CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2025 Ford F-250 SD

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 16 safety complaints about the 2025 Ford F-250 SD with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire and no death is recorded. 7 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 5 complaints, 31% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2025 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

16 complaints on file

16

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
SERVICE BRAKES 5 · 31%
STEERING 4 · 25%
SUSPENSION 3 · 19%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 · 13%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 · 6%
VISIBILITY 1 · 6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 · 6%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 16.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 9.

12 9 6 3
25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2025 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2025 Ford F-250 SD. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

7 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

26V489000 · July 28, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 47,587 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

26V119000 · March 3, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026-2025 F-250 SD and F-350 SD vehicles. The driveshaft friction weld may fail, resulting in rear driveshaft separation and a sudden loss of drive power.
The risk
A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the driveshaft serial number and replace the driveshaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 6, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S13. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 11,431 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

26V104000 · February 20, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 4,381,878 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

25V540000 · August 22, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 F-550 SD, F-450 SD, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, and 2025 F-150 vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.
The risk
An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The instrument panel cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S88.

Ford Motor Company · up to 355,656 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

25V401000 · June 13, 2025

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 F-550 SD, F-450 SD, F-350 SD, and F-250 SD vehicles. The brake booster pushrod retaining spring may not have been installed, which can allow the pushrod to disconnect from the brake pedal and cause a sudden loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems" and 105, "Hydraulic and electric brake systems."
The risk
A sudden loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Dealers will inspect and repair the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C26.

Ford Motor Company · up to 2,345 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

25V306000 · May 9, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain F-250 and F-350 vehicles. Cracked fuel return line connectors may leak fuel into the engine compartment.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel return lines, free of charge. All vehicles have been repaired. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S44.

Ford Motor Company · up to 5 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

25V163000 · March 14, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column shifter may have been improperly welded and detach from the steering column.
The risk
A detached shifter will prevent the driver from shifting into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the steering column serial numbers and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S20.

Ford Motor Company · up to 11,621 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

fire

Driving for 10 minutes when I started smelling a burnt smell. 30 to 45 seconds later I noticed smoke coming out the vents. A few seconds later (while at a stop sign at this point) I see smokecoming out of the hood. Vehicle would not go into park. After several attempts I finally was able to get the vehicle in park and get it to shut off. Opened the hood, saw a small 1 inch flame behind the motor near the firewall on the driversside and immediately called the fire department or emergency responders. Within 3 mins my vehicle was up in flames for a catastrophic vehicle loss.

NHTSA complaint 11766040. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

crash · towed

The contact was an insurance company that called on behalf of the previous owner. The contact's Insurance Company took possession of a 2025 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud popping noise was heard coming from the vehicle with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that following the failure, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which resulted in a collision with another vehicle. The contact also stated that a tire unexpectedly detached from the vehicle during the incident. The vehicle then veered off the roadway and collided with a tree, where it came to a stop. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was required.

NHTSA complaint 11725656, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

crash

Rear view camera system is intermittent and the dealer has been unable to resolve the issue. This is a large vehicle and it is very dangerous to back up without this camera working.

NHTSA complaint 11699631. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
For years FORD vehicles, especially pickup trucks, have blinded drivers with their improperly adjusted headlights; because FORD gives incorrect instructions to adjust them. I refer to page 474 of the 2025 Superduty owners manual as evidence. The instructions FORD gives are to set the low-beam LEVEL, shinning the beam onto a vertical surface 25 feet from the vehicle with the beam at the same height as the headlight on the truck. This is incorrect. There should be at least a 3 inch drop of the low-beam at 25 feet. If there is no drop of the tall truck's headlight (the F-250 stock ride height of the headlight is 44 inches above the ground) it will always blind other drivers of

NHTSA complaint 11746408, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

13 miles

The contact owns a 2025 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel inadvertently turned to the right, then pulled to the opposite direction. The contact stated the steering wheel was cocked to the left or right even though the vehicle was driving straight down the road. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated the failure was due to the steering angle sensor. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that an alignment was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 13.

NHTSA complaint 11743654. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving down HWY 79 in South Dakota. It was 3:00 pm on Saturday Jan. 31st. Out of know where, with not a single vehicle within eyesight, my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a gun shot went off right above my head, and there was glass flying everywhere. This 100% was not due to another vehicle throwing an object up in the air. There was not another vehicle anywhere. After researching this on the internet, it seems this is a reoccurring issue with these Fords that Ford is not taking accountability for. I called the local dealer and was told it would not be covered under warrantee.

NHTSA complaint 11714988. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The pre collision system on this truck is not working, dealer tried twice to fix it and says it is working, but they can’t test it and make it work in real word conditions.

NHTSA complaint 11712085. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford F-250 SD

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 9 6 —
2024 38 4 —
2023 43 16 —
2022 123 17 —
2021 165 12 —
2020 263 14 —
2019 1,164 11 —
2018 397 9 —
2017 1,155 14 —
2016 289 3 —
2015 296 2 —
2014 26 0 —
2013 21 0 —
2012 57 0 —
2011 122 0 1
2010 32 0 —

Other 2025 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst