Steering. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

131 reports

35,000 miles · May 13, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511718

120,000 miles · Apr 15, 2013

Wheels

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE PERSONNEL THAT THE RIM WAS FRACTURED AND HAD CAUSED THE BLOW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RIM. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM WAS FRACTURED AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508250

24,000 miles · Jan 4, 2013

Air BagsCrashInjury

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE AIR BAGS THEN ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A POWDERY SUBSTANCE THAT WAS EMITTED FROM THE AIR BAGS, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CHOKE AND BECOME ILL. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST, HEART, NECK AND LOWER BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10491429

18,000 miles · Dec 26, 2012

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2011, WE WERE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD IN ROUTE TO SHARPS CHAPEL, TENNESSEE WHEN THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT PASSENGER CALIPER/ROTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING SMOKING AND BURNING SMELL OF THE BRAKE SHOES FORCING ME TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER ALLOWING THE BRAKES TO COOL, I CONTACTED AND DROVE TO MORRISTOWN FORD IN TENNESSEE AND THEY TO ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE BRAKES BY DISASSEMBLING AND CLEANING THE CALIPER/ROTOR SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO APPROPRIATELY RECTIFY THE SITUATION. THIS REPAIR WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AND THE PROBLEM HAS REPEATED ITSELF FOUR TIMES SINCE THEN, MOST RECENTLY ON OCTOBER 5, 2012. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE DESIGN AND/OR PART FAILURE!! FORD NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490117

36,266 miles · Nov 7, 2012

EnginePower Train

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FORD F350 WITH 6.4L DIESEL HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO IDLE (800RPM) AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE INPUTS. WAS NOT ABLE TO CLEAR ROADWAY AND BLOCKED TRAFFIC ON BUSY URBAN ROAD. DEALER WAS "NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG", YET "PERFORMED CALIBRATION UPDATE ON PCM". I WAS INFORMED "THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE AS VEHICLE AGES AND SENSORS WEAR." REVIEWED OWNERS MANUAL AND DID NOT LOCATED MAINTENANCE INTERVAL FOR "CALIBRATION UPDATES TO PCM." I AM CERTAIN THIS IS AN INHERENT PCM SOFTWARE CODE ERROR LEADING TO COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE OPERATION. A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON CONGESTED ROADWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483651

39,080 miles · Oct 13, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

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UPON INSPECTION OF THIS VEHICLE,OUR MECHANIC FOUND THE AUTOMATIC DIPSTICK TUBE RUSTED IN HALF ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. AT THE BRACKET THAT BOLTS TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE A POTENTIAL FIRE /SAFETY HAZARD IF SOME ONE WAS TO FILL OR CHECK THE TRANSMISSION WHILE THE ENGINE IS HOT. WE ALSO FOUND THE RIGHT SIDE SHOCK TOWER SEVERELY DEGRADED BECAUSE OF RUST. THE TOP OF THE TOWER HAS LARGE PIECES OF RUST SCALE ON TOP OF THE TOWER THAT WE FEEL COULD POSSIBLY ALLOW THE COIL SPRING PRESSURE TO FRACTURE THE STEEL AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING. I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MUCH CORROSION ON A TRUCK THIS NEW. WE HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AND CAN BE E-MAILED IF NEEDED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SERVICE UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED. THIS IS A CITY OF ALLENTOWN ,PA FLEET VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479989

7,451 miles · Jul 25, 2012

Engine

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LEASED FORD 350 TRUCK ON 10/23/08. NOTICED STRANGE SMELL IN THE CAB WHEN IDLING OR WHEN HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO SUNRISE FORD DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND WAS NOT EVER FIXED UNTIL 9TH TIME AND THEY REPLACED MANIFOLD GASKET . SO ALL THE WHILE INHALING CARBON MONOXIDE POISON. NEEDLESS TO SAY ONLY AFTER 6 MONTHS OF GETTING MY FORD 350 I GOT A HEART ATTACK AND HAD TO GET AN OPERATION ON MY HEART. THEN AGAIN JULY 4TH 2011 HAD HEART ATTACK AND HAD TO GET ANOTHER OPERATION ON MY HEART; AT FIRST DID NOT SEE THE CORRELATION UNTIL MY SPOUSE RODE IN THE TRUCK: EYES BURNED, MIGRAINE HEADACHE, AND PASSED OUT WHEN RETURNED HOME AND TASTED EXHAUST THE NEXT DAY. THAT WAS THE POINT THAT WE ALERTED FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FINALLY ON JUNE 12TH 2012 THE SUNRISE DEALERSHIP FINALLY FIXED THE TRUCK. THE DAMAGE TO MY HEART IS IRREVERSIBLE AND I AM ON CONSTANT MEDICATION . I NEED TO BE RECOMPENSED FOR THIS GROSS NEGLIGENCE FROM FORD AND IT AFFILIATES BECAUSE I AM SOLE PROVIDER OF 8 CHILDREN AN A VETERAN WHO SERVED THIS COUNTRY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467667

