Episodes of violent shaking and poor engine performance during regenaration. This has been a on going issue. Ford claims it is cause by the computer and a reprogram will be out in march 2016. I feel the truck is unsafe to drive specially on icy roads.
2015 Ford F-350 powertrain problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 16 powertrain complaints filed for the 2015 Ford F-350, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 14 model years of Ford F-350 in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2015 F-350 pickups describe a cluster of powertrain failures that create real safety risks and warranty gaps. The most consistent complaint is sporadic power loss and shuddering at 40–50 mph, sometimes happening several times per week, especially problematic when towing. Ford issued TSB 16-0041 but dealers refuse to repair unless they witness the failure in real time. Another frequent issue: diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) reductant heater failures triggering P20BA codes and power derate, rendering the truck undrivable. Ford covers this fault for 2015 F-450 and F-550 but explicitly excludes 2015 F-250 and F-350 from warranty, even when vehicles meet the manufacturing criteria—leaving owners with five-figure repair bills.
Transmission problems surface early: one truck with 4,065 miles had a broken cooler line causing fluid loss and smoke. Others report the truck shifting into reverse unexpectedly from drive, and at least one instance of a parked truck rolling downhill after being left in park. Engine knock with hesitation occurs repeatedly in early ownership, though Ford steers owners toward expensive head rebuilds rather than permanent fixes. During diesel particulate filter regeneration cycles, owners experience violent shaking and loss of power—unsafe on highways and in traffic.
Many owners document that dealerships cannot replicate intermittent faults and return vehicles with "no trouble found," leaving the problems unresolved.
Same Ford F-350 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Engine knock and hesitation
Engine produces loud knock noise followed by hesitation/power loss. Dealership attributes it to California emissions regulations and directs owner toward cylinder head rebuild via TSB. Check Engine Light illuminates after repeated incidents. Sensor replacement attempted but did not resolve the issue.
When: Early ownership (purchased Dec 2015); repeated occurrences within first months
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knock noise; Hesitation after knock; Check Engine Light illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replaced at dealership; head rebuild mentioned in TSB but owner resists given vehicle age
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB available for heads rebuild; Ford contacted but response pending at time of complaint
Power loss and severe shuddering at 40–50 mph
Sporadic loss of power and violent shuddering occurs several times per week in the 40–50 mph range, creating safety hazard when towing trailers. Ford acknowledges issue via TSB 16-0041 but refuses to address it unless technicians witness the failure firsthand. Issue documented on multiple owner forums.
When: Occurring several times per week; no specific mileage cited
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power; Severe shuddering; Sporadic occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to replicate; no repairs attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 16-0041 issued by Ford; dealer will not attempt correction without witnessing failure
Front-end shaking at high speeds
Uncontrolled front-end shaking occurs without warning at high speeds. Shaking ceases when vehicle is slowed. Unknown parts were replaced at dealership and by independent mechanics, but shaking persists. Failure continues unresolved.
When: At 85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Uncontrolled front-end shaking at high speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Unknown parts replaced; repairs attempted but failure continued
DEF reductant heater failure (P20BA code)
Check Engine Light illuminates with P20BA (reductant heater performance failure) code, causing power derate and rendering vehicle undrivable. Ford covers this fault for 2011–2014 F-250–F-550 and 2015 F-450–F-550, but explicitly excludes 2015 F-250 and F-350 despite those vehicles meeting manufacturing date and plant criteria. Diesel Exhaust Fluid cannot freeze-protect without functioning heater.
When: At 57,500 miles and other unspecified mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine Light; Power derate; Vehicle undrivable
Codes mentioned: P20BA
Repairs/costs cited: Not covered under Ford warranty for 2015 F-350; repair cost prohibitive for owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford warranty explicitly excludes 2015 F-350 for this code; 2015 F-450 and F-550 covered
Transmission not responding to accelerator input
While driving at 30 mph with accelerator depressed, vehicle fails to respond and begins decelerating instead. Multiple warning lights illuminate. Dealership diagnosis indicates transmission replacement needed. Vehicle remains unrepaired.
When: At 79,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No response to accelerator pedal; Vehicle deceleration; Multiple warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement indicated but not performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Transmission shifting into reverse when in drive
Vehicle shifts into reverse at least twice without driver input while in drive, creating risk of collision. No prior warnings or indicators. Vehicle reportedly not part of applicable recall. Suspected transmission control module issue.
When: Unspecified mileage; multiple occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected reverse engagement from Drive; No prior warning lights
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle not included in recall per owner claim
Multiple simultaneous warning lights and stalling
While driving on highway, instrument cluster alerts for engine temperature, low oil pressure, and traction control; air conditioning fails. Vehicle is driven to roadside. Restart may occur immediately or require 30 minutes to several hours. Issue is recurring. Dealership inspections find no trouble codes or cannot replicate.
When: Recurring issue; no specific mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine temp warning; Low oil pressure warning; Traction control warning; AC failure; Stalling
Repairs/costs cited: No trouble found; unable to replicate
Vehicle rolling in park without brakes applied
Vehicle placed in park with parking brake not engaged. Owner returned to find vehicle had rolled down the block and was involved in accident with no one driving. Video confirmed vehicle moved on its own. Suspected transmission slipped into gear or park mechanism failure.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolling from Park without driver input
Power loss during active regeneration
During diesel particulate filter regeneration, engine loses power and operates roughly, creating safety hazard when merging onto highway in slick conditions. Owner unable to accelerate to highway speed. Recurring issue with violent shaking and poor performance during regeneration cycles. Ford attributes problem to computer programming and claims software update would be released in March 2016.
When: During regeneration cycles; unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power during regeneration; Rough engine operation; Violent shaking
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford claims computer reprogramming required; software update promised for March 2016
Turbocharger intercooler hose separation
Turbocharger intercooler hose blows off while driving on multi-lane highway, producing loud explosive noise and loss of compression. Creates immediate safety hazard on busy roadway.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Hose separation from turbocharger; Loud explosive noise; Loss of compression
Transmission cooler line failure and fluid leakage
Transmission cooler line breaks, causing smoke and heavy transmission fluid leak. Vehicle becomes unable to drive on highway and requires towing. Dealership replaces cooler lines, cleans system, tops off fluid, and road tests.
When: At 4,065 miles (early ownership)
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke; Heavy transmission fluid leakage; Vehicle unable to drive
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission cooler lines replaced; fluid topped off; vehicle road tested
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2015 Ford F-350?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2015 Ford F-350?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 7,000 and 79,000 miles, with the median around 51,408. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; a quarter make it past 79,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Ford/F-350.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.