Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Ford F-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the contact noticed fire coming from the front hood of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact noticed that the fire started before the engine completely started. The contact was the only occupant of the vehicle and was able to exit the vehicle safely. The local fire department was called and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was condemned as a total loss by the insurance company. The contact stated that no injuries were sustained. In addition, the contact stated that there was minor damage to the roof and the garage door of the contact's house. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owned a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while starting the vehicle in his garage, the RPM raised to 500 before the vehicle turned off. The contact stated on the third attempt to turn on the vehicle the engine exploded and caught fire. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated he was blown out of the vehicle. The contact did not sustain any injuries nor sought medical attention. The contact stated the vehicle was engulfed in flames and also burned down his residence. The fire department extinguished the fire on the residence and the vehicle. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to an auto shop. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the exhaust gas temperature sensor needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in Technical Service Bulletin: 15M02. The contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion while driving 60 MPH, the diesel exhaust fluid low warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and added more exhaust fluid, but the warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the knock sensor needed to be replaced and the contact was referred to the local dealer. …
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was white smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle lost motive power and the contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel system and the engine was damaged. The contact was informed that the fuel system and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shaking. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the shaking in front of the vehicle ceased. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started working as intended. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was not able to find the cause of the failure. The contact related the failure to the death wobble. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was unaware of the repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,755.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that after accelerating from a stop light, the vehicle started to sputter with the check engine warning illuminated. The contact pulled over and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. While at the dealer, a fault code for the fuel pump failure was retrieved. The contact was informed that shards of metal had entered the fuel system, and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an inspection, the mechanic discovered metal shavings inside the engine oil. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to a Ford dealer for a diagnostic test. The contact was informed that the failure was related to a defective fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on five separate occasions, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted but remained in idle mode. The vehicle was towed to a dealer three times and was diagnosed and it was determined that the reductant heater, and the front and rear knock sensors, needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 103,654.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear NOx sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N05. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle entered limp mode. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and told the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
Engine complaints in other F-250 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 Ford F-250 SD?
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 Ford F-250 SD, 16% of the model year's 296 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Ford F-250 SD engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2015 Ford F-250 SD, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2015 Ford F-250 SD engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.