4,000 miles · May 9, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO AN ABNORMAL SAFE MODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEA…

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NHTSA ODI #10457930

70,000 miles · Apr 30, 2012

Fuel System, Gasoline

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I TRIED TO ACCELERATE ONTO INTERSTATE 85 N FROM EXIT 57 IN OPELIKA, AL DURING VERY BUSY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND COULD NOT GET ABOVE 60 MPH, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY THE FACTORY 100,000 MI. WARRANTY DUE TO WHAT THE DEALER AND A FORD MOTOR CO. REPRESENTATIVE FROM CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAID WAS CONTAMINATED FUEL DAMAGE. THE 6.4 L DIESEL FUEL SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO FILTER AND FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF FILTERING CONTAMINATES, INCLUDING WATER, WHICH OBVIOUSLY FAILED AND CONSEQUENTLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. ALL SERVICES HAD BEEN PERFORMED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO INCLUDE THE FUEL FILTERS. FORD SEEMS TO BE PLACING THE BLAME ON CONTAMINATED FUEL AS THE CAUSE FOR THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHEN THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE FILTERING SYSTEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10456832

72,000 miles · Apr 29, 2012

Fuel System, Diesel

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2008 F350 FORD TRUCK, BAD HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. FORD REFUSING TO SUPPORT THEIR WARRANTY. RUNNING ROUGH, WITH NO HIGH END POWER. STALLED WHILE TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO BUSY TRAFFIC. SLOWED TO 20MPH IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. FORD DEALER ANALYZED TROUBLE TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD 100,000 MILES/5YR WARRANTY. FORD WILL NOT SUPPORT THEIR WARRANTY DUE TO RUST FOUND IN FUEL TANK. RUST IN THE SYSTEM WOULD BE A FAILURE OF FORDS FILTERING SYSTEM / DESIGN WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. COST OF REPAIR IS $8500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456802

Official recalls

08V344000 · Trailer Hitches

Jul 28, 2008

KNAPHEIDE IS RECALLING 108 MY 2006-2008 PRO SERIES TRUCK BEDS EQUIPPED WITH AN ICC BUMPER WHICH INCLUDED A PROVISION FOR A BALL HITCH. THERE MAY BE AN INSUFFICIENT WELD ATTACHING THE HITCH CHANNEL TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN BENDING OF THE HITCH CHANNEL OR THE HITCH COULD BE PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: KNAPHEIDE WILL OFFER TWO REMEDIES TO ITS CUSTOMERS: (1) FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO DO NOT USE THE HITCH, THE HITCH WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK BED AND REPLACED WITH AN ICC BUMPER; OR (2) FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO NEED A HITCH, A RECEIVER HITCH ASSEMBLY WILL BE ADDED TO THE EXISTING HITCH ASSEMBLY AND ALL SUSPECT WELD JOINTS WILL BE RE WELDED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KNAPHEIDE AT 1-877-473-5763.

08V191000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Apr 25, 2008

FORD IS RECALLING 64,754 MY 2008 F-250 AND F-350 SINGLE REAR WHEEL, 4X4, 156 INCH WHEEL BASE PICK UP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO PIECE DRIVE SHAFT FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE FUEL SPILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT INTO A RIGID BARRIER, THE FUEL TANK CAN MOVE FORWARD AND CONTACT A FRAME CROSS MEMBER, POTENTIALLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE WHICH CAN RESULT IN FUEL SPILLAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

08V096000 · Seats

Feb 28, 2008

FORD IS RECALLING 87,515 MY 2008 F250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." SOME 40% SPLIT AND CAPTAIN'S CHAIR DRIVER'S SEATS, EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORTS, MAY HAVE IMPROPER WELDS AT THE JOINT OF THE SEAT BACK PIVOT BRACKET AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT SIDE PIVOT BRACKET MAY CRACK OR BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE 40% SPLIT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORT OR, IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT BACK FRAME WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

07V541000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Nov 21, 2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING AND REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE YOUR DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

07V139000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Mar 26, 2007

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES IN THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY RESULT FROM EXCESS HYDROCARBONS IN THE EXHAUST.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: LACK OF POWER OR ROUGH OPERATION, UNUSUAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, AND POTENTIALLY A VISIBLE FLAME OUT THE TAILPIPE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

07V140000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Mar 26, 2007

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE OF THE BATTERY POSITIVE (B+) WIRE TO THE RIGHT HAND SPLASH SHIELD BOLT MAY RESULT IN THE BATTERY B+ WIRE CONTACTING THE SPLASH SHIELD BOLT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: LONG TERM CONTACT COULD CAUSE WIRE CHAFE, RESULTING IN COPPER WIRE BEING EXPOSED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE BATTERY B+ WIRE COULD SHORT TO GROUND INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY B+ WIRE LOCATION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION THE WIRE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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)