Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 13 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 reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

101 reports

30,000 miles · Jan 19, 2010

Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT REGULARLY UNFASTENED ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300322

19,000 miles · Jan 14, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

DIESEL PERTICULATE FILTERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299807

8,500 miles · Sep 24, 2009

Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

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ON FEBRUARY 21, 2009, I PURCHASED A 2008 FORD F-350 FROM EL CAJON FORD. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST SIX INCIDENTS OF ACCIDENTALLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE MY FOOT IS OPERATING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS ON 9/21/2009, AND OCCURRED WHILE BACKING THE TRUCK INTO A PARKING SPACE. I CAME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO HITTING A CONCRETE BLOCK WALL. THESE INCIDENTS ARE QUITE FRIGHTENING, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS LATEST INCIDENT HAS LEFT ME SO STARTLED, THAT I AM AFRAID TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED TWO OTHER FORD F-350 TRUCKS, A 1990 (9 YEARS), AND A 1999 (10 YEARS). IN THE 19 YEARS AND 350,000 MILES I DROVE THOSE TWO TRUCKS, I NEVER, EVER, HAD THIS OCCUR WITH EITHER VEHICLE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE 2008. I BELIEVE THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS IS INSUFFICIENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON TWO FORD TRUCK INTERNET FORUMS, AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285106

11,190 miles · Sep 17, 2009

SteeringCrash

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE GEAR BOX FAILED. THE GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED AT A REDUCED RATE OF $100.00; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE. THE FAILURE RESURFACED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE IS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,190. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,200.

NHTSA ODI #10284402

19,499 miles · Jun 19, 2009

Power Train

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I WAS NOTIFIED BY FORD THAT MY 2008 F-350 6.4 DIESEL PICKUP HAD TWO RECALL NOTICES TO BE PERFORMED. ON 1.29.08 I TOOK THE TRUCK TO CAPISTRANO FORD AND THEY PERFORMED RECALL 08B06 AND RECALL 08B07. SINCE THEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT PERFORMED THE SAME. I PULL A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER. THE DRY WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER IS ABOUT 9000LBS. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NO LONGER DOWNSHIFTS TO ASSIST IN BRAKING AND DOWNHILL SPEED CONTROL. THE TRANSMISSION IS EQUIPPED WITH A TOW/ HAUL SETTING ON THE END OF THE SHIFT LEVER. BEFORE THE RECALL THIS FEATURE WORKED GREAT. AS YOU START DOWN A HILL, TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS THE TRUCK WILL COAST AND THEN BEGIN TO PICK UP SPEED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SENSED THE INCREASE IN SPEED WHILE COASTING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT. IT WOULD DO THIS AT ANY SPEED. AFTER THE RECALL, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT UNTIL LONG AFTER IT HAS ANY AFFECT ON BRAKING OR SPEED CONTROL. WHILE BRAKING, SOMETIMES HARD IF IT IS A STEEP HILL, THE TRANSMISSION WILL DOWNSHIFT AND THE TRUCK WILL SHUTTER. IT IS A SHORT BURST THAT IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND OBVIOUSLY NOT NORMAL.THE SHUTTER NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE THE RECALL. I HAVE TAKEN IN BACK TO FORD TWICE AND THEY SAY THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) WAS REPROGRAMMED AS PART OF RECALL 08B07 BUT THEY CAN NOT CHANGE IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM. IN SHORT, FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THE OPERATIONAL SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, WHILE TOWING LOADS THAT THE TRUCK IS DESIGNED TO TOW, HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. FORD SAYS THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM? ACCORDING TO FORD THIS COMPLAINT HAS NOT BEEN MADE. IF I'M THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE PROBLEM, THEN FORD SHOULD FIX MY TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274297

800 miles · Jun 12, 2009

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. HER SPOUSE SHOVED THE GEAR INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, HE KEPT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. THE DEALER BELIEVED THAT THE SPEED SENSORS CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800. UPDATED 06/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10273596

16,000 miles · Apr 22, 2009

SteeringSuspension

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OUR BUSINESS OWNS 4 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY TRUCKS (2-2006 AND 2-2008). ALL OF THEM HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT THAT CAUSES WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES REFER TO AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE". AT ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR, THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK EXPERIENCES A VIOLENT SHIMMY THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A NUMBER OF ACCIDENT. WE TOW LARGE TRAILERS (20'), LOADED WITH LARGE SPOOLS OF COAXIAL CABLE. THESE REELS AND THE TRAILER HAVE A COMBINED WAIT IN EXCESS OF 3000-4000 LBS., AND THE TRUCKS WEIGH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 LBS. WHEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THIS MUCH WEIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. ALL FOUR TRUCKS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FORD CLAIMS THAT IF YOU SLOW DOWN, IT WILL GO AWAY, BUT OFTEN THAT CREATES ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD IN AND OF ITSELF, AND OFTEN YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN FAST ENOUGH WITH A 4,000LB IN TOW. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF FORCING CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COST OF THEIR INEPT MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266394

24,000 miles · Apr 1, 2009

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN HE WOULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE RPM'S WOULD REV UP TREMENDOUSLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE LIKE A ROCKET. HE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED WHILE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO "CRAWL" AND HE WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY SEEMED TO OCCUR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE ISSUE AND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED; HOWEVER, THEY FOUND NO FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10263859

15,000 miles · Mar 17, 2009

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY AND SHAKE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. ON ONE OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK SO SEVERELY THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HAS YET TO RECEIVE ANY FEEDBACK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #10262107

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2009

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, DieselPower Train

2MONTHS INTO MY "NEW" VEHICLE THE RADIATOR CRACKED AND OVER HEATED ; THE BACK GLASS LEAKS WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS , MOTOR REVES UP OUT OF CONTROL , NOW MOTOR HAS BLOWN OIL INTO RADIATOR AND ALL OVER DRIVEWAY DEEMING VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257752

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)