Complaints about the 2016 Ford F-250 SD peaked in 2023, with 59 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Pickup, diesel, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Apr 19, 2016 to Sep 23, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25V-572 | Sep 3, 2025 | Rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse | Back-over prevention | 1,456,417 | Part replacement |
| 22V-337 | May 13, 2022 | Dust may accumulate in the steering wheel clock spring, causing a disconnection in the electrical connection resulting in the driver's air bag not… | Airbags | 310,203 | Part replacement |
| 20E-090 | Dec 9, 2020 | Kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks | Equipment | 102 | Repair or modification |
| 16V-246 | Apr 26, 2016 | Tires installed during assembly of the affected vehicles may have sustained damage to the inner sidewall, possibly resulting in a loss of air or a… | Tires | 2,288 | Part replacement |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
289 complaints on file, page 1 of 15.
I was driving my truck on a highway in [XXX]. I was going 70 MPH when we crossed over a bridge. The pavement was lower than the bridge cement. that cause the truck to have a slight bump when crossing over it. That cause the entire truck to begin a violent shaking (death wobble). it was very hard to control the truck. I had to step on the brakes very hard to slow down almost completely on the highway to stop the shaking. all the other traffic was trying to avoid my truck. fortunately no accidents occurred. I've spent $4000. dollars to try to fix the problem. Every time the Ford dealership says there is nothing else they can do. How long is it going to take for you to force Ford to fix or Lemon law these trucks? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11766410My 2016 Ford F250 was flagged under safety recall notice 25S89, NHTSA recall 25V572 for the issue of where the backup camera could display a blank/distorted image, or message that the rear view camera is unavailable. The camera on my F250 has not completely failed, but has exhibited the known issues mentioned in the recall intermittently. I received the recall notice from Ford and brought my F250 to Wiscasset Ford for a scheduled appointment on 5/9/2026 to address. Wiscasset Ford did not repair my camera or replace any parts based on what they claimed was "a lack of recall codes were present". The dealership afterward must have entered in the database that they have addressed the recall as my VIN now shows no open recalls on it, despite the fact they didn't replace/repair anything. I received a letter from Ford referring to "Customer Satisfaction Program 25N15" stating not to return to the dealer for this repair "UNLESS" if the rear view camera displays a blank or distorted image. On 8/10/2026, my truck exhibited the distorted image/"camera not available" message again on an occasion in reverse. I took photos/video as proof. I once again made an appointment for 9/10/2026 at 8:15AM to address the issue. Upon arrival and explaining the reason for my service appt. to the advisor, I was asked if I was willing to pay for the diagnostic to be done on my F250. I stated no as my issue was based on a known recall and I showed my photos/video of the failure as proof. The advisor excused himself to speak with the shop foreman. Returned saying they'd look at my truck "as a good faith issue", (generous of them...) but they'd have to repeat the "test for codes" process and if the codes were still not there, there was nothing they could do, despite my evidence my truck having the symptoms relative to the recall. Plus I'd have to leave my truck with them all day, despite having an appt. Took 1 hour to test on 5/9. Left as I felt they do not take this safety concern seriously.
NHTSA complaint 11763333Death wobble at highway speeds
NHTSA complaint 11752290The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle went into the death wobble and started shaking violently. The contact pulled off the roadway and parked the vehicle. The failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be repaired; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
NHTSA complaint 11750297A Ford Dealer came on a mobile call the replace the Clock spring in the steering wheel. It was an recall NHTSA # 22V337 ------- Manufactures # 22S35 They replaced it and now nothing works on my steering wheel. Dealer came to pick up my truck and take it to the Dealership. Has not been repaired yet .
