2009 Ford F-350 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Ford F-350, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Suspension1834.0%
- Steering1426.4%
- Other / unspecified59.4%
- Engine47.5%
- Tires & wheels23.8%
- Brakes23.8%
- Fuel system23.8%
- Electrical11.9%
- Powertrain (other)11.9%
- Seat belts11.9%
- Driver assistance11.9%
- Body & structure11.9%
- Airbags11.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
My truck has the death wobble for the second time. I took it to Red McCombs Ford in San Antonio, Texas and they charged me to fix what is an inherently bad design flaw in the F350 that I own. The wobble stopped and has now reappeared. The death wobble is real. I want it fixed for free or I want Ford to buy my truck for top dollar.
When I hit a bump at between 55 and up, the Truck develops a death wobble even after having all the steering components, including ball joints, tie, rod ends, stabilizer, bar, shocks, replaced
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Yes the steering wheels are coming loose on all these trucks. Customers are having to fix their own steering wheels because there are no recalls. I don't believe steering wheels should be coming loose. The only thing they've done to fix it is make it easier to fix on the newer models.
My truck has the death wobble for the second time. I took it to Red McCombs Ford in San Antonio, Texas and they charged me to fix what is an inherently bad design flaw in the F350 that I own. The wobble stopped and has now reappeared. The death wobble is real. I want it fixed for free or I want Ford to buy my truck for top dollar.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
When I hit a bump at between 55 and up, the Truck develops a death wobble even after having all the steering components, including ball joints, tie, rod ends, stabilizer, bar, shocks, replaced
Death wobble when hitting any bump whilr going over 55
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-55 MPH, there was a winding sound detected. The code P0088 was displayed. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed, causing metal fragments to enter the engine. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
FORD DIESEL ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER/MISS/BACKFIRE/ETC-LATER SHOWN TO HAVE 'BLOWN-UP' ... BASIS OF PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IN THE 'CRANK-AREA' OF THE ENGINE. HAS TO BE REPLACED @ 116,000 MILES WITH A $20,000 PRICETAG. (NOTE: ANY DIESEL SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 250,000--300,000 MILES). WE ARE 2ND OWNER(1ST OWNER WAS A FORD DEALER) BUYING ON 5/31/12 47,276 MILES ON SPEEDO. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
My truck has the death wobble for the second time. I took it to Red McCombs Ford in San Antonio, Texas and they charged me to fix what is an inherently bad design flaw in the F350 that I own. The wobble stopped and has now reappeared. The death wobble is real. I want it fixed for free or I want Ford to buy my truck for top dollar.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH CAPITOL TIRES CL24757-245/70/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND THAT IMPACTED THE ORIGINAL TIRE. THE TECHNICIAN THEN REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES WITH ANTHER BRAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE OF THE IRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS 92,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVES REALLY ROUGH TRUCK BOUNCES AND MAKES IT HARD TO STEER HAD TO SLOW DOWN SO I WOULDN'T LOSE CONTROL. IM A BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVE BOUGHT ALOT OF TRUCKS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE WOULD NOT TURN ONCE INSTALLED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE MOST LIKELY RUSTED AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING USED FOR SOME TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. ..UPDATED 09-26-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES ONLY SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THEY DO NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED SMITH MOTORS IN WASHINGTON, N.J. AND WAS ADVISED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO TRY RELEASE. UPDATED 10/1/2012 *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2009 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-55 MPH, there was a winding sound detected. The code P0088 was displayed. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed, causing metal fragments to enter the engine. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN TO EXIT. THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED! I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO ACCESS ROAD. AFTER I WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND RECEIVED DIAGNOSIS, I BEGAN TO PRICE SHOP. BY DOING THIS I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE OTHER FORD TRUCKS THAT HAD THE SAME REPAIRS RECENTLY. I ALSO ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER OWNER THAT HAD THE SAME DIAGNOSIS/REPAIRS COMPLETED. THE COST WAS CLOSE TO 10GRAND. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. DUE TO THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS I FEEL THIS WARRENTED AN INVESTIGATION. I FIND MYSELF FORTUNATE THAT THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVES REALLY ROUGH TRUCK BOUNCES AND MAKES IT HARD TO STEER HAD TO SLOW DOWN SO I WOULDN'T LOSE CONTROL. IM A BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVE BOUGHT ALOT OF TRUCKS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAME UP TO STOPLIGHT, APPLIED BRAKE, ENGINE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. PUT TRUCK IN PARK, ENGINE CONTINUED AT 4KRPM. PRESSED ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. 4TH TIME THIS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW. FORD DEALER SAYS CODE DOESN'T SHOW UP AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I HAVE DRIVEN 75,000 MILES AND THIS IS THIRD FORD VAN AND NEVER HAD PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR PULLED OUT OF SIDE ROAD CROSSING MY PATH. I STRUCK HIS CAR BROADSIDE IN DRIVER DOOR. MY AIR BAG RESTRAINTS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 AT POINT OF IMPACT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT MY AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE WOULD ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR PULLED OUT OF SIDE ROAD CROSSING MY PATH. I STRUCK HIS CAR BROADSIDE IN DRIVER DOOR. MY AIR BAG RESTRAINTS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 AT POINT OF IMPACT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT MY AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR PULLED OUT OF SIDE ROAD CROSSING MY PATH. I STRUCK HIS CAR BROADSIDE IN DRIVER DOOR. MY AIR BAG RESTRAINTS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 AT POINT OF IMPACT. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT MY AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .