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 reports

33,000 miles · Aug 3, 2010

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F250 SD. THE CONTACT WAS REVERSING IN HER DRIVEWAY AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS IT FELL MUCH FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A FRACTURED CALIPER AND PISTONS. THE CALIPER AND PISTONS WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10347015

88,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010

Steering

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I BOUGHT A 2008 FORD F-250 EXTENDED CAB TRUCK AND WHEN I GO OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END SHAKES REAL BAD TO THE POINT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH. I CHECKED THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES AND THEY WERE AT 70PSI IN THE FRONT AND 80PSI IN THE BACK. THE DOOR STICKER SAID THE PRESSURES SHOULD BE 70 IN THE FRONT AND 80 IN THE BACK. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS AND STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK AND IT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE OLD SHOCKS APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE YET. I THEN REPLACED THE TIRES EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE STILL GOOD AND THEY WERE WORN EVENLY. STILL DID NOT FIX IT. I THEN DROPPED MY AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES TO 60PSI FRONT AND BACK TO IF IT MADE A DIFFERENCE. STILL DID NOT FIX IT. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I OWNED A 1999 F-250 AND IT NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAD 165,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I TRADED IT IN FOR THIS ONE. I GOOGLED MY PROBLEM AND FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A REPAIR FOR THIS SOON. I WON'T LET MY WIFE DRIVE THIS TRUCK FOR FEAR OF THIS HAPPENING AND HER ENDING UP IN A WRECK. FORD NEEDS TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THERE VEHICLES AND THE LIVES THAT THEY COULD TAKE. I AM A FORD DRIVER ALL MY VEHICLES ARE FORD AND I'M NOT MAD AT FORD YET BUT THEY NEED TO CURE THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS FOR SURE A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346223

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 · Jun 8, 2010

Power Train

FRONT END SHAKES A LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10335240

15,000 miles · May 13, 2010

SteeringTraction Control System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL ALSO FAILED. UPON DECELERATION THE FAILURE WOULD STOP. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE OWNER THAT SOME OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAD THE "DEATH SHAKE" BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT; SHE WAS ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10330354

30,130 miles · Apr 28, 2010

Fuel System, Diesel

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TANK FULL OF DIESEL FUEL CONTAMINATED WITH WATER AND SOME DEBRIS. FORD WILL NOT WARRANTY BUT SEVERAL PARTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM DEVELOPING RUST. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL WATER SEPARATOR AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. SO FORD HAS EQUIPPED THE TRUCK WITH A FUEL WATER SEPARATOR BUT SEVERAL OF THE PARTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM ARE VERY SUBJECT TO RUST IF THERE IS ANY EXPOSURE TO WATER. SO AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO WATER IN THE FUEL THERE ARE PARTS THAT WILL FAIL AND ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327938

30,000 miles · Mar 1, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR LEAKS ON FORD F 250 6.4 DIESEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315236

114,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010

Wheels

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BOTH FRONT WHEELS ON MY 2008 FORD KING RANCH F-250 PICK-UP ARE CRACKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CRACKS ARE IN THE WELD AREA ON THE FLAT PART OF THE WHEEL UNDER THE TIRES CAUSING THE TIRES TO NO LONGER HOLD AIR. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THE PROBLEM IS MINE SINCE THE TRUCK RECENTLY SURPASSED WARRANTY MILEAGE HOWEVER I AM CERTAIN THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE WHEELS ARE READY TO COME APART AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT . IF THE TIRES HAD NOT BEGUN TO LOSE AIR I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN THEY WERE CRACKING. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD THE BEST OF CARE AND HAS NEVER HIT ANYTHING OR BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY WITHOUT EVEN EXAMINING THE CRACKED WHEELS. THE TIRE SHOP BELIEVED THE SITUATION WAS SO UNSAFE THAT THEY RECOMMENDED TOWING INSTEAD OF DRIVING THE TRUCK. THIS CASE # 1526770470 WITH FORD WAS DENIED AND THEY QUOTED OVER 800 DOLLARS PER WHEEL TO REPLACE THE CRACKED WHEELS. ALL AFTER MARKET WHEELS I CHECKED ON WERE AROUND 250 DOLLARS WITH A LIFETIME GUARANTEE. I HAVE WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311622

14,875 miles · Jan 28, 2010

Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

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DRIVING AROUND AND DIESEL FUEL SMELL CAME INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS TRUCK HAS A 6.4L JOB 1 DIESEL. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE DRIVING IT MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH AND LIGHT HEADED. FORD TELLS US IT WILL HAPPEN EVERY 100-600 MILES AND LAST 10-40 MINUTES EACH TIME DURING REGENERATION. FORD SAYS THIS IS A 'NORMAL OPERATION CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE'. THE DEALERSHIP REFERENCED TSB 09-16-9 AND TOOK THE TIME TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN AREAS. #1 - I WAS NOT IN COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND #2 - THIS IS NOT A BRAND NEW TRUCK ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE LOW MILEAGE. HOW CAN THIS BE CONSIDERED NORMAL IF IT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND NOW MAKES ME SICK WHEN I DRIVE THE TRUCK? THE SMELL IS STILL FAINTLY IN THE HEADLINER OF THE TRUCK. WHAT IS IN THIS STUFF THAT MADE ME LIGHT HEADED AND SICK TO MY STOMACH?*CW

NHTSA ODI #10302987

26,898 miles · Nov 12, 2009

Steering

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1. DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH+ IN A 2008 FORD F-250. 2. HIT A MINOR SEAM IN THE PAVED ROAD. 3. FRONT END WOBBLE (KNOWN ON MANY INTERNET SITES AT THE "FORD DEATH WOBBLE". MY TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY TIGHTEN THE PITMAN ARM. THERE WAS A FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT INDICATED IMPROPER TIRE PRESSURE. TOTALLY NOT TRUE. THE FRONT END WOBBLE WAS SO SEVERE IT MADE ME CROSS INTO ON-COMING LANES OF TRAFFIC. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS COMING THE OTHER WAY OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE FORD DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT STABILIZER SHOCK. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. VIOLENT FRONT END WOBBLE AT 65MPH+ AND WHEN A SMALL BUMP WAS HIT. I HAD TO SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN TO 20MPH ON AN INTERSTATE FREEWAY IN ORDER TO GET THE WOBBLE TO STOP AND ALMOST CAUSED ANOTHER ACCIDENT. TWO HOURS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN! VIOLENT WOBBLING OF THE FRONT END. THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. HOWEVER, AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CASES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. CHECK OUT: WWW.SUPERDUTYWOBBLE.COM OR OTHER SITES. THIS HAS GOT TO BE A MANUFACTURING ERROR THAT DESERVES A RECALL NOTICE. THE FORD DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG! PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292007

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)