2008 Ford F-250: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2008 Ford F-250
On the 2008 Ford F-250, the failure owners report most often is other steering problem, and the reports cluster around 75,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other wheel or tire problem, reported by a median of 30,000 miles. Overall it scores 66 out of 100, high risk for a 2008.
High risk for a 2008 — 250th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. 255 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 50 named failure modes on the 2008 Ford F-250, and the three most-reported carry 40% of everything filed.
Other steering problem leads with 53 reports, about 0.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 45k to 130,000 miles.
Other suspension problem follows with 28 reports, usually reported between 57k to 175,000 miles.
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure follows with 20 reports, usually reported between 48k to 150,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into steering (89), suspension (29) and engine (27).
The mileage the reports cluster at
207 of the reports on the 2008 Ford F-250 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 75,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 36% by 50,000 miles, 60% by 100,000 miles and 82% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 19 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 40,000 and 50,000 miles, which alone holds 13% of the dated reports.
22% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
In the order they tend to show up: other wheel or tire problem around 31k, other brake problem around 36k, radiator or coolant leak around 68k and other steering problem around 76k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 50. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 19 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 11 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 3 an injury and 1 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.35, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other steering problem at $350–$2,400, other suspension problem at $350–$2,000, steering rack, gear or tie rod failure at $700–$2,600 and other wheel or tire problem at $200–$1,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
20% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other steering problem | steering | 53 | 45 | 45k | 76k | 130k | 0.5 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 28 | 23 | 57k | 109k | 173k | 0.3 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 20 | 19 | 48k | 77k | 148k | 0.2 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 15 | 8 | 23k | 31k | 81k | 0.2 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 14 | 11 | 38k | 96k | 122k | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 11 | 11 | 47k | 68k | 123k | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 9 | 8 | 21k | 36k | 100k | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 7 | 7 | — | 55k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 6 | 3 | — | 245k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 5 | 5 | — | 47k | — | 0.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 5 | 4 | — | 143k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 5 | 4 | — | 36k | — | 0.1 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 4 | 4 | — | 129k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 79k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 4 | 3 | — | 116k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 3 | 3 | — | 79k | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 60k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 3 | 3 | — | 28k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 3 | 3 | — | 300 | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 3 | 2 | — | 52k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 53k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 28k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 2 | 2 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 2 | 2 | — | 135k | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 2 | 2 | — | 190k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 130k | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 53k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 104k | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 251k | — | 0.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 14k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 75k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 307k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 42k | — | 0.0 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 110k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 44k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 69k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 46k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 1 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 111k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 40k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 10k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 11 | 7 | — | 164k | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2008 Ford F-250 draws about 2.6 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 78th percentile of complaint rates among 2008 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 97,664 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2008 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other steering problem
It happen about a month after I first got the truck. I was getting to a stop sign and the steering wheel and brakes locked, I wasn't able to turn at all and I had a really hard time braking, I had to use a lot of force to brake or to turn the wheel even a little. That happened 3 different time. At a stop sign and once at a turn light which was the worst cause I had to go straight into the opposite direction. That was all in a 2 weeks after the one month of having the truck. It was completely stock. After taking it to the dealer ship they said nothing was wrong and they couldn't do anything. 3 weeks later I bought so mud tires for it. And about 2 or 3 weeks later I started having trouble with the steering box. When id be at a stop or not moving at all, am not able to turn the wheels and it makes a weird sound when I turn the wheel. This still happens everytime time I drive when am stopping or just turned it on, anytime am not moving or steeping on the gas, am not able to turn the wheels. I took it shortly after it first happened and they test drove it and agreed something was wrong so the said they fix it. It took them a week to…
I have experienced an issue with my 2008 ford f-250 where I hit a bump on the interstate and experienced the steering wheel oscillating and front end wobbling both extremely doing 65mph andwas almost thrown into a semi truck twice the same night. I had just purchased this truck back in july but had not drove it on the interstate, actually I hadn't driven it much at all. It has low mileage and is all factory. I took it to the dealership and they told me this happens all the time also they stated that fords service recommends 75lbs tire pressure and that is all that is wrong with it. The trucks stickers recommendation is less than that. The wheels on my truck are stock factory and do not have low pressure sensors on them. I have researched several complaints on the internet about this issues and of accidents and injuries resulting from what is being called the "death wobble". I think this matter should be investigated and the problem fixed properly by ford, not patched with tire pressure. I pull a trailer sometimes with this truck. If this happened while pulling one I am sure I would have been seriously injured or killed as in other…
Other suspension problem
