Total Complaints
175 filings
FORD F-250 SD · model year
175 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008FORDF-250 SD carries 175 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 4 fires, 3 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 2008 F-250 SD is steering with 37 filings, followed by tires (11) and engine (9). 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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2008 F-250 SD, 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.
Total Complaints
175 filings
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 37 |
| TIRES | 11 |
| ENGINE | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | 7 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| SUSPENSION | 4 |
EQUIPMENT
TRUXXX IS RECALLING 338 AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT WELDED 3" LIFT BLOCKS FOR REAR SUSPENSIONS, PART NO. 206073, INCLUDED IN SUSPENSION KIT NOS. 108035 AND 108036, SOLD BETWEEN JULY 26, 2007 AND MARCH 4, 2008, FOR USE ON FORD MY 2005-2008 F-250 SUPERDUTY 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. COMPRESSIVE FORCES OF THE WELD
STEERING
Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC (Icon) is recalling all 05-UP FSD 2.5 Centerline Stabilizer Kits with part number 65050. The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, p
HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. HAD THE AIR CHARGE COOLER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT AROUND 70,000 MILES. THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING AS WELL BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT AND WANTED 1400.00 TO REPLACE. WAS LOSING COOLANT AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 GALLON A WEEK GOING THRU THE AIR CHARGE COOLER AND OUT THE EXHAUST. AT 89,000 MILES I HAD TO PAY $1947.00 TO REPLACE BOTH THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONAL EGR COOLERS. AGAIN, DUMPING A GALLON OF COOLANT INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM A WEEK CAUSING SEVER SMOKING AND POLLUTANTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT THOUSANDS OR PROBABLY MILLIONS OF F-250 AND OTHERS WITH THE 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE. FORD REFUSED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO A TOTAL RECALL ON THESE ILL DESIGNED TRUCKS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH TURNING THEIR HEAD ON THIS DESIGN FLAW AND NOT MADE TO CORRECT THE AIR CHARGED COOLERS, PLASTIC RADIATORS AND THE EGR COOLERS.
WE OWN A 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK WITH BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A TIRES. ON OR ABOUT 7/5/15, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE DEVELOPED TREAD FAILURE AS A PORTION OF THE TIRE TREAD BEGAN PEELING OFF WHILE TRAVELLING ON I-75. A SPARE TIRE WAS PUT ON AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND A WARRANTY CLAIM WAS SUBMITTED AS IT WAS STILL UNDER TREAD WARRANTY. ON OR ABOUT 8/21/15, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON I-95, WHICH CAUSED NEARLY $3000.00 IN DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A TIRES BUT NOT FOR THE 20 INCH TIRES WHICH ARE THE ONES DESCRIBED HERE. WE FEEL THAT THE 20 INCH TIRES NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR POSSIBLE RECALL AS WELL. THESE TIRES ONLY HAD 37,667 MILES ON THEM AND WERE PURCHASED NEW FROM FORD ON 7/23/12. THIS TIRE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH COULD OF LEAD TO DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED/INFLA
SOME TIMES THE FIRST GEAR LIGHT WILL COME ON DURING DRIVING NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY
SOME TIMES THE FIRST GEAR LIGHT WILL COME ON DURING DRIVING NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AND EXPERIENCED A DEATH WOBBLE. THE DEALER (RAY'S FORD, INC., 385 BY PASS RD, BRANDENBURG, KY 40108, (270) 422-4901) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT MAY NEED TO BE SCHEDULED. IT HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO SPECIAL FIELD SERVICE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09L02 TO PREVENT SHIMMIES. THE VEHICLE WAS HAULING A TRAILER OVER UNLEVELED LAND DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AND EXPERIENCED A DEATH WOBBLE. THE DEALER (RAY'S FORD, INC., 385 BY PASS RD, BRANDENBURG, KY 40108, (270) 422-4901) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT MAY NEED TO BE SCHEDULED. IT HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO SPECIAL FIELD SERVICE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09L02 TO PREVENT SHIMMIES. THE VEHICLE WAS HAULING A TRAILER OVER UNLEVELED LAND DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
AT APPROXIMATELY 3 PM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2018, MY 2008 F-250 SD 4WD TRUCK EXPERIENCED AN ABRUPT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A BUSY INTERSTATE CORRIDOR WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHILE IN 2WD MODE. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, A DULL RUMBLE COULD BE HEARD, WHICH RAPIDLY AMPLIFIED TO A LOUD ROAR. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY JOLTED BY A THUNDEROUS EXPLOSION THAT EMANATED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE TRUCK SHOOK VIOLENTLY AS I PULLED OVER ONTO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. AS THE TRUCK LURCHED FORWARD HESITANTLY, A CLOUD OF THICK SMOKE BILLOWED OUT FROM BELOW THE TRUCK NEAR THE FRONT DOORS. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS POURING OUT THE TRANSFER CASE, WHOSE EXTERIOR WALL HAD LITERALLY BEEN RIPPED APART. LARGE GEAR COMPONENTS FROM THE TRANSFER CASE WERE STREWN ALONG THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. THE EXPLOSION WITHIN THE TRANSFER CASE CAUSED SEVERAL IN
Mileage: 52,500
I EXPERIENCED "DEATH WOBBLE" 3 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS AFTER HITTING A BUMP ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65 MPH EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH OR BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED.
Mileage: 141,000
I EXPERIENCED "DEATH WOBBLE" 3 TIMES IN TWO WEEKS AFTER HITTING A BUMP ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65 MPH EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH OR BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED.
Mileage: 141,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (SUMMERS AUTOMOTIVE) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15E014000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 170,000
WHEN SHIFTING THE TRUCK FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE TRUCK RANDOMLY WENT FULL THROTTLE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN. IN ANOTHER CASE IT ALSO HAS WENT FULL THROTTLE WHEN MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTING INTO PARK.
Mileage: 150,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED EACH TIME WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BRAKE FLUID, BUT WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Mileage: 120,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED EACH TIME WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND BRAKE FLUID, BUT WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Mileage: 120,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE NUMBER EIGHT CYLINDER WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Mileage: 125,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT SUNK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE ELECTRIC BRAKE FROM A TRAILER BEING TOWED BY THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE RELEASE SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. UPDATED 09/22/16*LJ UPDATED 10/6/2017*JS
Mileage: 51,000
TIRE SEPARATION - FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES WERE REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON UNDER A RECALL.
Mileage: 35,000
I WAS BACKING UP IN THE PARKING AREA OF MY HOUSE IN MY 2008 F250 (DIESEL), AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND CHANGE DIRECTION. AS I STARTED BRAKING, THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING BACKWARD, AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP MOVING BACKWARD. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE PROBLEM STOPPED. I THEN CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE VEHICLE HAD 37,060 MILES.
Mileage: 37,060
I WAS BACKING UP IN THE PARKING AREA OF MY HOUSE IN MY 2008 F250 (DIESEL), AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND CHANGE DIRECTION. AS I STARTED BRAKING, THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING BACKWARD, AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP MOVING BACKWARD. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE PROBLEM STOPPED. I THEN CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE VEHICLE HAD 37,060 MILES.
Mileage: 37,060
I WAS BACKING UP IN THE PARKING AREA OF MY HOUSE IN MY 2008 F250 (DIESEL), AND APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP AND CHANGE DIRECTION. AS I STARTED BRAKING, THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING BACKWARD, AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP MOVING BACKWARD. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE PROBLEM STOPPED. I THEN CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE VEHICLE HAD 37,060 MILES.
Mileage: 37,060
TIRE SEPARATION - FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES WERE REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON UNDER A RECALL.
Mileage: 80,000
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.