YearToAvoid

2016 Ford F-250 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 35 engine complaints for the 2016 Ford F-250, 12% of that year's 289 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles. No related recalls are on file for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
35
12% of 289
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
70,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Diesel engine sporadically shudders, sputters, or stalls during exhaust filter cleaning (regeneration), cutting power without responding to the throttle.
  • During regeneration, owners describe a loud jackhammer-like noise from the engine along with rough running and a sudden loss of power.
  • Some owners report the diesel exhaust fluid heater or reductant heater pump failing, triggering warning lights and capping vehicle speed around 50 mph.
  • A small number of vehicles caught fire, in one case while parked with the engine block heater plugged in and in another while driving, with smoke coming from the engine area.
  • Fuel filter clogging has caused diesel fuel to leak from the filter housing while the truck kept running.

When 2016 Ford F-250 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 19, 2016, latest Mar 27, 2026.

2016 Ford F-250 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2016Aug 2018Jan 2020Dec 2020Jan 2022Jan 2023Jun 2023Sep 2024
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2016 to Mar 2026; peak Oct 2023 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2016 Ford F-250

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by F-250 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201023 (22%)
  2. 201168 (18%)
  3. 201263 (20%)
  4. 201322 (19%)
  5. 201421 (13%)
  6. 201549 (17%)
  7. 201635 (12%)
  8. 201751 (4%)
  9. 201818 (5%)
  10. 201936 (3%)
  11. 202033 (13%)
  12. 202115 (9%)
  13. 202222 (18%)
  14. 202312 (28%)
  15. 20244 (11%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2016 Ford F-250 have?
NHTSA lists 35 engine complaints for the 2016 F-250, which is 12% of the 289 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do 2016 F-250 engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on this model year is 70,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2016 F-250 engine problems?
No related recalls are listed in the NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
Did the 2016 F-250 engine issues cause any fires or injuries?
NHTSA data for this engine complaint area shows 2 fires, 2 crashes, and 3 injuries.
How does the 2016 F-250's engine complaint rate compare to other years?
The 2016 F-250 engine share is 12% of complaints for that year, lower than the 22% seen in 2010 and the 28% seen in 2023, but higher than the 3% seen in 2019.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.