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2010 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
24%
27 of 113 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2010 Ford F-250. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 24% of relevant complaints.

Better than 81% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2010 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 27 of 113 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 27%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
27
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
113
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
4 crashes · 6 injuries

Complaints by component

STEERING44 · 39%
SUSPENSION38 · 34%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11 · 10%
ENGINE11 · 10%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11 · 10%
FUEL SYSTEM8 · 7%

The years either side

2010
24%
27 of 113
2011
27%
99 of 370
2012
27%
85 of 323
2013
27%
28 of 116
2014
19%
32 of 168
2015
24%
72 of 297
2016
20%
51 of 289
2017
8%
91 of 1,155
2018
10%
38 of 397
2019
8%
87 of 1,158
2020
46%
116 of 263
2021
29%
45 of 165
2022
39%
48 of 127
2023
38%
15 of 43

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ENGINE02/18/2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THERE WAS OIL LEAKING ON THE GROUND. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE EXHAUST STACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EMPIRE FORD OF NEW BEDFORD (395 MT PLEASANT ST, NEW BEDFORD, MA 02746, (833) 344-1937) TO BE DIAGN…
ENGINE02/17/2021
FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY KING RANCH (2010) WITH A 6.4 POWERSTROKE ENGINE. THE 3RD CYLINDER BLEW UP AND THE PISTON CAME APART AND SCARRED THE CYLINDER WALL UP. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE NEW EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT THAT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE TO FORCE DIESELS TO HAVE TO PASS SMOG. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A…
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11/16/2020
DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY IN GEORGIA VEHICLE SHUT DOWN APPROXIMATELY 90 MILES AFTER GETTING GAS. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS GAS IN THE DIESEL FUEL TANK WHICH RESULTED IN BLOWN ENGINE. STATE FARM WAS CALLED, AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS THEY TOOK SAMPLES AND CLAIMED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF GAS. THEY CLAIMED THE…

Three of 27 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Before you buy a 2010 Ford F-250

Questions people ask about the 2010 Ford F-250

Does the 2010 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 27 of 113 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Ford F-250?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2010 Ford F-250.

Which Ford F-250 years are better?

Among the Ford F-250 years we track, the 2017 (8%), the 2019 (8%) and the 2018 (10%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2010 (24%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2010 Ford F-250?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2010 Ford F-250 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.