YearToAvoid

2008 Ford F-350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

85/100

#4 most-complained of 21 F-350 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Ford F-350 has 232 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 85 out of 100 — #4 highest of 21 F-350 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (86 complaints, 37% of the total). Complaints report 14 crashes, 13 fires, and 10 injuries.

Complaints
232
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
14 / 13
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2008 Ford F-350 problems

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

  1. Engine86 (37%)
  2. Steering72 (31%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires53 (23%)
  4. Fuel System24 (10%)
  5. Brakes23 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain14 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body11 (5%)
  8. Electrical System10 (4%)
  9. Airbags5 (2%)
  10. Other5 (2%)
2008 Ford F-350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter152007 Q32009 Q42011 Q42013 Q42015 Q42017 Q42020 Q12023 Q2
307 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2007 Q3 to 2026 Q1; peak 2014 Q2 (15).

2008 Ford F-350 recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 09V026000Jan 26, 2009Other108 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Comm trans is recalling 108 my 2005-2008 ford e250 and e350 vans built on ford chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift system accessible for motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.

    Risk: A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.

    Remedy: Comm trans is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or comm trans at 901-726-9394.

  2. NHTSA 09V025000Jan 23, 2009Other111 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Comm trans is recalling 111 my 2005-2008 ford e250 and e350 vans built on ford chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations on motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

    Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

    Remedy: Comm trans is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or comm trans at 901-726-9394.

  3. NHTSA 08V344000Jul 28, 2008Structure & Body108 vehicles

    Trailer hitches

    Knapheide is recalling 108 my 2006-2008 pro series truck beds equipped with an icc bumper which included a provision for a ball hitch. There may be an insufficient weld attaching the hitch channel to the supporting structure.

    Risk: This could result in bending of the hitch channel or the hitch could be pulled off the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Knapheide will offer two remedies to its customers: (1) for those customers who do not use the hitch, the hitch will be removed from the truck bed and replaced with an icc bumper; or (2) for those customers who need a hitch, a receiver hitch assembly will be added to the existing hitch assembly and all suspect weld joints will be re welded. The recall began on august 15, 2008. Owners may contact knapheide at 1-877-473-5763.

See all 8 recalls for the 2008 Ford F-350 →

2008 compared with other F-350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid752723—
2007Best0613—
2008Avoid852328—
2009Best10479—
2010Best55210—

All Ford F-350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Ford F-350 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Ford F-350 ranks #4 of 21 among F-350 model years (Complaint Index 85/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 232 complaints and 8 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford F-350?
The most reported problem areas are engine (86 complaints), steering (72 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (53 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 54,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford F-350, most recently reported 2009, covering other, structure & body, fuel system, and airbags.

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.