FORD F-350 · model year

2008 FORD F-350

176 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008FORDF-350 carries 176 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 12 fires, 15 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-350 is steering with 47 filings, followed by engine (18) and engine and engine cooling (15). 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 7 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-350, 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.

176
Complaints
12
Crashes
12
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

176 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING47
ENGINE18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING15
SUSPENSION14
SERVICE BRAKES9
STRUCTURE:BODY6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL5
WHEELS5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM4
TIRES4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3

Recalls (7)

08V34400028/07/2008

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.

08V09600028/02/2008

SEATS

FORD IS RECALLING 87,515 MY 2008 F250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." SOME 40% SPLIT AND CAPTAIN'S CHAIR DRIVER'S SEATS, EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORTS, MAY HAVE IMPROPER WELDS AT

07V14000026/03/2007

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE OF THE BATTERY POSITIVE (B+) WIRE TO THE RIGHT HAND SPLASH SHIELD BOLT MAY RESULT IN THE BATTERY B+ WIRE CONTACTING THE SPLASH SHIELD BOLT.

07V13900026/03/2007

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES IN THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY RESULT FROM EXCESS HYDROCARBONS IN THE EXHAUST.

08V19100025/04/2008

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FORD IS RECALLING 64,754 MY 2008 F-250 AND F-350 SINGLE REAR WHEEL, 4X4, 156 INCH WHEEL BASE PICK UP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO PIECE DRIVE SHAFT FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE FUEL SPILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." DURING A 30 MPH FRON

07V54100021/11/2007

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

11T00200015/03/2011

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONTINENTAL TIRE IS RECALLING CERTAIN CONTITRAC TR TIRES, SIZE LT275/70R18 125/122S OUTLINE WHITE LETTERS AND BLACK SIDEWALL, AND CONTITRAC, SIZE LT275/70R18 125/122S, BLACK SIDEWALL, PRODUCED FROM MAY 6, 2007, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20, 2008, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET AND INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON SO

Recent Complaints

20260117FireSTRUCTURE:BODY

Items in my bed and liner caught on fire. Engine regeneration for emissions got so hot melted all of the bed liner and caught a new large tv on fire. Ford has a glue on heat shield under bed which fell off. Exhaust gets so hot it caught on fire. They should have put a metal fixed plate or something fixed no a cheap glue on piece of foil. I inspected other trucks all missing!

20260117FireENGINE

Items in my bed and liner caught on fire. Engine regeneration for emissions got so hot melted all of the bed liner and caught a new large tv on fire. Ford has a glue on heat shield under bed which fell off. Exhaust gets so hot it caught on fire. They should have put a metal fixed plate or something fixed no a cheap glue on piece of foil. I inspected other trucks all missing!

20260117FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

Items in my bed and liner caught on fire. Engine regeneration for emissions got so hot melted all of the bed liner and caught a new large tv on fire. Ford has a glue on heat shield under bed which fell off. Exhaust gets so hot it caught on fire. They should have put a metal fixed plate or something fixed no a cheap glue on piece of foil. I inspected other trucks all missing!

20260113ENGINE

I have had multiple incidents of my truck shutting off completely while driving. The latest incident resulted in a "catastrophic engine failure". In the latest incident occurring in April 2025, I was driving on [XXX] . [XXX] is a two-lane highway with no divider, navigating through mountainous terrain. I was driving up a hilly area when my truck shut off, and I lost all power steering. There is no shoulder on this part of the freeway, with an approximate 40-foot embankment. I was able to navigate the vehicle to the side of the road and position it just before the beginning of a guard rail beginning allowing me some grace. Due to no shoulder space, I was effectively parked on the white containment line of the road. I had my [XXX] daughter and wife in the car. I had to wait for a break in traffic to be able to open the driver's door due to the proximity to the active highway. I was safely get the truck towed to the nearest FORD dealership, where it was determined the engine w

20250514ENGINE

Vehicle died while driving on the freeway. Towed to the local Ford who did a diagnostic and test they found that the engine is completely done with as there was an engine oil overfill, and it filled the CAC system and melted cylinder eight piston. they’re saying that they will need to replace the entire engine and HP fuel pump in order to repair and I see many others have experienced this same problem.

