Ford F-250 years to avoid
The Ford F-250 years to avoid are 1999, 2012, 2000, 2011, 1997, 2006, 2001, 2008, 1995, 2014, 1996, 2005, 2004, 2002, 1993, 1994, 2013, 2003, 1992, 1991, 1989, 1990 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2019 is the cleanest year on record.
6,223
Total complaints
134
Recall campaigns
1967–2019
Years covered
22
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
F-250 years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | High complaint rate | 702 | |
| 2012 | High complaint rate | 423 | |
| 2000 | High complaint rate | 417 | |
| 2011 | High complaint rate | 384 | |
| 1997 | High complaint rate | 348 | |
| 2006 | High complaint rate | 332 | |
| 2001 | High complaint rate | 269 | |
| 2008 | High complaint rate | 255 | |
| 1995 | High complaint rate | 238 | |
| 2014 | High complaint rate | 236 | |
| 1996 | High complaint rate | 212 | |
| 2005 | High complaint rate | 207 | |
| 2004 | High complaint rate | 201 | |
| 2002 | High complaint rate | 189 | |
| 1993 | High complaint rate | 183 | |
| 1994 | High complaint rate | 156 | |
| 2013 | High complaint rate | 153 | |
| 2003 | High complaint rate | 151 | |
| 1992 | High complaint rate | 149 | |
| 1991 | High complaint rate | 145 | |
| 1989 | High complaint rate | 141 | |
| 1990 | High complaint rate | 134 |
Every F-250 year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014avoid | 236 | 0 | |
| 2013avoid | 153 | 0 | |
| 2012avoid | 423 | 1 | |
| 2011avoid | 384 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 109 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 92 | 1 | |
| 2008avoid | 255 | 8 | |
| 2007 | 84 | 7 | |
| 2006avoid | 332 | 7 | |
| 2005avoid | 207 | 5 | |
| 2004avoid | 201 | 7 | |
| 2003avoid | 151 | 7 | |
| 2002avoid | 189 | 7 | |
| 2001avoid | 269 | 9 | |
| 2000avoid | 417 | 10 | |
| 1999avoid | 702 | 19 | |
| 1998 | 76 | 9 | |
| 1997avoid | 348 | 14 | |
| 1996avoid | 212 | 5 | |
| 1995avoid | 238 | 4 | |
| 1994avoid | 156 | 10 | |
| 1993avoid | 183 | 9 | |
| 1992avoid | 149 | 7 | |
| 1991avoid | 145 | 7 | |
| 1990avoid | 134 | 7 | |
| 1989avoid | 141 | 6 | |
| 1988 | 85 | 3 | |
| 1987 | 51 | 2 | |
| 1986 | 42 | 2 | |
| 1985 | 33 | 2 | |
| 1984 | 11 | 3 | |
| 1983 | 2 | 6 | |
| 1982 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1981 | 1 | 5 | |
| 1980 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1979 | 2 | 9 | |
| 1978 | 3 | 10 | |
| 1977 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1975 | 0 | 6 | |
| 1974 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1973 | 0 | 5 | |
| 1972 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1969 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1967 | 0 | 3 |
Common questions
What are the worst Ford F-250 years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the F-250 years to avoid are 1999, 2012, 2000, 2011, 1997, 2006, 2001, 2008, 1995, 2014, 1996, 2005, 2004, 2002, 1993, 1994, 2013, 2003, 1992, 1991, 1989, 1990. The cleanest year on record is 2019.
What is the best year for the Ford F-250?
By complaint volume, 2019 has the cleanest NHTSA record among F-250 years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Ford F-250 have?
Across all model years, the F-250 has 134 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 6,223 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.