Ford F-350 Best and Worst Years (2005–2025)
Ford F-350 model years 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes from 75 to 100, mostly tied to steering and suspension problems. The 2014 model year is rated Best with a complaint index of 20, and 2007 and 2024 are rated Good.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2006Avoid 2008Avoid 2016Avoid 2017Avoid 2019Avoid 2020Best 2014
- Model years
- 21
- 2005–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 3,697
- Recall campaigns
- 91
- Crashes reported
- 108
- Fires reported
- 81
- Top problem area
- Steering
F-350 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-350 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caution | 70 | 331 | 12 | 11 | 5 | Engine | — | — |
| 2006 | Avoid | 75 | 272 | 16 | 5 | 3 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2007 | Good | 0 | 61 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2008 | Avoid | 85 | 232 | 14 | 13 | 8 | Engine | — | — |
| 2009 | Caution | 10 | 47 | 2 | 0 | 9 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2010 | Caution | 5 | 52 | 1 | 2 | 10 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2011 | Caution | 45 | 186 | 6 | 3 | 14 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 40 | 183 | 7 | 2 | 16 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2013 | Caution | 15 | 86 | 1 | 4 | 13 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2014 | Best | 20 | 98 | 4 | 1 | 5 | Steering | — | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 50 | 208 | 3 | 7 | 3 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 80 | 208 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2017 | Avoid | 95 | 573 | 7 | 6 | 13 | Steering | — | — |
| 2018 | Caution | 65 | 201 | 1 | 5 | 9 | Steering | — | — |
| 2019 | Avoid | 100 | 466 | 9 | 6 | 11 | Steering | — | — |
| 2020 | Avoid | 90 | 188 | 7 | 3 | 15 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Caution | 55 | 96 | 1 | 4 | 14 ! | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2022 | Caution | 60 | 110 | 2 | 1 | 17 ! | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2023 | Caution | 25 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 15 ! | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2024 | Good | 35 | 44 | 4 | 2 | 3 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Caution | 30 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 6 ! | Engine | — | — |
F-350 years to avoid: what went wrong
2019 Ford F-350 Index 100 · 466 complaints · 11 recalls
NHTSA lists 466 complaints for 2019, the highest complaint index in the lineup at 100. Steering makes up 57% of complaints with a median failure mileage of only 20,000, and suspension, wheels and tires follow at 52% with a median of 21,000 miles. Owners described tailgates opening or being crushed at very low mileage and side airbags failing to deploy in crashes. Eleven recall campaigns apply to this model year.
2019 steering problems →2019 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2019 structure & body problems →
2017 Ford F-350 Index 95 · 573 complaints · 13 recalls
The 2017 F-350 has 573 complaints and a complaint index of 95, ranking as the second-worst year. Steering leads at 51% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 26,326, and suspension, wheels and tires follow at 47% with a median of 24,826 miles. Owners reported tire shaking and valve stem leaks at low mileage, brake failures, and an electric tailgate opening unexpectedly. This year carries 13 recall campaigns.
2017 steering problems →2017 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2017 structure & body problems →
2020 Ford F-350 Index 90 · 188 complaints · 15 recalls
The 2020 F-350 has 188 complaints and a complaint index of 90. Transmission and powertrain problems lead at 28% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 60,000, and fuel system issues follow at 26% with a median of 122,000 miles. Owners reported the vehicle rolling out of park unexpectedly, engine smoke odors with brake overheating, and steering shafts coming apart. This year carries 15 recall campaigns.
2020 transmission & powertrain problems →2020 fuel system problems →2020 steering problems →
2008 Ford F-350 Index 85 · 232 complaints · 8 recalls
The 2008 F-350 has 232 complaints and a complaint index of 85. Engine problems lead at 37% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 45,500, followed by steering at 31% and a median of 75,000 miles. Owners reported sudden engine shutdowns while driving and engine compartment fires with visible smoke and oil leaks. This year carries 13 fires and 10 injuries reported to NHTSA, alongside eight recall campaigns.
2008 engine problems →2008 steering problems →2008 suspension, wheels & tires problems →
2016 Ford F-350 Index 80 · 208 complaints · 3 recalls
NHTSA records 208 complaints for 2016, with a complaint index of 80. Suspension, wheels and tires account for 43% of complaints at a median of 45,000 miles, and steering for 37% at a median of 40,000 miles. Owners described sudden veering or sharp turns at highway speed leading to loss of control, sometimes with cruise control engaged, and airbags failing to deploy in crashes. The year had 12 injuries reported and three recall campaigns, including a tire-related recall.
2016 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2016 steering problems →2016 engine problems →
2006 Ford F-350 Index 75 · 272 complaints · 3 recalls
NHTSA lists 272 complaints for the 2006 F-350, giving it a complaint index of 75. Suspension, wheels and tires make up 43% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 45,000, and steering issues account for 35% at a median of 52,000 miles. Owners describe steering components detaching or falling apart while driving, sometimes during turns or while towing, leading to loss of control. The year also had 16 fires and 15 injuries reported. Three recall campaigns apply to this model year.
2006 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2006 steering problems →2006 engine problems →
Most common Ford F-350 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Steering1,371 (37%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1,364 (37%)
- Engine603 (16%)
- Fuel System440 (12%)
- Electrical System303 (8%)
- Other288 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain251 (7%)
- Structure & Body200 (5%)
- Brakes185 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras113 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What Ford F-350 years should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 as Avoid years, with complaint indexes ranging from 75 to 100, driven mainly by steering and suspension complaints.
- What is the best Ford F-350 year?
- The 2014 model year is rated Best, with a complaint index of 20 and steering as its top reported problem area. Model years 2007 and 2024 are rated Good.
- Which Ford F-350 year has the most complaints?
- 2019 has the highest complaint index at 100 with 466 complaints, and steering was the top problem area, reported at a median failure mileage of just 20,000.
- Are early Ford F-350 years like 2007 fully reliable based on this data?
- 2007 is rated Good, but its verdict is capped because NHTSA complaint records for 2005-2009 model years are less complete, not because the year is proven trouble-free.
- Does the Ford F-350 have steering-related recalls?
- Yes. Steering issues appear across multiple years, including a 2025-reported recall for 2020-2021 F-350s covering a steering column upper shaft that could detach and cause loss of steering control.