Ford F-250 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Ford F-250 owners should be most cautious with 2011, 2017, 2018 and 2019, which carry the highest complaint index scores (80, 93, 87, and 100 out of the 16 model years) and are dominated by steering and suspension complaints. 2010, 2013, 2023 and 2024 score lowest (7, 0, 13, 20) and stand out as the best years.
Avoid 2011Avoid 2017Avoid 2018Avoid 2019Best 2010Best 2013Best 2023Best 2024
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 5,028
- Recall campaigns
- 63
- Crashes reported
- 91
- Fires reported
- 70
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best | 7 | 105 | 4 | 2 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 80 | 370 | 12 | 5 | 2 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 67 | 323 | 5 | 5 | 1 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2013 | Best | 0 | 116 | 3 | 1 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2014 | Good | 33 | 168 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 60 | 296 | 8 | 6 | 2 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2016 | Caution | 53 | 289 | 6 | 5 | 3 | Steering | — | — |
| 2017 | Avoid | 93 | 1,155 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Steering | — | — |
| 2018 | Avoid | 87 | 397 | 7 | 9 | 9 | Steering | — | — |
| 2019 | Avoid | 100 | 1,164 | 16 | 11 | 11 | Steering | — | — |
| 2020 | Caution | 73 | 263 | 2 | 3 | 14 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Good | 40 | 164 | 3 | 0 | 12 | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2022 | Good | 47 | 121 | 2 | 4 | 17 | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2023 | Best | 13 | 43 | 2 | 3 | 16 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2024 | Best | 20 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Good | 27 | 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 has the highest complaint index of any year, 100, based on 1,164 complaints. Steering (67%) and suspension (60%) issues lead the count, with median failure mileage as low as 19,500 to 20,000. Owners reported airbags failing to deploy in crashes, smoke and flames appearing from the floorboard area, and violent steering wheel shaking after driving over rough pavement, in one case attributed by owners to a steering dampener. NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the year. Crashes reached 16, the most among the four avoid years.
2019 steering problems →2019 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2019 fuel system problems →
2017 Ford F-250 Index 93 · 1,155 complaints · 14 recalls
The 2017 F-250 has the second-highest complaint index at 93, out of 1,155 total complaints, the most of any year covered. Steering issues account for 62% of complaints and suspension issues 52%, both with a median failure mileage around 28,000. Owners described engine fires, airbags that failed to deploy in crashes, and smoke or fire linked to a cup holder leak into the console. NHTSA lists 14 recalls for this year, including a driveshaft damper issue and a degraded rearview camera coating. Crashes totaled 12 with 13 injuries reported.
2017 steering problems →2017 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2017 structure & body problems →
2018 Ford F-250 Index 87 · 397 complaints · 9 recalls
The 2018 F-250 posts a complaint index of 87 across 397 complaints. Steering (63%) and suspension (51%) problems dominate, both with a median failure mileage of 26,250 to 28,000. Owners reported a truck rolling out of park and crashing into a tree, a steering wobble at 65 mph that caused loss of control, and vehicle fires including one that started in the interior cabin while parked. NHTSA lists 9 recalls, including the same driveshaft damper and rearview camera issues seen in 2017. Fires reported for the year numbered 9.
2018 steering problems →2018 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2018 fuel system problems →
2011 Ford F-250 Index 80 · 370 complaints · 2 recalls
The 2011 F-250 carries a complaint index of 80, driven mainly by suspension, wheels and tires (49% of complaints, median mileage 58,100) and steering (40%, median mileage 47,251). Owners also reported engine problems including underhood fires, in some cases while the truck was parked. NHTSA logged 2 recalls tied to the body control module, which could affect electrical functions. Complaints included a case of unintended reverse movement after a gear shift. Total complaints for the year reached 370, with 12 crashes and 1 death reported.
2011 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2011 steering problems →2011 engine problems →
Most common Ford F-250 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Steering2,511 (50%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2,344 (47%)
- Other498 (10%)
- Engine472 (9%)
- Fuel System424 (8%)
- Electrical System314 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain311 (6%)
- Structure & Body219 (4%)
- Brakes174 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras124 (2%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Ford F-250 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaint and recall data, 2011, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are the years to approach with caution, with complaint index scores of 80, 93, 87 and 100. Steering and suspension issues dominate complaints in all four years.
- Which Ford F-250 model years are the best?
- 2010, 2013, 2023 and 2024 rank as the best years, with complaint index scores of 7, 0, 13 and 20, the lowest among the 16 model years covered.
- Is the 2019 Ford F-250 reliable?
- The 2019 F-250 has the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100, with 1,164 total complaints and median steering-related failure mileage around 20,000. It ranks as the worst year based on NHTSA data.
- Does the Ford F-250 have steering problems?
- Steering is the top problem area across all years covered, accounting for 2,511 complaints, or 50% of total complaints. It is especially concentrated in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- How many recalls does the Ford F-250 have?
- Across the 2010-2025 model years, NHTSA lists 63 recall campaigns for the Ford F-250, with 2022 alone having 17 and 2020 having 14.