Ford F-350 Best and Worst Years (2010–2025)
Avoid the 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 Ford F-350 model years, which carry the highest complaint indexes (80, 93, 100, and 87) and lean heavily on steering and suspension complaints. Best years are 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2023, with complaint indexes as low as 0, 7, 13, and 20.
Avoid 2016Avoid 2017Avoid 2019Avoid 2020Best 2010Best 2013Best 2014Best 2023
- Model years
- 16
- 2010–2025
- NHTSA complaints
- 2,754
- Recall campaigns
- 79
- Crashes reported
- 62
- Fires reported
- 51
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Best | 0 | 52 | 1 | 2 | 10 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2011 | Good | 47 | 186 | 6 | 3 | 14 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2012 | Good | 40 | 183 | 7 | 2 | 16 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2013 | Best | 7 | 86 | 1 | 4 | 13 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2014 | Best | 13 | 98 | 4 | 1 | 5 | Steering | — | — |
| 2015 | Caution | 60 | 208 | 3 | 7 | 3 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2016 | Avoid | 80 | 208 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | — | — |
| 2017 | Avoid | 93 | 573 | 7 | 6 | 13 | Steering | — | — |
| 2018 | Caution | 73 | 201 | 1 | 5 | 9 | Steering | — | — |
| 2019 | Avoid | 100 | 466 | 9 | 6 | 11 | Steering | — | — |
| 2020 | Avoid | 87 | 188 | 7 | 3 | 15 | Transmission & Powertrain | — | — |
| 2021 | Good | 33 | 96 | 1 | 4 | 14 ! | Fuel System | — | — |
| 2022 | Caution | 67 | 110 | 2 | 1 | 17 ! | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2023 | Best | 20 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 15 ! | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2024 | Caution | 53 | 44 | 4 | 2 | 3 | Electrical System | — | — |
| 2025 | Good | 27 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 6 ! | Engine | — | — |
F-350 years to avoid: what went wrong
2019 Ford F-350 Index 100 · 466 complaints · 11 recalls
The 2019 F-350 has the highest complaint index of any year, at 100. Steering accounts for 57% of complaints at a median mileage of 20,000, and Suspension, Wheels & Tires account for 52% at a median mileage of 21,000. Owners reported rollovers, tailgates crushed while towing, and side airbags failing to deploy in a crash. NHTSA lists 11 recalls for this year, including one addressing owner's manual head restraint instructions and a rearview camera recall.
2019 steering problems →2019 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2019 structure & body problems →
2017 Ford F-350 Index 93 · 573 complaints · 13 recalls
The 2017 F-350 has the second-highest complaint index at 93. Steering issues make up 51% of complaints at a median mileage of 26,326, and Suspension, Wheels & Tires make up 47% at a median mileage of 24,826. Owners described trucks shaking violently on rough roads, electric tailgates opening on their own, and a fuel injector warning followed by smoke and fire from the engine compartment. NHTSA lists 13 recalls for 2017, including a driveshaft imbalance recall and a rearview camera degradation recall covering this model year.
2017 steering problems →2017 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2017 structure & body problems →
2020 Ford F-350 Index 87 · 188 complaints · 15 recalls
The 2020 F-350 has a complaint index of 87. Transmission & Powertrain complaints lead at 28% (median mileage 60,000), followed by Fuel System at 26% (median mileage 122,000). Owners reported brakes overheating and melting after a smoke odor filled the cabin, a truck rolling back out of park and hitting another vehicle, and a steering shaft coming apart while driving. NHTSA lists 15 recalls for 2020, including a steering column upper shaft detachment recall and a fuel system biodiesel deposit recall.
2020 transmission & powertrain problems →2020 fuel system problems →2020 steering problems →
2016 Ford F-350 Index 80 · 208 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2016 F-350 has a complaint index of 80, driven mostly by Suspension, Wheels & Tires (43% of complaints, median mileage 45,000) and Steering (37%, median mileage 40,000). Owners reported sudden loss of steering control leading to crashes, and an engine fire after a backfire-like noise under the hood. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this year, including a 2016 tire recall for improperly manufactured tires and a later steering wheel clock spring recall. Engine complaints (14%) centered around median mileage of 52,750 miles.
2016 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2016 steering problems →2016 engine problems →
Most common Ford F-350 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Steering1,103 (40%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1,057 (38%)
- Engine345 (13%)
- Fuel System296 (11%)
- Other268 (10%)
- Electrical System223 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain203 (7%)
- Structure & Body174 (6%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras113 (4%)
- Brakes106 (4%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Ford F-350 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020 Ford F-350. These years have complaint indexes of 80, 93, 100, and 87, the highest in the model's history, mostly tied to steering and suspension problems.
- What is the best year for the Ford F-350?
- The 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2023 F-350 are rated Best based on NHTSA data, with complaint indexes of 0, 7, 13, and 20 respectively, the lowest among all 16 model years covered.
- What is the most common problem on the Ford F-350?
- Across all years, Steering complaints make up 40% of total complaints and Suspension, Wheels & Tires make up 38%, out of 2,754 total complaints filed with NHTSA.
- Does the 2019 Ford F-350 have a steering recall?
- The 2019 F-350 is covered by NHTSA campaign 25V572000, a rearview camera recall, and shares a Fuel System recall (23V420000) related to owner's manual instructions; steering complaints for this year are high but tracked separately in owner complaint data, not a dedicated 2019 steering recall.
- Is the 2017 Ford F-350 reliable?
- The 2017 F-350 has a complaint index of 93, the second-highest of all years, with 573 total complaints and 13 recalls, making it one of the years to avoid relative to other F-350 model years.