPERATE NORMALLY. I DID NOT AGAIN USE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS A REPEAT OF THE CONDITION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED IN ID# 10279704. THE COMMON ELEMENTS OF ALL THREE INSTANCES OF OCCURRENCE ARE THAT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN OPERATED AT 65-70 MPH FOR APPROX. SIX HOURS, CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, AND THE ENGINE IS EITHER IN OR HAS JUST COMPLETED AN EXHAUST REGEN CYCLE . FORD APPEARS TO BE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO IDENTIFY OR ADDRESS THIS SITUATION, BUT IT CONTINUES TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
IN APRIL 2010, MY 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY'S RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO HEAT UP AND BEGIN SMOKING. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN APRIL, BUT IN JULY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE (SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM THE WHEEL ON THE HIGHWAY). UPON INSPECTION, THE…
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IN APRIL 2010, MY 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY'S RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO HEAT UP AND BEGIN SMOKING. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN APRIL, BUT IN JULY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE (SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM THE WHEEL ON THE HIGHWAY). UPON INSPECTION, THE FORD MECHANIC FOUND ALL FOUR BRAKES ON THE TRUCK SEIZED, INCLUDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE AGAIN. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE SEES THE PROBLEM ALL THE TIME ON THE SUPER DUTY TRUCKS, BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE DESIGN ON ITS TRUCKS. SO FAR, THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK HAVE SEIZED TWICE WITHIN A THREE MONTH SPAN, AND THE DEALERSHIP MORE OR LESS ASSURED ME IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN EXPENSIVE BRAKE OVERHAUL EVERY TIME IT OCCURS. THIS FAULTY DESIGN NOT ONLY PRESENTS A FINANCIAL BURDEN BECAUSE OF COSTLY REPAIRS, BUT ALSO PUTS MY LIFE, AND MY FAMILY'S LIVES, AT RISK EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *TR
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