Ford F-250: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Ford F-250 problems by model year, from 4,984 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (sold as the F-250 Super Duty). For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2020 (46%, 116 drivetrain complaints), 2022 (39%, 48 drivetrain complaints) and 2023 (38%, 15 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 14 Ford F-250 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2019 (8%), 2017 (8%) and 2018 (10%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2019 (8%) to 2020 (46%), up 38 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2020 drew the most drivetrain complaints (116 of 834 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Ford F-250 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 F-250 | no elevated signal | 24% | 27 | 113 | 9/14 | 0 |
| 2011 F-250 | no elevated signal | 27% | 99 | 370 | 5/14 | 2 |
| 2012 F-250 | no elevated signal | 27% | 85 | 323 | 6/14 | 1 |
| 2013 F-250 | no elevated signal | 27% | 28 | 116 | 7/14 | 0 |
| 2014 F-250 | no elevated signal | 19% | 32 | 168 | 11/14 | 0 |
| 2015 F-250 | no elevated signal | 24% | 72 | 297 | 8/14 | 5 |
| 2016 F-250 | no elevated signal | 20% | 51 | 289 | 10/14 | 4 |
| 2017 F-250 | no elevated signal | 8% | 91 | 1,155 | 13/14 | 2 |
| 2018 F-250 | no elevated signal | 10% | 38 | 397 | 12/14 | 1 |
| 2019 F-250 | no elevated signal | 8% | 87 | 1,158 | 14/14 | 16 |
| 2020 F-250 | high | 46% | 116 | 263 | 1/14 | 1 |
| 2021 F-250 | no elevated signal | 29% | 45 | 165 | 4/14 | 13 |
| 2022 F-250 | elevated | 39% | 48 | 127 | 2/14 | 17 |
| 2023 F-250 | elevated | 38% | 15 | 43 | 3/14 | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Ford F-250 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Ford F-250 engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns on the Ford F-250 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 43 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2011 | 11V582000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2012 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V204000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2015 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V802000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2019 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V894000 | engine | 2017–2019 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V278000 | engine | 2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V688000 | power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 2019 |
| Sep 2020 | 20V576000 | power train: axle assembly | 2019 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V013000 | fuel system, diesel | 2021 |
| Dec 2024 | 24V957000 | fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump | 2021–2022 |
| Jul 2025 | 25V455000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2021–2022 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V158000 | fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump | 2021–2022 |
32 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | 10V659000 | structure: body | 2011 |
| Feb 2011 | 11V128000 | electrical system: software | 2011 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V246000 | tires: sidewall | 2016 |
| May 2017 | 17V331000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2017 |
| May 2019 | 19V401000 | equipment | 2015 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V633000 | seats: front assembly: recliner | 2019–2020 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V808000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2019 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V864000 | latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch | 2019 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V880000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2019 |
| Dec 2020 | 20E090000 | steering | 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V090000 | visibility: windshield: critical fasteners | 2021 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V155000 | tires | 2019 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V805000 | air bags: sensor: side impact | 2022 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V923000 | air bags | 2022 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V087000 | structure: frame and members: underbody shields | 2019, 2021, 2022 |
| Mar 2022 | 22V193000 | electrical system: integrated trailer brake control | 2022 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V250000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2021–2022 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V252000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| May 2022 | 22V337000 | air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette | 2016 |
| May 2022 | 22V384000 | equipment: other: labels | 2022 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V644000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V420000 | equipment: other: owners/service/other manual | 2019, 2021, 2022 |
| Jan 2025 | 25V048000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2021–2022 |
| Feb 2025 | 25V132000 | electrical system: integrated trailer brake control | 2022 |
| Apr 2025 | 25V270000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2015 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V442000 | back over prevention: software | 2021–2022 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V572000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2015, 2016, 2019 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V626000 | steering: column | 2021 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V686000 | back over prevention: software | 2021–2022 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V729000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2022 |
| Feb 2026 | 26V104000 | electrical system: integrated trailer brake control | 2022 |
| Mar 2026 | 26V204000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2022 |
What the free pages leave out on the Ford F-250
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Ford F-250
What are the worst years for the Ford F-250?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Ford F-250 years are the 2020 (46% of relevant complaints, high), the 2022 (39% of relevant complaints, elevated) and the 2023 (38% of relevant complaints, elevated). 3 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Ford F-250?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Ford F-250 years are the 2019 (8%), the 2017 (8%) and the 2018 (10%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Ford F-250 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 834 of 4,931 relevant NHTSA complaints (17%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Ford F-250 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 14 Ford F-250 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 11 do not. Pooled across those years, 17% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Ford F-250?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Ford F-250 years we track, out of 43 in total: 24V957000 (Dec 2024, 2021–2022), 25V455000 (Jul 2025, 2021–2022), 26V158000 (Mar 2026, 2021–2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.