Ford F-250 Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
NHTSA data flags 2006, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 as the Ford F-250 years to avoid, with 2019 posting the highest complaint index (100) among 6,490 total complaints and 75 recall campaigns. 2013 and 2024 rate as the Best years for the F-250.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2006Avoid 2011Avoid 2017Avoid 2018Avoid 2019Avoid 2020Best 2013Best 2024
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 6,490
- Recall campaigns
- 75
- Crashes reported
- 136
- Fires reported
- 98
- Top problem area
- Steering
F-250 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Ford F-250 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caution | 50 | 439 | 9 | 9 | 5 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2006 | Avoid | 75 | 495 | 15 | 9 | 4 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2007 | Good | 5 | 114 | 4 | 1 | 4 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2008 | Caution | 70 | 337 | 16 | 7 | 7 | Steering | — | — |
| 2009 | Good | 10 | 77 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2010 | Good | 30 | 105 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 80 | 370 | 12 | 5 | 2 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 65 | 323 | 5 | 5 | 1 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2013 | Best | 0 | 116 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2014 | Good | 35 | 168 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 60 | 296 | 8 | 6 | 2 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2016 | Caution | 55 | 289 | 6 | 5 | 3 | Steering | — | — |
| 2017 | Avoid | 95 | 1,155 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Steering | — | — |
| 2018 | Avoid | 90 | 397 | 7 | 9 | 9 | Steering | — | — |
| 2019 | Avoid | 100 | 1,164 | 16 | 11 | 11 | Steering | — | — |
| 2020 | Avoid | 85 | 263 | 2 | 3 | 14 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Caution | 45 | 164 | 3 | 0 | 12 | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2022 | Caution | 40 | 121 | 2 | 4 | 17 | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2023 | Caution | 25 | 43 | 2 | 3 | 16 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2024 | Best | 20 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Caution | 15 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 7 ! | Brakes | — | — |
F-250 years to avoid: what went wrong
2019 Ford F-250 Index 100 · 1,164 complaints · 11 recalls
The 2019 F-250 is the worst-ranked year, with a complaint index of 100 and 1,164 total complaints. Steering issues make up 776 complaints (67%), median failure mileage 20,000, and suspension, wheels, and tires add 698 complaints (60%), median 19,500 miles. Owners reported violent steering wobble at highway speed, sometimes losing control. NHTSA logged 16 crashes, 11 fires, and 12 injuries. Ford issued 11 recall campaigns, including camera, driveshaft, and owner's manual corrections, and the overall median mileage at failure was 20,200.
2019 steering problems →2019 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2019 fuel system problems →
2017 Ford F-250 Index 95 · 1,155 complaints · 14 recalls
The 2017 F-250 has a complaint index of 95, ranking 2nd worst overall, with 1,155 total complaints. Steering problems dominate at 717 complaints (62%), median failure mileage 28,000, alongside suspension, wheels, and tires issues at 602 complaints (52%), median 28,456 miles. Owners reported steering wheel shake, engine fires, and smoke from the console. NHTSA logged 12 crashes, 13 fires, and 13 injuries for this year. Ford issued 14 recall campaigns, including driveshaft, rearview camera, and steering-related fixes.
2017 steering problems →2017 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2017 structure & body problems →
2018 Ford F-250 Index 90 · 397 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2018 F-250 carries a complaint index of 90, ranking 3rd worst. Steering complaints lead at 252 (63%), median failure mileage 28,000, with suspension, wheels, and tires close behind at 203 complaints (51%), median 26,250 miles. Owners described uncontrollable wobble at highway speed and vehicles rolling out of park. NHTSA recorded 7 crashes, 9 fires, and 4 injuries. Ford issued 9 recall campaigns covering driveshaft, rearview camera, and related systems, and the overall median mileage at failure across complaint types was 28,000.
2018 steering problems →2018 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2018 fuel system problems →
2020 Ford F-250 Index 85 · 263 complaints · 14 recalls
The 2020 F-250 has a complaint index of 85, ranking 4th worst. Transmission and powertrain complaints lead at 74 (28%), median failure mileage 69,000, followed by fuel system issues at 64 complaints (24%), median 95,000 miles, and steering at 45 complaints (17%), median 21,000 miles. Owners described stalling with burning odors, sudden steering seizure, and engine fires. NHTSA recorded 2 crashes, 3 fires, and 2 injuries. Ford issued 14 recall campaigns for this year, including fuel system, camera, and steering column fixes. Overall median mileage at failure was 51,498.5.
2020 transmission & powertrain problems →2020 fuel system problems →2020 steering problems →
2011 Ford F-250 Index 80 · 370 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2011 F-250 has a complaint index of 80, the 5th worst year. Suspension, wheels, and tires complaints total 180 (49%) with a median failure mileage of 58,100, while steering issues account for 149 complaints (40%) at a median of 47,251.5 miles. Owners described stalling, unexpected reverse movement after shifting to drive, and engine compartment fires. NHTSA recorded 12 crashes, 5 fires, 6 injuries, and 1 death tied to this year. Ford issued 2 recall campaigns, both related to the body control module and electrical system.
2011 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2011 steering problems →2011 engine problems →
2006 Ford F-250 Index 75 · 495 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2006 F-250 carries a complaint index of 75, ranking 6th worst of the years covered. Suspension, wheels, and tires account for 266 complaints (54%), with owners reporting front-end shimmy and wheel shake around a median mileage of 40,000. Steering complaints follow at 180 (36%), median mileage 45,500. NHTSA also logged 15 crashes, 9 fires, and 18 injuries tied to this model year. Ford issued 4 recall campaigns covering this range, including electrical system and wheelchair-lift equipment recalls. The overall median mileage at failure across all complaint types was 46,000.
2006 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2006 steering problems →2006 engine problems →
Most common Ford F-250 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Steering3,001 (46%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2,958 (46%)
- Engine757 (12%)
- Other547 (8%)
- Fuel System515 (8%)
- Electrical System417 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain379 (6%)
- Brakes281 (4%)
- Structure & Body277 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras126 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Ford F-250 years should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the F-250 years to avoid are 2006, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The 2019 model year has the highest complaint index (100) and the most recall campaigns among these at 11.
- What is the best Ford F-250 year?
- 2013 and 2024 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 0 and 20 respectively, the lowest among all 21 model years covered.
- Is the 2019 Ford F-250 reliable compared to other years?
- The 2019 F-250 ranks worst of all covered years with a complaint index of 100 and 1,164 complaints, dominated by steering (776 complaints) and suspension issues (698 complaints), both with low median failure mileages around 20,000 miles.
- Does the Ford F-250 have steering problems?
- Yes. Steering is the top problem area for 2017, 2018, and 2019, with 717, 252, and 776 complaints respectively, and it also appears heavily in the 2006 and 2011 data at 180 and 149 complaints.
- How many recalls does the Ford F-250 have?
- Across the 21 model years covered, NHTSA lists 75 recall campaigns total. The 2022 model year alone has 17 recalls, the most of any single year, though it is rated Caution rather than Avoid.