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Ford F-250 SD engine failure problems

104 of the 6,553 owner complaints about the Ford F-250 SD describe engine failure, most of them for the 1999 model year.

owner complaints
104
worst model year
1999
typical repair cost reported
$3,000
typical mileage
76,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Engine · AZ

I have a 2021 Ford F250, the truck was bought new has 34,467 miles on .Oil changes every 5000 miles. Was returning home from camping and engine developed a miss, engine light came on,I was able to make it home and engine developed a loud ticking noise in the upper part of the engine. Truck was towed to a Ford dealer ,where it sits for the past 2 weeks ,waiting on Ford to decide what they are going to do with it. Dealer told me ,after a tear down ,that Ford wanted ,that it was the cam and lifters. This is a known problem ,and Ford dropped the ball on a recall on this engine. Besides the cam ,lifter issue ,there is an oil pump problem with this year engine. I bought the truck as a retirement gift to myself, and now appears to be the worse decision I've made. I believe Ford needs to replace the engine and not just fix the cam and lifters as small metal particles will be through out the engine due to the above failures and will cause a failure again.

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Engine · ND

My pickup has 97,000 miles and has a catastrophic engine failure. Cylinder 6 has failed which is from a lifter due to the insignificant oil pressure at idle. Ford new about this and after the fact tried to "fix" with a software update to increase the idle.

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Engine · MI

I am filing this complaint regarding a catastrophic engine failure in my 2020 Ford F-250. The engine experienced low oil pressure due to a failure involving the camshaft (cam). The failure resulted in damage severe enough that the entire engine had to be replaced. Component or System Failure: The component that failed was the camshaft within the engine. The failure resulted in low oil pressure and subsequent internal engine damage, ultimately requiring complete engine replacement. The failed engine and/or components may be available for inspection upon request, subject to confirmation of their current location and availability. Safety Risk: This failure created a significant safety concern. A sudden loss of engine oil pressure can result in catastrophic engine failure, loss of engine power, and potentially an unexpected vehicle shutdown while driving. Losing engine power while traveling at highway speeds or in traffic could put the driver, passengers, and other motorists at serious risk of an accident. The possibility of sudden engine failure without adequate warning is particularly concerning in a heavy-duty pickup truck that may be used for towing or hauling. Dealer or Independent Service Confirmation: The engine failure was serious enough that the entire engine required replacement. The low oil pressure and resulting engine damage were identified as the cause of the failure. The repair and diagnosis were handled through a ford dealer. Specific diagnostic findings and documentation can be provided if requested. Inspection by Manufacturer or Other Parties: The vehicle was serviced due to the engine failure and underwent evaluation as part of the repair process. Whether the failed components were independently inspected by Ford Motor Company or other parties is UNKNOWN. Warning Lamps, Messages, or Symptoms Prior to Failure: The primary symptom associated with the failure was low oil pressure. No lights were on at the time of service.

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine · FL

The engine started misfiring and running rough while driving down the highway. Without any notice or symptoms, power was lost, and the truck was unable to accelerate. After pulling over and parking, it would not restart. Step one Ford in Crestview Florida diagnosed the engine as having lifter/cam failure. Remedy is engine replacement. This truck has the same engine and failure that the federal safety agency opened an investigation into (NBTSA dp26011) Truck has the 7.3L gas engine.

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Fuel system, Transmission · LA

My vehicle has been at Ford of Harvey since 8/31/26. Dealer replaced ignition coil 8/18/26. Light and rough idle returned and the dealer determined a new engine would be needed. Dealer says Ford warranty only wants to replace cam shaft. Metal in oil was found and dealer has fought corporate warranty for over a month, ripping apart my engine. The fear is engine could seize at highway speeds as a result of internal damage.caused by circulating debris. Truck still sits at dealer.

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · Engine · MD

- Oil leak at 300 miles. - Oil loss can lead to catastrophic engine failure and loss of drivability. - Oil leak can be easily repeated after wiping down and driving as little as 6 miles. - Dealer changed the oil drain plug but that didn't correct the leak. Self inspection indicates the leak is coming from around the oil cooler, which the dealer was informed of. - Symptoms were noted by leakage on garage floor.

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Engine · CA

At 5k miles there was an intermittent ticking/grinding noise. Dealer could not reproduce. At 10k it became more frequent. Dealer confirmed noise and found metal shavings in filter. Engine replaced per TSB. New engine failed after 100 miles. Blinking check engine light came on. Dealer inspected. Required Ford Engineer to review. More metal found in new engine. Engine replaced again.

Filed Jul 7, 2026 · Fuel system · 53,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact received a recall notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road, and the engine seized. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred while traveling out of the State on vacation, with a trailer hitched to the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the outside temperature was extremely hot, and the tow truck operator took three hours to arrive. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WI

10 day roundtrip from [XXX] to [XXX]. 5 incidents of catastrophic engine failure on interstates. Truck started to jerk, sputter, lost power at an alarming rate. No engine light until failure ocurred. Very dangerous with heavy holiday traffic. Lives were in danger, us and other vehicles around us. No one expects travel to go from 70 mph,to 50, 30, 15 in such a short period of time. Pulled over to "investigate" code failures we deemed as o2 sensors. Afterwards the truck started back up, no engine lights and drove as normal. Started using premium gasoline, hoping it would help. Started driving in right lane as much as possible but had a failure ocurr right in front of on ramp as well at interstate speeds. Had another family following us so they also witnessed and pulled over all incidents. Brought into Ford 7/18/24 upon return home. Paid $125 inspection fee, concern not present, come back if happens again. Makes no sense that codes not present to pull. 12/13/2024 engine light on, catalytic converter replaced. 06/19/25 truck had catastrophic failure returning from work on hwy. XXX on [XXX], just two miles from leaving home another failure with no warning lights in heavy Friday traffic in construction zone. Couldn't clear the traffic lane completely. Very scary. Waited for clearing and limped it to a nearby off ramp. Same jerking, loss of power. Vehicle towed to shop for 2 weeks, testing, fuel pump replaced. Picked up 07/07/25. Next day received recall notice 25S75 in the mail 7/08/25. Everything made sense. 1/24/26 - Battery failed inspection @ 40% during oil change. Replaced battery ourselves from Costco. 04/23/26- Warning light, P0420 pulled, shop recommended engine tune -up. Paid $175 inspection fee + $671.20 tune up. 5/29/26 engine light on, P0420 pulled, recommend catalytic convertor replaced but not under factory warranty anymore so wants us to pay $4000 bill. Escalated up through Ford. As of 6/5/26 - Ford will pay half. I refuse. Should be covered by recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF I

Filed May 22, 2026 · Fuel system · 124,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights illuminated and the engine seized. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with metal shavings on the fuel injectors. The contact was informed that the fuel system and fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of the recall, the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed high pressure fuel pump. The contact was informed that the high pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of a gasoline odor in the fuel system. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was informed that the dealer denied the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

Related recalls

EngineReported April 8, 2019 · 131,068 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
Risk
A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.

Recall number 19V278000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engine: dieselReported December 5, 2007 · 1,176,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk
In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on december 29, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.

Recall number 07V553000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford F-250 SD engine failure

Which Ford F-250 SD years have engine failure problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1999 (10 complaints), 2006 (9 complaints) and 2008 (9 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix engine failure on the Ford F-250 SD?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,000 (median of 18 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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