EPA economy
Not rated (heavy-duty)
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 203 of 220 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 121 of 220 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Tires
48 complaint records3 crash reports
"THER SIDEWALL OF THIS TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: BM14480-3 TIRESIZE: LT265/75R1)..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse tires parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
34 complaint records9 fire reports
"CONSUMER NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Power train
30 complaint records2 fire reports
"TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP05005 opened Sep 2005 | closed Jan 2006 | Engine And Engine Cooling | 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... |
| EA05005 opened Mar 2005 | closed Aug 2006 | Vehicle Speed Control | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES - led to recall 08V025000 EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A... |
| EA05004 opened Feb 2005 | closed Jul 2005 | Seat Belts | FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR... |
| RQ04011 opened Oct 2004 | closed Feb 2005 | Seat Belts | FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN (01V227), FORD RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE.APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION OWNERS RESPONDED BY TAKING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR... |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06V286000 | Vehicle Speed Control | ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT. | Normally free |
| 01V258000 | Visibility | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. | Normally free |
| 01V227001 | Seat Belts | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND MINIVANS. EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS SUPPLIED BY TRW. | Normally free |
| 01V082000 | Air Bags | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE INFLATOR CANISTER IN THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE MAY HAVE AN INADEQUATE WELD NEAR THE IGNITER. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009292 2009-10-14 | Other | 492,877 | On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. |
| 2007403 2007-12-12 | Engine | 95,484 | On certain vehicles equipped with a 7.3L diesel engine, the camshaft position sensor may fail, causing the engine to stall. |
| 2005028 2005-02-14 | Electrical | 304,417 | On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. |
| 2001204 2001-08-13 | Other | 83,005 | Certain passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper... |
| 2001194 2001-07-16 | Seats And Restraints | 78,402 | Certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans equipped with seat belts supplied by TRW. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18406 Feb 2005 | Structure | SERVICE TIPS BEFORE ARC WELDING ON THE FRAME OR BODY OF A UNIT. *TT | |
| 18376 Jan 2005 | Power Train | A COLD WEATHER REVERSE ENGAGEMENT STALL. *TT | |
| 0471 Dec 2004 | Electrical System | WARNING INDICATORS-PARKING AID-REVERSE SENSING SYSTEM (RSS) AND FORWARD SENSING SYSTEM (FSS)-FALSE ACTIVATION OF WARNING TONE-SERVICE TIPS. *MJ UPDATE. *TT | |
| 042411 Dec 2004 | Vehicle Speed Control | MEMONTARY RETURN TO IDLE DURING AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0123. *TT | |
| 042107 Dec 2004 | Power Train | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
Show 31 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04236 Nov 2004 | Suspension | VEHICLE LEAN SAG WHEN OBSERVED FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *EH | |
| 04217 Nov 2004 | Power Train | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT | |
| 18217 Oct 2004 | Fuel System | MULTIPLE VEHICLES - FUEL LEVEL INDICATION CONCERNS - SERVICE TIP. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES, EXCURSION, EXPEDITION, EXPLORER, MOUNTAINEER AND AVIATOR. *TT | |
| 18223 Oct 2004 | Service Brakes | VACUUM PUMP INOPERATIVE OR RUNS CONTINUOUSLY - CLIMATE CONTROL DEFAULTS TO DEFROST. OASIS. TO ALSO INCLUDE 2005 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES, EXCURSION, AND F650/750. *TT | |
| 04174 Sep 2004 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT | |
| 16915 May 2004 | Power Train | EXCESSIVE DRIVE-AWAY SHUDDER OR VIBRATION UNDER MODERATE TO HEAVY ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. *TT | |
| 17603 Mar 2004 | Air Bags | AIR BAG LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B1871 OR B1935 FOLLOWING ECS/RCM REPLACEMENT. *TT | |