NHTSA complaint 11747897MY TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING WHILE EXCELERATING BUT IS NOT SHOWING UP ON A RECALL LIST
NHTSA complaint 11734297The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the rear-view camera intermittently functioned properly but recently started displaying a blue screen. The local dealer was contacted starting in December 2025, but the contact was informed that parts for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention) recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA complaint 11729466On September 3, 2023, the fuel pump failed while the truck was in the corner of an on-ramp for an interstate. The truck immediately lost power while in the corner causing a loss of control of steering. This resulted in a near collision with a concrete dividing wall while attempting to maintain control of the vehicle until the vehicle came to a stop. There were no warnings, check engine lights, or other issues with the truck prior to the incident. The truck was inspected by a diesel repair company where it was determined that the Bosch CP4 fuel pump failed resulting in a catastrophic fuel system failure with metal shavings contaminating the complete fuel system. This required a complete fuel system replacement.
NHTSA complaint 11727559Trailer lights failure lights come on during travel.
NHTSA complaint 11726154The failure of the APIM has completely disabled the Rearview Backup Camera, which is a federally mandated safety feature (FMVSS No. 111). Operating a heavy-duty F-250 without a functional backup camera creates a significant blind-spot hazard and an immediate safety risk to pedestrians and property. King Ford has confirmed the failure. Service Director Jamie Churchwell has acknowledged the damage as "Consequential Damage" resulting directly from the attempted software update for Safety Recall 22S35. It is currently being reviewed by the Ford District Parts and Service Manager (as reported by the dealer) for a "Related Damage" warranty claim . The vehicle’s screen and backup camera were functioning perfectly prior to the recall service. The failure occurred at the dealership during the application of the manufacturer’s recall software update.
NHTSA complaint 11725818The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While shifted to reverse(R), the back over prevention camera intermittently displayed an image of the rear of the vehicle, but occasionally the screen was black. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted; however, the contact was unable to speak with a representative. The failure mileage was approximately 18,300.
NHTSA complaint 11725176The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention system was inoperable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 100,000.
NHTSA complaint 11717305The contact's former employer owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while exiting the freeway at 45-50 MPH around a bend, the steering wheel failed to move and crashed into a tree. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags). The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that he sustained injuries to his hand, and medical attention was provided the next day at the emergency room. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to his employer's yard. The contact called an unknown local dealer. The contact was unaware whether the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
NHTSA complaint 11713367The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a white screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The message to "Contact Your Local Dealer" was displayed on the instrument panel. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove over a speed bump or pothole, and the steering wheel vibrated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact used force to control the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that an alignment was performed, and an unknown repair to the exterior lighting was also performed. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint 11697967Vehicle goes to different gear randomly while driving will go into fifth gear when taking off first thing during first start up of the day.
NHTSA complaint 11696278The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera failure warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the error message instructed the contact to reach out to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,611.
NHTSA complaint 11695197The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the rearview camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the camera occasionally displayed a blank or distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
NHTSA complaint 11693853Ford F250 “death wobble”. I believe there’s a recall for 2017-20?? But the recall needs to be expanded to include 2016 models. I have had this issue twice. Very very dangerous!
NHTSA complaint 11690732DEATH WOBBLE FRONT SHOCKS, STEERING DAMPNER AND NEW MICHELIN TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED VEHICLE WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND HAVE TO BRING SPEED DOWN TO GET BACK UNDER CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint 11684300On [XXX], I was driving westbound on [XXX], between Kerrville and Junction, Texas. I noticed a diesel fuel smell and pulled off the highway to investigate the source. Upon stopping, fire erupted from the engine compartment and quickly spread to the front dashboard and front passenger seating area. No warning lamps, no high temp or abnormal gage levels. The Mountain Home, TX volunteer fire dept arrived about 30 minutes after we called 911 and extinguished the remaining flames. They commented that a cracked / failed secondary fuel filter housing could be to blame. My insurer, State Farm, under claim #[XXX], now has possession of the vehicle remains. I told State Farm that NHTSA opened an investigation into possible fuel filter housing failures / fires. I do not know what their intentions are with the vehicle remains. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11683811Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.