Verdict · NHTSA data
One of the years to avoid
With 367 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.8 times the median F-350 year — the 2000 model ranks #4 of 53 F-350 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 45 injuries in total across these filings.
Tires & Wheels leads the complaint categories with 130 reports (35% of the total).
367
NHTSA complaints
5
Recalls
4
Investigations
45
Crash-involved
9
Fires reported
45
Injuries
0
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
| Component | Complaints | Share | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires & Wheels | 130 | 35% | — flat |
| Brakes | 44 | 12% | ▼ down |
| Steering | 44 | 12% | — flat |
| Transmission | 33 | 9% | ▼ down |
| Suspension | 24 | 7% | ▼ down |
| Engine | 21 | 6% | — flat |
| Airbags | 13 | 4% | ▼ down |
| Electrical System | 11 | 3% | — flat |
| Fuel System | 9 | 2% | ▼ down |
| Speed Control | 9 | 2% | ▼ down |
| Body & Structure | 7 | 2% | — flat |
| Lighting | 7 | 2% | ▼ down |
| Visibility & Wipers | 4 | 1% | ▼ down |
| Other | 4 | 1% | ▼ down |
| Trailer Hitch | 3 | 1% | ▲ up |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | ▼ down |
| Climate Control (A/C & Heat) | 1 | 0% | ▼ down |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | new |
5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
Consequence
IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
Remedy
ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
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
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. A SWITCH LOCATED IN THE PLASTIC COVER OF THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COULD MALFUNCTION AND OVERHEAT, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INTERMITTENT WIPER FUNCTION, LOSS OF WIPER PARK FUNCTION, COMPLETE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION, OR IGNITION OF THE PLASTIC COVER MATERIAL. SWITCH MALFUNCTION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE INTERMITTENT SETTING OF THE WIPERS IS BEING USED, OR WHEN SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTS THE BLADES FROM RETURNING TO THE "PARKED" POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT AT THE FOLLOWING ASSEMBLY PLANTS: ATLANTA PLANT FROM 2/11/00 THROUGH 7/31/00; CHICAGO PLANT FROM 2/14/00 THROUGH 8/4/00; KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 2/26/00 TO 9/4/00; KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/18/00 TO 8/31/00; MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 2/23/00 THROUGH 8/3/00; NORFOLK PLANT FROM 2/21/00 THROUGH 7/27/00; WAYNE STAMPING AND ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 2/25/00 THROUGH 8/15/00; AND WIXOM PLANT FROM 2/15/00 THROUGH 8/8/00.
Consequence
LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON THE WIPER MOTOR. MOTORS BUILT WITH THE SUSPECT TIME FRAME WILL HAVE THE WIPER MOTOR GEAR CASE COVER REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND 8 FOOT BOXES, MAY NOT FULLY SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER CRASH TEST, A FUEL TANK VAPOR RECOVERY VALVE SEPARATED INTERNALLY. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT STATIC ROLLOVER TEST, FUEL SPILLAGE EXCEEDED THE SPECIFIED RATE.
Consequence
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A STOP PLATE ASSEMBLY ON THE VEHICLE FRAME TO PREVENT RECOVERY VALVE CONTACT WITH A FRAME CROSSMEMBER DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE.
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: GASOLINE AND DIESEL ENGINE PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 8 FOOT BEDS, DO NOT FULLY SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL TANK FRONT STRAP ISOLATOR MAY NOT BE PROPERLY POSITIONED WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE STRAP CUTTING THE TANK DURING A 30 MPH FRONT BARRIER TEST, RESULTING IN FUEL SPILLAGE.
Consequence
DURING THE SUBSEQUENT STATIC ROLLOVER TEST, FUEL SPILLAGE EXCEEDED THE SPECIFIED RATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FRONT STRAP ISOLATOR.
Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.
“YESTERDAY ON I4 IN FLORIDA BETWEEN TAMPA AND LAKEFIELD [XXX] WAS CRITICALLY INJURED WHEN A 2000 FORD F350 ROLLED OVER AFTER A REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON A LT26575R16 FIRESTONE STEEL TEX. HE IS NOT EXPECTED TO SURVIVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5…”
“DRIVER GOING 55 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TRIED TO OVER CORRECT IT & WENT OFF THE ROAD & HIT A TREE HEAD-ON. VEHICLE END OVERENDED BEFORE ROLLING 3 TIMES. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHCLE WAS TOTALED. PASSENGER IN HOSPITAL WITH LEG INJURIES/ BROKEN COLLAR BONE & BRUISES OVER…”
“VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT, AND CONSUMER PULLED OFF ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, AND THE OTHER VEHICLE TRIED TO MAKE A U-TURN, AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROADSIDE. FRONT END WAS SMASHED, AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF . ALSO, ABS BRAKES DIDN'T KICK…”
“TRUCK WAS PARKED ON A CAR PORT (COVERED). TRUCK IN GEAR AND PARKING BRAKE ON. I WAS IN GARAGE AT BOTTOM OF HILL. TRUCK ROLLED OFF CAR PORT STRUCK AN OLD JUNK CAR HALF WAY DOWN HILL AND DROVE IT THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND PINNED ME ON THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. I BELIEVE TRUCK WAS IN GEAR AND…”
“FRONT SUSPENSION FRONT OF VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKING, OR WHEN VEHICLE HITS A BUMP SMALL OR LARGE. TAKEN FOR REPAIRS REPAIRED AND REPLACED TIRES,BRAKES, IDOL ARMS NOTHING SEEMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HAVE 4 F350'S AND ALL DO THE SAME. E350'S NO PROBLEM. DEALER NO HELP IN SOLVING THE ISSUE.…”
NHTSA data argues against it: 367 complaints put the 2000 model at #4 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 tires & wheels (130 complaints), brakes (44 complaints), steering (44 complaints).
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2000 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.