20250514FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Vehicle died while driving on the freeway. Towed to the local Ford who did a diagnostic and test they found that the engine is completely done with as there was an engine oil overfill, and it filled the CAC system and melted cylinder eight piston. they’re saying that they will need to replace the entire engine and HP fuel pump in order to repair and I see many others have experienced this same problem.

20250301FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

Items inside bed caught on fire due to exhaust cleaning system getting so hot to burn off pollution in DPF pipe. Dangerous truck to drive contacted ford. No one contacted me. Other ford diesels caught on fire due to this. I’m retired military and don’t have money to buy 50k trucks. Only 80k on truck.

20230720SUSPENSION

Death wobble. First experience was September 2019

20230720STEERING

Death wobble. First experience was September 2019

20230524SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-350. The contact stated that on several occasions while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the contact noticed a burning odor throughout the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear driver’s and passenger’s side wheels inadvertently locked without warning then released. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the brake pedal and plunger rod was replaced with a longer plunger rod; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that he had to applied pressure to the brake pedal that was depressed down to the floorboard. As a result, the vehicle glided to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that brake pedal and the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred

Mileage: 70,000

20230524SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-350. The contact stated that on several occasions while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the contact noticed a burning odor throughout the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear driver’s and passenger’s side wheels inadvertently locked without warning then released. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the brake pedal and plunger rod was replaced with a longer plunger rod; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that he had to applied pressure to the brake pedal that was depressed down to the floorboard. As a result, the vehicle glided to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that brake pedal and the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred

Mileage: 70,000

20230524SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-350. The contact stated that on several occasions while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the contact noticed a burning odor throughout the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear driver’s and passenger’s side wheels inadvertently locked without warning then released. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the brake pedal and plunger rod was replaced with a longer plunger rod; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that he had to applied pressure to the brake pedal that was depressed down to the floorboard. As a result, the vehicle glided to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that brake pedal and the brake master cylinder needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred

Mileage: 70,000

20230213STEERING

Steering went out , wouldn’t return to center

20211023STEERING

Power steering pump replaced with new unit. Major steering issues. Will not turn at some points. Almost caused 3 accidents on 10/22/2021. Have had front end and power steering pump replaced.

20210530STEERING

Death wobble and learned about class action after I had front end repaired with complete overhaul ball joints etc in January 2018 ($2100 plus dollars) by my mechanic. May 16, 2021 experienced 3 incidents of death wobble in Oklahoma City enroute toTulsa, Oklahoma. See my mechanic on June 1, 2021.

20210513STEERING

ON INTERSTATE PASSING IN LEFT LANE HIT A ROUGH PATCH TRUCKS STARTS SHAKING SO BAD I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO FLIP. COULD NOT GET TO SHOULDER SO HAD TO GO IN THE MEDIAM IT WAS NOT A FLAT SPOT IT WAS A HILL SO I WENT STRAIGHT AND NOT AT AN ANGLE IF I HAD I WOULD OF FLIPPED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME. IFRIST TIME I HAD APPROX $3000.00 OF FRONT IN WORK DONE TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT.

Mileage: 200,000

20210407SUSPENSION

DEATH WOBBLE-ERRATIC DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 10,900

20210407WHEELS

DEATH WOBBLE-ERRATIC DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 10,900

20210406FireENGINE

WE WERE HAULING A LOAD OF LOGS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE TRUCK DOWN SHIFTED AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. WE HAD TO TRY TO GET OFF THE ROAD WHERE WE WERE THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OFF AND FINALLY COULD SWING INTO A STATE GAMESLAND AND SOMEONE CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. I AM NOW OUT OF A TRUCK I JUST PURCHASED 2 MONTHS AGO AND MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T EVEN SHOWING UP

Mileage: 200,000

20210211STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO NEARLY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE FAILURES, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER TAYLOR MOTOR COMPANY LOCATED AT 524 RUSS AVE, WAYNESVILLE, NC 28786 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

Mileage: 211,000

Compare 2008FORDF-350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 FORD F-350 have?
The 2008 FORD F-350 has 176 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 12 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 FORD F-350?
Yes, the 2008 FORD F-350 has 7 recall(s). The most common affected component is TRAILER HITCHES. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 FORD F-350?
The most-complained component for the 2008 FORD F-350 is STEERING with 47 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 2008 FORD F-350 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.