YearToAvoid

2023 Ford F-250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

13/100

#14 most-complained of 16 F-250 years

The 2023 Ford F-250 ranks 14th out of 16 model years for reported problems, with a Complaint Index of 13 and a "Best" verdict. It has 43 complaints, 16 recalls, and 3 fire reports, with electrical system issues the top concern.

Complaints
43
Recalls
16
Crashes / fires
2 / 3
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2023 Ford F-250 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System13 (30%)
  2. Engine12 (28%)
  3. Brakes7 (16%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras7 (16%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain7 (16%)
  6. Other6 (14%)
  7. Steering4 (9%)
  8. Fuel System3 (7%)
  9. Lane Departure3 (7%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (7%)

What owners report

  • Some owners describe the engine losing power or seizing without warning, in at least one case followed by an underhood fire while driving at 35 MPH.
  • Owners report the instrument panel cluster going completely dark, making speed and warning indicators unreadable.
  • Brake pedal reportedly failed to disengage cruise control or slow the truck despite firm pressure, with no ABS activation.
  • Front emergency braking has reportedly triggered unexpectedly during low-speed turns at intersections and drive-throughs, prompting some owners to disable it.
  • The touchscreen and sound system reportedly lock up intermittently, sometimes producing a sudden loud tone at full volume that requires a full power cycle to clear.
  • Owners report the vehicle idling and then shutting itself off automatically after roughly 30 minutes, which some found unexpected and unsafe during camper setup.
2023 Ford F-250 complaints: complaints filed per month10Sep 2023Jan 2024Jun 2024Oct 2024Jun 2025Nov 2025Apr 2026
72 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2023 to Jun 2026; peak Sep 2023 (10).

2023 Ford F-250 recalls

16 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V489000Jul 28, 2026Collision Avoidance & Cameras47,587 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention:display function

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 26V204000Mar 31, 2026Visibility & Wipers422,613 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail.

    Risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S24.Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 1, 2026.

  3. NHTSA 26V104000Feb 20, 2026Electrical System4,381,878 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Exterior lighting:tail lights

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.

See all 16 recalls for the 2023 Ford F-250 →

2023 compared with other F-250 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Good4016412—
2022Good4712117—
2023Best134316—
2024Best20384—
2025Good27167 !—

All Ford F-250 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Ford F-250 reliable?
Relative to other F-250 model years, 2023 ranks well. It has a Complaint Index of 13, the 14th-worst (meaning 3rd-best) out of 16 years tracked, and carries a "Best" verdict.
What is the top problem area for the 2023 Ford F-250?
Electrical System complaints lead with 13 reports, 30% of all complaints, at a median mileage of 500 miles.
Does the 2023 Ford F-250 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 16 recalls for the 2023 Ford F-250, covering areas including Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Visibility & Wipers, Electrical System, and Fuel System.
Are there fire risks reported for the 2023 Ford F-250?
NHTSA complaint data lists 3 fire reports for the 2023 Ford F-250, with 2 tied to Engine complaints and 2 tied to Fuel System complaints out of 43 total complaints.
How does 2023 compare to the worst F-250 years?
The 2023 F-250 has a Complaint Index of 13, far below the worst years like 2019 (100) and 2017 (93), both rated "Avoid."

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.