Verdict · NHTSA data
One of the years to avoid
With 126 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.0 times the median F-350 year — the 1994 model ranks #22 of 53 F-350 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.
Brakes leads the complaint categories with 44 reports (35% of the total).
126
NHTSA complaints
7
Recalls
4
Investigations
6
Crash-involved
6
Fires reported
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
| Component | Complaints | Share | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 44 | 35% | ▲ up |
| Transmission | 22 | 17% | ▲ up |
| Engine | 13 | 10% | ▼ down |
| Speed Control | 8 | 6% | ▲ up |
| Steering | 8 | 6% | — flat |
| Tires & Wheels | 8 | 6% | ▼ down |
| Fuel System | 7 | 6% | ▼ down |
| Electrical System | 5 | 4% | ▼ down |
| Body & Structure | 5 | 4% | — flat |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% | — flat |
| Visibility & Wipers | 2 | 2% | ▲ up |
| Lighting | 1 | 1% | — flat |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — flat |
7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence
OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
Defect
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Defect
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.
Consequence
SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy
THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
Defect
THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE POWER LUMBAR FEATURE ON THE SEAT IS UNDERNEATH THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION SUPPORT WIRES. THE SUPPORT WIRES ON THE DRIVER SEAT CAN CONTACT AND DAMAGE THE INSULATION HARNESS RESULTING IN A HIGH RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL SHORT THROUGH THE SUPPORT WIRES.
Consequence
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: OVER HEATING OF THE SUPPORT WIRES COULD RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLE IGNTION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS COULD OCCUR.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEATS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. IF NO DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE DRIVER SEAT WIRE HARNESS WILL BE COVERED WITH A PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE TUBING, WRAPPED WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE AND THE HARNESS WILL BE REROUTED. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE WIRE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED.
Defect
THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUST PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE SELF-ADJUST RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE RACHET.
Consequence
WHEN THE ABOVE OCCURS, IT CAN RESULT IN PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM INEFFECTIVENESS. THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT LEFT IN GEAR.
Remedy
A WEDGE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE TO LOCK THE PARKING BRAKE SELF-ADJUST MECHANISM PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACHET. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE PARKING BRAKE WHENEVER TOOTH SKIP OCCURS AND WILL BE REMINDED TO ALWAYS TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN GEAR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
Defect
IN A HEAVILY LOADED VEHICLE, WHILE IN THE CRUISE CONTROL MODE, THE THROTTLE MAY NOT REDUCE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE LOAD ON THE ENGINE IS DECREASED (SUCH AS WHEN THE VEHICLE CRESTS A HILL.) THIS CAN RESULT IN INCREASED VEHICLE SPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Consequence
THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL MODULE.
Defect
THE U-CLIP STYLE NUTS THAT RETAIN THE FRONT BUMPERS TO THE FRONT BUMPER INNER ARMS CAN FRACTURE.
Consequence
IF ONE OF THE U-CLIP NUTS FRACTURES, THE BUMPER WILL LOOSEN AND RATTLE CAUSING FRACTURE OF THE REMAINING U-CLIP NUTS, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE BUMPER FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THE BUMPER WERE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS BEING DRIVEN, A VEHICLE COLLISION COULD RESULT.
Remedy
INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FOUR U-CLIP NUTS AND THE ASSOCIATED BOLTS.
Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.
“CONSUMER HAS HAD MULTIPLE SCARES OF ACCIDENTS PERTAINING TO ANTILOCK BRAKES. IN NOVEMBER OF 2000 CONSUMER TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO BRAKES WHEN APPLIED. DRUMS/PADS & SHOES HAVE BEEN CHANGED, BUT NO REAL REMEDY. CONSUMERS MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK, AND BACK BRAKES…”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 F-350. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ALL OF THE SENSORS FAILED AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO WARN HER OF THE FAILURE. THE SENSORS AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE DEALER…”
“WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING CONSUMER STARTED CHANGING OIL. HIS HAND WAS INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT WAS STRUCK/CUT, AND BRUISED BY THE FAN. HE FELT THAT PLASTIC CASING THAT PREVENTS ANYTHING FROM MAKING CONTACT WITH ENGINE FAN WAS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION /…”
“TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE THEN BLEW WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE TOW VEHICLE. THIS TIRE LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE TIRES SHOWN ON NEWS RELEASES FROM OTHER FIRESTONE INCIDENTS. (DOT NUMBER: VNORIWW TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)”
“F350 FORD SUPERCREW 4X4 7.3 TURBO DIESEL HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 4 DAYS. WIFE COMES OUT OF HOUSE FINDS TRUCK ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CRUISE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED. *TR”
NHTSA data argues against it: 126 complaints put the 1994 model at #22 of 53 F-350 years. It is one of the F-350 years to avoid.
According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (44 complaints), transmission (22 complaints), engine (13 complaints).
Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 1994 Ford F-350. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.
NHTSA opened 4 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.
Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the F-350 years to avoid are 2017, 2019, 1999, 2000, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2020, 2004, 2006, 2011, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2008, 2005, 1996, 2014, 2002, 1993, 1994, 2021, 2013, 2003. The cleanest record among F-350 years belongs to 2010.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.