2016 Ford F-250 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
448 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Ford F-250, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 24/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 80,450 miles.
Typical
Where 2016 sits among all F-250 years
What owners report
“Driving appoximately 50mph and hit a bump and the truck went into the death wobble and narrowly avoided a roll over”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 F-250
“The front suspension shakes violently after encountering an irregularity in the road commonly referred to by the f250 community as " the death wobble".”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 F-250
“I was driving on the highway going 65mph when my truck started violently shaking and I almost lost control, I had to pull to the shoulder and stop. This is the second time It has happened. It is very dangerous, thank god I drive with two hands. It is very scary and I could of hit another car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 F-250
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) 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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 F-250
“The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 F-250
“Clock spring and steering control Air bag light remains on Dash information locked”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 F-250
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 173 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,240 and 117,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles.…
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Dust may accumulate in the steering wheel clock spring, causing a disconnection in the electrical connection resulting in the driver's air bag not…
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering wheel clock spring, free of charge. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 3rd Quarter of 2023. An interim notification letter informing owners of…
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…
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured April 5, 2016, to April 11, 2016. The tires installed during assembly of the affected vehicles may have sustained damage to the inner…
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires for damage and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 23, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
The Office of Defect Investigations (ODI) has received 27 complaints alleging diesel fuel leaks due to a fracture in the secondary fuel filter housing in model year (MY) 2015-2021 Ford Motor Company (Ford) F-250, 350, 450, and 550 Super Duty vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. Of these…
Technical service bulletins
123 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2016 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 2016 Ford F-250 reliable?
The 2016 Ford F-250 drew 448 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 24/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2016 Ford F-250 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Ford F-250 are steering (117 complaints), suspension (111), and other (39).
At what mileage do 2016 Ford F-250 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Ford F-250 problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,240 and 117,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Ford F-250 have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 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.