"How reliable is the 2009 Ford F-250?"

"Based on 92 NHTSA complaints, the 2009 Ford F-250 has a median complaint mileage of 69000 miles. The most common issue is Steering."

"What are common problems with the 2009 Ford F-250?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Ford F-250 is Steering, accounting for a significant portion of the 92 total complaints filed."

2009 Ford F-250: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 92 complaints

Total Complaints

69,000mi

Median Mileage

Steering

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

45,000 25th Percentile

69,000 Median Mileage

125,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Steering

Suspension

Wheels

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Tires

Engine And Engine Cooling

Power Train

Visibility

Fuel System, Gasoline

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F250. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER SUDDENLY BECAME EXTREMELY LOW WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE AND BLUE SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS ..."

"ENGINE FIRE IN MY 2009 F250. I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND STARTED TO SEE SMOKE AND WENT TO STOP AND PULL OVER. WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY WERE HARD TO PUSH AND BARELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP AND SKIDDED ON THE GRASS, BUT THE FRONT TIRE DID NOTHING EVIDENT. THERE WERE BU..."

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SUN SHINED ON THE WINDSHIELD, IT WOULD EMIT A GLARE OF RANGING COLORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROX..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Steering 32 complaints

25th: 50,000 mi Median: 68,000 mi 75th: 99,000 mi

Suspension 27 complaints

25th: 57,308 mi Median: 89,500 mi 75th: 128,750 mi

Wheels 6 complaints

25th: 48,000 mi Median: 91,000 mi 75th: 125,000 mi

Engine 5 complaints

25th: 98,863 mi Median: 156,742 mi 75th: 193,625 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 11 CA: 11 GA: 6 NC: 5 PA: 5 AR: 5 AZ: 4 OH: 4 OK: 4 NY: 4

Who Files Complaints?

2.2%

Original Owners

97.8%

Second+ Owners

Ford F-250 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1991	145	94,177	Switch	5
1992	149	91,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	6
1993	183	152,500	Tank Assembly	6
1994	156	114,581	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	7
1995	238	115,000	Front	12
1996	212	125,000	Tires	11
1997	348	114,000	Tires	21
1998	76	114,500	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	2
1999	702	94,000	Tires	61
2000	417	75,768	Tires	39
2001	269	67,000	Tires	20
2002	189	89,000	Engine	15
2003	148	90,000	Tires	7
2004	201	55,079	Engine And Engine Cooling	12
2005	207	65,000	Steering	4
2006	332	61,200	Steering	14
2007	84	42,000	Steering	3
2008	255	75,000	Steering	12
2010	109	80,400	Steering	2
2011	384	70,000	Suspension	8
2012	418	78,000	Suspension	5
2013	153	78,000	Suspension	2
2014	235	83,154	Suspension	3
2015	425	70,300	Steering	7
2016	424	62,000	Steering	9
2017	1713	30,000	Steering	18
2018	615	28,252	Steering	10
2019	1912	20,000	Steering	25
2020	336	41,900	Power Train	4
2021	200	43,000	Fuel System, Diesel	5
2022	136	40,000	Power Train	4

Active Recalls (1)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Tread/Belt

Campaign 11T002000 | 15/03/2011

SEPARATION OF THE BELT EDGES COULD LEAD TO TREAD BELT SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

CONTINENTAL TIRE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED TIRES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CONTINENTAL CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-888-799-2168.

Protect Your Steering System

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Get a wheel alignment annually or after hitting a significant pothole
Don't hold the steering wheel at full lock for more than a few seconds
Check power steering fluid monthly on hydraulic systems
Address wandering, vibration, or play in the wheel promptly
Replace worn tie rod ends before they cause tire wear

Vehicle Rankings

Most complained Worst transmissions Worst engines Worst brakes Most crashes Compare vehicles

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28