I was simply driving down the hwy and hit a small bump in the road, my truck began to shake uncontrollably and continued to do so until I slowed way down. I made it to the next exit and dropped it off at the local ford dealership. It startled me so much that I didn't want to drive it like it was. This is the third time this has happened but the first two times were not as extreme. The dealer so far has told me they think it is tire pressure but im not buying it.. I searched for recalls and found none but I found a lot of complaints about the same or similar problem. I don't know what the problem is but it is definately very dangerous and should be looked at for a possible recall. If there had been more traffic I could have caused an accident as it was a very violent shaking. *tr
I have experienced an issue with my 2008 ford f-250 where I hit a bump on the interstate and experienced the steering wheel oscillating and front end wobbling both extremely doing 65mph andwas almost thrown into a semi truck twice the same night. I had just purchased this truck back in july but had not drove it on the interstate, actually I hadn't driven it much at all. It has low mileage and is all factory. I took it to the dealership and they told me this happens all the time also they stated that fords service recommends 75lbs tire pressure and that is all that is wrong with it. The trucks stickers recommendation is less than that. The wheels on my truck are stock factory and do not have low pressure sensors on them. I have researched several complaints on the internet about this issues and of accidents and injuries resulting from what is being called the "death wobble". I think this matter should be investigated and the problem fixed properly by ford, not patched with tire pressure. I pull a trailer sometimes with this truck. If this happened while pulling one I am sure I would have been seriously injured or killed as in other…
Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford f-250 suprerduty diesel. The contact stated that the vehicle became very difficult to steer while driving 30 MPH. The contact inspected the vehicle and thought that the failure invovled the steering box and shaft. The vehicle had not been taken to the to the dealer, but the manufacturer had been notified. The failure mileage was 36,000. Updated 6/4/12 *cn
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford f-250 diesel. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the steering box malfunctioned causing him to lose control of the vehicle. The contact had to crash into a pole in order to bring the vehicle to a stop. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the steering gear box needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 29,000. *tr
Recalls on the 2008 model year
NHTSA has issued 6 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Ford F-250, affecting an estimated 160,477 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover tires:tread/belt, fuel system, gasoline:delivery, seats and air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
390,657 vehicles 2011-03-15- Defect
- 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 some model year 2008 and 2009 ford f-250 and f-350 trucks. Some of these tires may experience uneven wear, vibration, or particularly under conditions of overloading or under inflation in high ambient temperature usage, separation between the belt edges.
- Consequence
- Separation of the belt edges could lead to tread belt separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Continental tire will notify owners and replace the affected tires free of charge. The safety recall began on april 14, 2011. Owners may contact continental customer service toll-free at 1-888-799-2168.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
64,754 vehicles 2008-04-25- Defect
- 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 frontal impact into a rigid barrier, the fuel tank can move forward and contact a frame cross member, potentially causing damage to the fuel delivery module which can result in fuel spillage.
- Consequence
- Fuel spillage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a bracket on the affected vehicles free of charge. The recall began on may 23, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
SEATS
87,515 vehicles 2008-02-28- Defect
- 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 the joint of the seat back pivot bracket and the seat back frame.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, the seat side pivot bracket may crack or break, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
- Remedy
- Dealers will add a reinforcement to the driver's seat back frame on the 40% split or captain's chair seat equipped with lumbar support or, if necessary, the seat back frame will be replaced. The recall began on march 28, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
45 vehicles 2007-11-21- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- This condition may prevent the driver air bag from properly deploying and reduce occupant protection in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace your driver air bag module free of charge. The recall began on november 20, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1,022 vehicles 2007-03-26- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Long term contact could cause wire chafe, resulting in copper wire being exposed. If this condition occurs, the battery b+ wire could short to ground increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the battery b+ wire location and, if necessary, reposition the wire. The recall began on april 3, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
33,169 vehicles 2007-03-26- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Lack of power or rough operation, unusual noises from the engine or exhaust, white smoke from the exhaust, and potentially a visible flame out the tailpipe can occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the power train control module. The recall began on april 3, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2008 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2008 — 250th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 19 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1998 comes out best at 58 and 2004 worst at 80, with 2008 itself at 66.
If the model year is negotiable, 1998, 2009, 1997, 2014, 1996, 2013 and 2010 score lower than 2008 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2008–2014 generation specifically, 2009 is the strongest year at 58 and 2011 the weakest at 71.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2008-2014 generation, 2009 Ford F-250 scores best at 58 and 2011 Ford F-250 worst at 71.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other brake problem from about 21k, other wheel or tire problem from about 23k, other engine problem from about 38k and other steering problem from about 45k.
On a 2008 Ford F-250 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other brake problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
Where these figures stop being useful
255 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 255 reports, 207 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 81% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford F-250?
The most-reported failures are other steering problem (53 reports, median 75,000 miles), other suspension problem (28 reports, median 110,000 miles) and steering rack, gear or tie rod failure (20 reports, median 75,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2008 Ford F-250 problems start?
Other wheel or tire problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 30,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 25,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 75,000 miles.
Is the 2008 Ford F-250 reliable?
It scores 66 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 250th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2008 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Ford F-250 is best?
Within the 2008–2014 generation, 2009 scores best at 58 out of 100 and 2011 worst at 71. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed