FORD F-250 · model year

2016 FORD F-250

419 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2016FORDF-250 carries 419 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 5 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 F-250 is steering with 112 filings, followed by suspension (104) and unknown or other (35). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2016 F-250, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

419
Complaints
9
Crashes
5
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

419 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING112
SUSPENSION104
UNKNOWN OR OTHER35
AIR BAGS34
ENGINE25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM16
WHEELS14
POWER TRAIN12
VISIBILITY/WIPER6
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL6
BACK OVER PREVENTION4
STRUCTURE:BODY3
SERVICE BRAKES3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3

Recent Complaints

20260211BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention system was inoperable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20260126CrashAIR BAGS

The contact's former employer owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while exiting the freeway at 45-50 MPH around a bend, the steering wheel failed to move and crashed into a tree. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags). The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that he sustained injuries to his hand, and medical attention was provided the next day at the emergency room. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to his employer's yard. The contact called an unknown local dealer. The contact was unaware whether the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20260126CrashSTEERING

The contact's former employer owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while exiting the freeway at 45-50 MPH around a bend, the steering wheel failed to move and crashed into a tree. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags). The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that he sustained injuries to his hand, and medical attention was provided the next day at the emergency room. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to his employer's yard. The contact called an unknown local dealer. The contact was unaware whether the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20251106BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a white screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The message to "Contact Your Local Dealer" was displayed on the instrument panel. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove over a speed bump or pothole, and the steering wheel vibrated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact used force to control the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that an alignment was performed, and an unknown repair to the exterior lighting was also

20251106STEERING

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a white screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The message to "Contact Your Local Dealer" was displayed on the instrument panel. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove over a speed bump or pothole, and the steering wheel vibrated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact used force to control the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that an alignment was performed, and an unknown repair to the exterior lighting was also

20251029POWER TRAIN

Vehicle goes to different gear randomly while driving will go into fifth gear when taking off first thing during first start up of the day.

20251023BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera failure warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the error message instructed the contact to reach out to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,611.

Mileage: 14,611

20251016BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the rearview camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the camera occasionally displayed a blank or distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20251001STEERING

Ford F250 “death wobble”. I believe there’s a recall for 2017-20?? But the recall needs to be expanded to include 2016 models. I have had this issue twice. Very very dangerous!

20251001SUSPENSION

Ford F250 “death wobble”. I believe there’s a recall for 2017-20?? But the recall needs to be expanded to include 2016 models. I have had this issue twice. Very very dangerous!

20250901STEERING

DEATH WOBBLE FRONT SHOCKS, STEERING DAMPNER AND NEW MICHELIN TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND HAVE TO BRING SPEED DOWN TO GET BACK UNDER CONTROL.

20250901SUSPENSION

DEATH WOBBLE FRONT SHOCKS, STEERING DAMPNER AND NEW MICHELIN TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND HAVE TO BRING SPEED DOWN TO GET BACK UNDER CONTROL.

20250829FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

On [XXX], I was driving westbound on [XXX], between Kerrville and Junction, Texas. I noticed a diesel fuel smell and pulled off the highway to investigate the source. Upon stopping, fire erupted from the engine compartment and quickly spread to the front dashboard and front passenger seating area. No warning lamps, no high temp or abnormal gage levels. The Mountain Home, TX volunteer fire dept arrived about 30 minutes after we called 911 and extinguished the remaining flames. They commented that a cracked / failed secondary fuel filter housing could be to blame. My insurer, State Farm, under claim #[XXX], now has possession of the vehicle remains. I told State Farm that NHTSA opened an investigation into possible fuel filter housing failures / fires. I do not know what their intentions are with the vehicle remains. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20250804FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the driveway at the residence and became aware of an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that an unknown dealer was contacted and informed the contact that a fuel system upgrade was available; however, the vehicle was not upgraded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 212,000.

Mileage: 212,000

20250801FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced reduced power and poor fuel efficiency. The messages "DPF System Overloaded" and "Exhaust System Fault - 50 Miles Until Speed Restrict" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on four separate occasions. The dealer performed a manual regeneration three times, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was determined that the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 20M06 (Diesel Particulate Filter Warranty Extension with Diagnostic Trouble Code P2002) and Emission Recall Number: 20E08 (Extended Idle Diesel Particulate Filter Calibration); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mile

Mileage: 66,634

20250721AIR BAGS

We called our local Ford dealership, Matthew Ford of Pryor (Oklahoma) and made an appointment for the safety recall of replacing the clock spring. They proceeded to attempt the replacement and in the process damaged the steering column module, part no. GC3Z3F791KA. We are now being told that Ford does not have the necessary steering column module part and nobody manufactures it for our trim level, Platinum. Consequently, our truck is not able to be fixed and returned to us in the same condition it was given to the dealership. It is still at the dealership, in pieces. We dropped it off on March 27th, 2025.

20250721STEERING

We called our local Ford dealership, Matthew Ford of Pryor (Oklahoma) and made an appointment for the safety recall of replacing the clock spring. They proceeded to attempt the replacement and in the process damaged the steering column module, part no. GC3Z3F791KA. We are now being told that Ford does not have the necessary steering column module part and nobody manufactures it for our trim level, Platinum. Consequently, our truck is not able to be fixed and returned to us in the same condition it was given to the dealership. It is still at the dealership, in pieces. We dropped it off on March 27th, 2025.

20250721ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

We called our local Ford dealership, Matthew Ford of Pryor (Oklahoma) and made an appointment for the safety recall of replacing the clock spring. They proceeded to attempt the replacement and in the process damaged the steering column module, part no. GC3Z3F791KA. We are now being told that Ford does not have the necessary steering column module part and nobody manufactures it for our trim level, Platinum. Consequently, our truck is not able to be fixed and returned to us in the same condition it was given to the dealership. It is still at the dealership, in pieces. We dropped it off on March 27th, 2025.

20250702ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the vehicle had been inoperable for some time after being purchased. While having the transmission replaced, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 203,542; however, it was discovered that the actual mileage was 372,958 during the repair.

Mileage: 372,958

20250531STEERING

While driving, when bumps are ran over sudden violent shaking of front end and steering wheel occur. Steering stabilizer and worn front rt 4 wheel drive universal joint replaced with problem continuing to occur.

Compare 2016FORDF-250 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2016 FORD F-250 have?
The 2016 FORD F-250 has 419 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 5 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 FORD F-250?
The most-complained component for the 2016 FORD F-250 is STEERING with 112 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2016 FORD F-250 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.