Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 9 | 10% | 109,000 miles |
| 2013 | 17 | 22% | 74,000 miles |
| 2012 | 33 | 22% | 59,000 miles |
| 2011 | 27 | 20% | 61,000 miles |
| 2009 | 4 | 14% | 86,000 miles |
| 2008 | 47 | 36% | 53,000 miles |
| 2007 | 7 | 19% | 0 miles |
| 2006 | 33 | 23% | 69,000 miles |
| 2005 | 35 | 31% | 99,000 miles |
| 2004 | 80 | 50% | 50,000 miles |
| 2003 | 26 | 29% | 25,000 miles |
| 2002 | 22 | 19% | 60,000 miles |
| 2001 | 17 | 11% | 100,000 miles |
| 2000 | 19 | 6% | 96,000 miles |
| 1999 | 24 | 6% | 93,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 1997 | 29 | 19% | 117,000 miles |
| 1996 | 17 | 13% | 123,000 miles |
| 1995 | 26 | 19% | 168,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the turbocharger. The vehicle was repaired in 2021, but the failure reoccurred in 2025 after 21,000 miles. 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 137,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the exhaust pipe had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the part to repair the vehicle was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,151.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the service warning light illuminated while driving approximately 30 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle went into limp mode. The contact called the dealer and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The contact stated that the Ford Customer Service Representative then transferred the call to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was 96,904.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) cooler needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21M04. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at 55-60 MPH on cruise control, the vehicle hit a bump and started shuddering uncontrollably, causing the steering wheel to shudder as well. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that as he was losing control of the vehicle, he depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle stopped shuddering. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The contact stated that the vehicle was not yet diagnosed; however, the dealer replaced the steering bar. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving at 50-65 MPH, and sometimes at slower speeds. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the reductant heater however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the first repair was covered under Manufacturer Communication Number: 10137151 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who determined the same failure had occurred and a similar repair needed to be completed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the fix was not covered under warranty. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the mechanic replaced the EGR cooler; however, the failure recurred. The contact linked the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21M04 (Exhaust Gas Recirculation Cooler). The vehicle was taken to a secondary dealer, Heartland Ford (5979 US Hwy 136, Covington, IN 47932) however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. During the failure, diesel fuel and oil spilled from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the strap that secured the fuel injectors had failed, causing the fuel injectors to eject from the engine. The contact was advised that the fuel injector straps, fuel injectors, and several fuel hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000.
Related recalls (2)
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 F-350/450/550 Ambulance Package vehicles manufactured February 22, 2010, through October 19, 2012 and equipped with a 6.7L diesel engine. Due to an exhaust sensor problem, the vehicles may experience loss of power followed by an engine stall.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the exhaust gas temperature sensor, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2013.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 gasoline engined dual rear wheel chassis vehicles manufactured October 2011 through June 2012.
Remedy: Manning Equipment has notified owners, and dealers will install tailpipe extensions free of charge. The recall has already begun. Owners may contact Manning Equipment at 1-502-426-5210.
NHTSA investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
Engine stalling
Twenty five of the odi failure reports are duplicative of Ford complaints.twenty odi reports do not contain a VIN (and May or May not be duplicative of Ford reports).the 14 alleged crashes and 2 alleged injuries were all minor.submitted during preliminary evaluation (pe) 04-070, Ford's response to odi's information request (ir) letter contained about 5,000 consumer reports (mors) and 8,700 field reports (cqis).Ford…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-350 years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (80), 2008 (47), 2005 (35), 2006 (33) and 2012 (33) model years. Engine complaints make up 50% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Ford F-350 engine problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 13V-535 (engine, Oct 30, 2013); 13V-380 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Aug 23, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford F-350 engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles; 35% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine › diesel (62 mentions), followed by the engine (61).
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.