2016 Ford F-250 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Ford F-250. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 20% of relevant complaints.
Better than 87% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 39 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 18%).
Looking at a specific F-250?Check its VIN: the full report, quotes about its own engine, and whether its recalls are still open. First report free.
Check a VINDoes the 2016 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 51 of 250 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 24% and the 2017 scores 8%. 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.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
Three of 51 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Ford F-250?
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 Ford F-250, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Before you buy a 2016 Ford F-250
- No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
- 4 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
- Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2016 Ford F-250
Does the 2016 Ford F-250 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 51 of 250 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford F-250 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (20%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Ford F-250?
No. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2016 Ford F-250, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
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 2016 (20%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2016 Ford F-250?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2016 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.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental 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 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.