KnownCarProblems2008 Ford F-250 SD Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ford F-250 SD, most often about the engine (30% of complaints, typically around 42,500 miles). It is 15th of 27 F-250 SD model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2008 Ford F-250 SD problems
Engine
42 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Defective radiatior in 2008 f-250 (and f-350 through research of owner forums) are defective and leak at over 40,000 miles. Dealerships are replaciing these at owner cost by the hundreds.
2008 Ford f-250. Radiator leaking. Dealer states to Ford customer service that they found a leak in april of 2010. They never informed me of it however. In april the vehicle was still under the 36,000 mi. Warranty. I first noticed the leak around the last of november 2010 and by then the vehicle was at 46,000 mi. And…
Steering
39 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist, steering wheel/handle bar.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, there was excessive play in the steering wheel. The horn independently sounded a few moments later. The vehicle was driven to a safe location and then towed to an independent mechanic where the steering gear box was…
Power steering locked up while towing a expensive classic car. I am reading that it is the steering gear box. Ford won't do anything about it.
Brakes
18 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 31,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
2008 Ford f250 crew! Where do I begin? I've had this truck in more times than I can count! Most recently for power steering issues! I'm having it worked on for the third time today! Along with another problem with the front drive shafts, which it has been in at least two other times for! The power steering doesn't…
The contact owns a 2008 Ford f250 sd. The contact was reversing in her driveway and depressed the brake pedal as it fell much farther into the floorboard than usual. The brakes did not engage and the contact utilized the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was then towed to an authorized dealer where it…
Wheels and tires
15 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250 SD equipped with goodyear wrangler at/s tires, line size lt275/65r20, and dot number:mk0tbxwv. The contact stated that the mount was separating from the tire. The dealer was contacted and offered to diagnose the failure but the contact declined. The manufacturer was not made aware of…
My complaint regards a defective continental contitrac lt275/65r18 tire on a 2008 Ford f250 super duty pick-up. One of the original OEM tires developed a shifted belt / separation at 43,910 miles w/ 9/32" of tread left on the tire. Continental has an ongoing voluntary recall program for lt275/70r18 tires on 2008 to…
Electrical
9 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
When starting my 2008 Ford f-250 I began having to try it more than once, which was very unusual for my truck. Then the next day the "check engine" light came on. I took it to my Ford dealer, they hooked it up to their diagnostic machine and informed me that the error code indicated that either I or someone else has…
2008 Ford f250 super duty: ignition switch when turned to start/cranking position does not return to normal run position. This leaves instruments blank and inoperative, and all power accessories fail to operate until truck is shut off & restarted.
Fuel system
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles.
The steering wheel started to get some play while driving down the interstate. The steering eventually went completely out. The steering wheel would spin freely without the wheels moving whatsoever.
I was backing up in the parking area of my house in my 2008 f250 (diesel), and applied the brakes to stop and change direction. As I started braking, the engine started accelerating, even though I was applying the brakes. The vehicle kept moving backward, and I had to stand on the brakes and shift into neutral to get…
Transmission
7 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 22,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that he received notification of a manufacturer's recall and took the vehicle to the dealer for recalibration. After the recall service, the contact was driving approximately 50-60 MPH when the transmission started to slip. The vehicle was taken back to the…
Tl contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that the gear shift has released out of park on two occasions. She cannot exit the vehicle when the failure occurs. The failure is intermittent. The dealer would not offer any assistance due to liability. As a result, her husband was involved in a crash. The…
Body and structure
7 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
On several occasions while applying foot brake pedal, foot also depresses gas pedal. This occurs mostly when having to stop quickly. Condition increases stopping distance. Condition is bad with a standard transmission and much more so with an automatic transmission. Selling dealer and another dealer in texas said…
Everytime I drive and there are 'whoops' in the road, my truck violently bounces.this happens everytime. And my steering feels very loose from it. I can see my front tires shaking hard, like they're about to fly off the wheel studs. It started about a month ago in my neighborhood roads.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Ford F-250 SD recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Alleged loss of steering
Summary
The office of defectsinvestigation (odi) opened pe13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (my) 2008 ford f-250 and f-350 super duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.as background, odi investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million my 1999 - 2001 ford super duty pick-up trucks and my 2000 - 2001 ford excursion sport utility vehicles in engineering analysis ea01-009.the investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.no defect
Questions about the 2008 Ford F-250 SD
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford F-250 SD?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (42 complaints, typically around 42,500 miles); steering (39 complaints, typically around 58,000 miles); brakes (18 complaints, typically around 31,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Ford F-250 SD have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Ford F-250 SD. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Ford F-250 SD?
- It is 15th of 27 F-250 SD model years by number of complaints, with 141 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.