2008 Ford F-250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
430 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Ford F-250, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 25/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 75,475 miles.
Typical
Where 2008 sits among all F-250 years
What owners report
“Driving 60 on the highway and truck and steering wheel started violently shaking. Searched online and it is described as the death wobble.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 F-250
“The check engine light turns on ad there is a lack of power at freeway speeds. There is also a coolant leak at the center of the engine. The vehicle has a surge hesitation feeling and alack of power on acceleration. There is a noise coming from the transmission that has an odd shift.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 F-250
“When going over 45 mph the steering wheel of the truck violently shakes and is hard to control.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 F-250
“Takata recall steering lock up and complete brake failure when turning and decelerating. Three occurrences in last 3 months. Last 1-10-2017”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 F-250
“Tire separation - factory original tires were replaced for the same reason under a recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 F-250
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 353 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 115,850 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC (Icon) is recalling all 05-UP FSD 2.5 Centerline Stabilizer Kits with part number 65050. The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer…
Fix: Icon will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shock assembly with a revised foam ring and steel support disc, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Icon…
TRUXXX IS RECALLING 338 AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT WELDED 3" LIFT BLOCKS FOR REAR SUSPENSIONS, PART NO. 206073, INCLUDED IN SUSPENSION KIT NOS. 108035 AND 108036, SOLD BETWEEN JULY 26, 2007 AND MARCH 4, 2008, FOR USE ON FORD MY 2005-2008 F-250 SUPERDUTY 4X4…
Fix: TRUXXX WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS/INSTALLERS AND WILL REPLACE AFFECTED WELDED LIFT BLOCKS WITH EITHER NON-WELDED ALUMINUM OR CAST IRON BLOCKS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
90 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2008 Ford F-250. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 Ford F-250 reliable?
The 2008 Ford F-250 drew 430 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 25/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2008 Ford F-250 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 Ford F-250 are steering (120 complaints), engine (78), and suspension (40).
At what mileage do 2008 Ford F-250 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 Ford F-250 problems around 60,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 115,850 miles.
Does the 2008 Ford F-250 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2008 Ford F-250. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.