| 17554 Feb 2004 | Engine And Engine Cooling | OIL/DUST FILM AT CAC CONNECTIONS. *MJ | |
| 16515 Jan 2004 | Steering | OIL LEAK AT HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FITTINGS AND/OR PLUG. THIS INCLUDES SUPER DUTY F-SERIES. OASIS. *TT | |
| 17307 Oct 2003 | Structure | SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE UPPER DOOR SEAL WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. F250 MODEL INCLUDES 1999-2004 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES. *TT | |
| 17009 Aug 2003 | Electrical System | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATION WITH NO HARD FAULT. *TT | |
| 03911 May 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ROUGH IDLE AND/OR HESITATION WHEN ACCLERATING ON CERTAIN SUPER DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINE. *TT | |
| 16589 Jan 2003 | Engine And Engine Cooling | GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER AT CRUISE. USE FUEL ADDITIVE TO PREVENT HIS CONDITION. ALL SUPER DUTY F-SERIES 1999-2003 INCLUDED. OASIS *TT | |
| 02227 Nov 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE-CYLINDER HEAD DECK LEAK-4.6 AND 5.4L ENGINES-NEW SERVICE-ONLY GASKET AND CYLINDER HEAD KITS AVAILABILITY. *MJ | |
| 16403 Nov 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE-LIGHT TICK OR RATTLE TYPE NOISE FROM ENGINE AFTER COLD START. *MJ | |
| 15932 May 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L, 4.6L AND 5.4L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A LACK OF POWER CONDITION. *TT | |
| 15711 Mar 2002 | Power Train | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5-SPEED MAZDA R2 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH EFFORT CONDITION WHEN SHIFTING ANY GEAR. *TT | |
| 15742 Mar 2002 | Fuel System | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING A PERCEIVED POOR FUEL RANGE / ECONOMY, AND OR A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE. *TT | |
| 15566 Jan 2002 | Unknown Or Other | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A TACKY SURFACE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP). *TT | |
| 15570 Jan 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS INCLUDING LACKS POWER, HESITATES, HARD TO START, AND/OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED AND PRODUCE POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0103, P0172 AND P0175. *TT | |
| 15500 Dec 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CONCERNS WITH LOW POWER WHILE IN REVERSE. *TT | |
| 01017 Oct 2001 | Steering | SUBJECT REGARDING 198196 BOLT-ON STEERING STOPS SERVICE GROUP, ALL MODELS 0307, HR0307A AND HR1000A. *SLC | |
| 15292 Oct 2001 | Power Train | SOME SUPER DUTY F SERIES EQUIPPED WITH PTO CAPABLE TRANSMISSIONS MAY EXHIBIT A FAILURE TO GO T HIGH IDLE UPON PTO ENGAGEMENT. *TT | |
| 15113 Aug 2001 | Fuel System | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL FILL VALVE SEALING CONDITION. *YD | |
| 14990 Jun 2001 | Structure | CONCERNS THAT SOME TRUCKS MAY EXHIBIT A LOOSE / DETACHED REAR WINDOW HALO TRIM GIMP MOULDING. *TT | |
| 15007 Jun 2001 | Power Train | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4R100 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A REVERSE ENGAGEMENT STALL. *TT | |
| 002310 Nov 2000 | Power Train | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT | |
| 00222 Oct 2000 | Steering | INFORMATION REGARDING POWER STEERING PUMP BOLT-CORRECT PLACEMENT OF BOLTS AND WASHER-WINDSOR BUILT ENGINES. *JB | |
| 0008 Oct 2000 | Structure | THIS FISHER SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINS TO THE BLOCKER BEAM ON 2001 FORD VEHICLES. *TT | |
| 00B53 Oct 2000 | Power Train | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SEVERE VEHICLE VIBRATION, DUE TO FRONT DRIVESHAFT MAYBE ONE INCH TOO LONG. *JB | |
| 00B54 Sep 2000 | Power Train | OWNER NOTIFICATION INFORMING OWNERS THAT THEIR TRANSMISSION COULD BE DAMAGED INTERNALLY AND, POTENTIALLY, COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF SECOND GEAR OR, ULTIMATELY, AN INABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IF IT IS DRIVEN UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. *JB |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Read the tire date codes and look for uneven wear.Uneven wear on this vehicle often points back to the suspension. Four different date codes tell their own story.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 4 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Ford F-250 →