Your vehicle report
2016 Ford F-250 SD
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 291
- Received Apr 2016 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed89 complaints · 31% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks34 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Rearview backup camera fails or goes black11 complaints · 3.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #25V572000Ford 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. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
- Recall #22V337000Ford 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 deploying as intended.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speedFirst signal: Aug 2019
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 6 crashes, 6 fires, 6 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 15 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks
- Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline
- Check engine light comes on repeatedly
1 more problem
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 39 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 47 |
| 2023 | 59 |
| 2024 | 33 |
| 2025 | 23 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 15 |
| Total | 291 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 89 | 31% | 15.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2019 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.2% |
| Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks | 34 | 12% | 15.3× | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 11 | 3.8% | 6.2× | NHTSA recall #25V572000 |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 6 | 2.1% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 5 | 1.7% | – | NHTSA recall #16V246000 |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Suspension struts and shocks wear out early | 5 | 1.7% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 4 | 1.4% | – | NHTSA recall #22V337000 |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 4 | 1.4% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 4 | 1.4% | – | |
| Heater blows cold air, defroster fails | 4 | 1.4% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 4 | 1.4% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 3 | 1.0% | – | NHTSA recall #22V337000 |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 3 | 1.0% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #25V572000September 3, 20251,456,417 vehicles affected
back over prevention: sensing system: camera
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. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 8, 2025.
NHTSA recall #22V337000May 13, 2022310,203 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette
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 deploying as intended.
A disconnected driver's air bag can result in it not deploying, as intended, during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
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 the safety risk was mailed on July 6, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed July 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S35.
NHTSA recall #16V246000April 26, 20162,288 vehicles affected
tires: sidewall
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 sidewall, possibly resulting in a loss of air or a tire rupture.
A rapid loss of air or a tire rupture while the vehicle is being driven may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S17.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2016 Ford F-250 SD.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN