Ford F-350 problems
145 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Steering: 50 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 30,000–99,987 mi
- Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
My 2006 Ford crew cab powerstroke turbo diesel has an engine oil cooler and EGR/EGR cooler problems that keeps the truck from full power up hills and with loads. Extremely dangerous pulling trailer up grade's, it loses power, blows white smoke and becomes unstable. The temp.…
The contact owns a 2006 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the front of the vehicle started to wobble. While driving over a pothole, the vehicle wobbled violently. The contact was unable to control the vehicle while driving over 35 MPH. While driving at an…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford f-350. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle would shake violently when driving over any road bump. The contact was told by the manufacturer that the failure could likely be caused by improper tire inflation and that the contact…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford f-350. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact drove over an uneven road surface and the front end of the vehicle began to shake vigorously. The vehicle would also shake abnormally when decelerating. The contact stated that in addition,…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2006 Ford F-350 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 145 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Ford F-350 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2006 Ford F-350?
The 2006 Ford F-350 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Steering: 50 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 30,000–99,987 mi; Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2006 Ford F-350?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 50 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 71,811 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 84,689 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford F-350 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Ford F-350?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 145 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.