Ford F-350 problems
207 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.
- Reliability score 7.4/10 — around 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
I have started experiencing the known “death wobble”. I have 68585 miles on truck.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ford f-350. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the fuel mode warning light illuminated, which caused the vehicle to stall for approximately one minute before resuming normal operation. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was…
After going over a bump in the road at 70 mph, vehicle began to shake violently. Unable to control the vehicle. Had to come to a complete stop. Checked tires, all tires were good and had good air pressure. Took the vehicle to repair shop. Repair shop referred to the 'Death…
I was driving through a construction area on interstate 95 and hit uneven pavement and the front of the vehicle starting shaking violently. It took everything I had to hold the steering wheel the shaking was so violent it rendered the brakes almost useless. Fortunately no one…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA
NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. PE24014 on NHTSA →
How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →
Common questions
Is the 2016 Ford F-350 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 207 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 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 2016 Ford F-350?
The 2016 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: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around 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 2016 Ford F-350?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 76 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 54,437 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 54,437 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 2016 Ford F-350?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 207 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, 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.