Ford F-350 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Ford F-350 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1998 drew the fewest (12) and the 1999 the most (413).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
12 | 1 | Tires | — | — |
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
28 | 2 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2007 Among the fewest complaints |
36 | 3 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2013 | 76 | 1 | Steering | — | — |
| 2003 | 90 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2014 | 91 | 0 | Steering | — | — |
| 1994 | 95 | 5 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 2005 | 114 | 3 | Steering | — | — |
| 2002 | 116 | 2 | Tires | — | — |
| 1996 | 130 | 3 | Tires | — | — |
| 2008 | 131 | 8 | Steering | — | — |
| 1995 | 134 | 2 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 2011 | 136 | 4 | Steering | — | — |
| 2006 | 145 | 3 | Steering | — | — |
| 2012 | 149 | 4 | Steering | — | — |
| 1997 | 155 | 3 | Service brakes | — | — |
| 2004 | 159 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
160 | 5 | Tires | — | — |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
304 | 4 | Tires | — | — |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
413 | 12 | Tires | — | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Ford F-350 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1999 Ford F-350: 413 complaints
Most-reported: Tires 93 (23%); Service brakes 67 (16%); Power train 64 (15%).
Reports mention 46 crashes, 9 fires, 26 injuries, 3 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 108,000 miles. 12 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Ford F-350: 304 complaints
Most-reported: Tires 114 (38%); Steering 44 (14%); Service brakes 39 (13%).
Reports mention 36 crashes, 9 fires, 41 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 82,000 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2001 Ford F-350: 160 complaints
Most-reported: Tires 31 (19%); Steering 28 (18%); Service brakes 23 (14%).
Reports mention 21 crashes, 11 fires, 12 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 72,000 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
The Ford F-350 years with the fewest complaints
1998 Ford F-350: 12 complaints
Most-reported: Tires 4 (33%); Air bags 1 (8%); Engine and engine cooling 1 (8%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury, 2 deaths. 1 recall campaign listed.
2009 Ford F-350: 28 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 18 (64%); Steering 14 (50%); Wheels 5 (18%).
Reports mention 1 crash. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 116,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2007 Ford F-350: 36 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 12 (33%); Steering 8 (22%); Electrical system 4 (11%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 58,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Ford F-350 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 91 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 73,000 |
| 2013 | 76 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 79,000 |
| 2012 | 149 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 90,000 |
| 2011 | 136 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 61,000 |
| 2009 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 116,000 |
| 2008 | 131 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 67,532 |
| 2007 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 58,000 |
| 2006 | 145 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 60,000 |
| 2005 | 114 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 81,000 |
| 2004 | 159 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 50,047 |
| 2003 | 90 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 43,000 |
| 2002 | 116 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 66,000 |
| 2001 | 160 | 21 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 72,000 |
| 2000 | 304 | 36 | 9 | 41 | 0 | 82,000 |
| 1999 | 413 | 46 | 9 | 26 | 3 | 108,000 |
| 1998 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 1997 | 155 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 115,000 |
| 1996 | 130 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 106,000 |
| 1995 | 134 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 130,000 |
| 1994 | 95 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Ford F-350 recalls
- FORD/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION (1988–1991 model years; 7,900,000 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1996; 96V071000)
- SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (1993 model year; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2007; 07V336000)
- FUEL:FUEL LINES:METALLIC (1986–1987 model years; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1987; 87V139000)
- FORD/TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLES (2001 model year; 1,400,000 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2001; 01V227001)
- SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/SUPPLEMENT (1994–2002 model years; 1,200,000 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2006; 06V286000)
All 83 Ford F-350 recall campaigns · Ford F-350 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Ford F-350 years FAQ
Which Ford F-350 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1998 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (12). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Ford F-350 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1999, 2000 and 2001 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the steering. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Ford F-350 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the steering (522 of 2,674 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Ford F-350 have?
NHTSA lists 83 recall campaigns covering the Ford F-350. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Ford F-350 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.