2016 Ford F-250 Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 4 NHTSA recalls and 290 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

43/100

High Reported Activity — 2016 Ford F-250

The 2016 Ford F-250 shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

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NHTSA Recalls

4 recalls on record

290

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

5 fire reports

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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Ford F-250 (4)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Tires: Sidewall

A rapid loss of air or a tire rupture while the vehicle is being driven may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires for damage and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 23, 2016. Owners may contact…

NHTSA #16V246000

🔧 Steering

If the steering locks, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Icon will notify owners, and dealers will install a new shock assembly with a revised foam ring and steel support disc, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020….

NHTSA #20E090000

🔧 Air Bags: Frontal: Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette

A disconnected driver's air bag can result in it not deploying, as intended, during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering wheel clock spring, free of charge. Remedy parts are expected to become available in the 3rd Quarter of 2023. An interim notification letter informing owners…

NHTSA #22V337000

🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January…

NHTSA #25V572000

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Most Common Problems — 2016 Ford F-250

Based on 290 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Steering

118

Suspension

Air Bags

Unknown Or Other

Engine

Electrical System

Fuel System

Power Train

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Ford F-250 — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Ford F-250 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2017, 2019 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2013, 2014, 2010 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Ford F-250

Is the 2016 Ford F-250 reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Ford F-250 has 4 recall campaigns and 290 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2016 Ford F-250 have?

The 2016 Ford F-250 has 4 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Ford F-250?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Ford F-250 are: Steering, Suspension, Air Bags, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2016 Ford F-250 safe to buy?

The 2016 Ford F-250 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 4 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Ford F-250 should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford F-250 are: 2013, 2014, 2010. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2017, 2019.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.