NHTSA vehicle safety data

2006 Ford F-250 SD Recalls & Complaints

The 2006 Ford F-250 SD has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 274 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2006 Ford F-250 SD. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2006 Ford F-250 SD owner complaints

Owners have filed 274 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Ford F-250 SD, describing incidents dated October 13, 2005 to May 5, 2017.

Most-cited components

Suspension 144 complaints
Steering 102 complaints
Engine 25 complaints
Service Brakes 16 complaints
Tires 16 complaints
Electrical System 9 complaints

Of the 274 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 274 complaints, owners report 8 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11053449 · Filed December 8, 2017
FRONT END VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AROUND 60MPH WHICH TURNS INTO A REAL BAD SHIMMY SOMETIMES. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. HAVE RECEIVED A COUPLE OF NOTICES FROM FORD MOTOR CO. THAT TELL ME THEY ARE AWARE AND TO JUST SLOW DOWN WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAD THE TRUCK…
ODI #11002169 · Filed June 26, 2017
CPSC: THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A TERRIBLE BOUNCE ATSPEEDS LESS THAN 30 MPH. I RETURNED THE TRUCK TO RICK'S TIRES AND HE CONTACTED FREESERVICE TIRES. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE BELTS SEPARATED ON THE LEFT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE TOWING A BOAT. THE TIRED…
ODI #10990988 · Filed May 22, 2017
FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND FUEL TANK FELL TO GROUND WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY

Read all 274 complaints

Owner-reported

2006 Ford F-250 SD mileage at failure

243 of the 274 complaints on file for the 2006 Ford F-250 SD give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Suspension	Median 35,000 miles	Middle half 16,000–50,000 miles	Based on 125 complaints
Steering	Median 40,000 miles	Middle half 25,000–60,000 miles	Based on 91 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2006 Ford F-250 SD in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA08-007: VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION
Closed March 31, 2009
Preliminary Evaluation PE07-057: VIOLENT FRONT END OSCILLATION
Closed March 14, 2008

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Steering May Lock Up

NHTSA #20E090000 · Steering · NHTSA notice

Reported December 9, 2020 · Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC

Potentially affected: 102 vehicles

Owners notified December 21, 2020

Defect description

Icon Vehicle Dynamics, LLC (Icon) is recalling all 05-UP FSD 2.5 Centerline Stabilizer Kits with part number 65050. The kits were sold as an accessory for certain 2005-2021 Ford F-250 4X4 and F-350 4X4 pickup trucks. The foam ring inside the stabilizer "through shaft" may block the piston ports, possibly causing the steering to lock up.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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. Owners may contact Icon customer service at 1-951-689-4266.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

STEERING COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #11V352000 · Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported July 13, 2011 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 26,715 vehicles

Ford campaign 11C18 · Owners notified August 15, 2011

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.

Safety consequence

NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

FORD'S SAFETY RECALL NO. 11C18.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION KITS

NHTSA #08E026000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported March 27, 2008 · TRUXXX MANUFACTURING, LLC

Potentially affected: 338 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 08-01BLK · Owners notified April 16, 2008

Defect description

TRUXXX IS RECALLING 338 AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT WELDED 3" LIFT BLOCKS FOR REAR SUSPENSIONS, PART NO. 206073, INCLUDED IN SUSPENSION KIT NOS. 108035 AND 108036, SOLD BETWEEN JULY 26, 2007 AND MARCH 4, 2008, FOR USE ON FORD MY 2005-2008 F-250 SUPERDUTY 4X4 LIGHT TRUCKS. COMPRESSIVE FORCES OF THE WELDED LIFT BLOCKS RESULTING FROM FORESEEABLE AND EXCESS VEHICLE PAYLOADS AS WELL AS OVER-TIGHTENING OF THE U-BOLTS DURING INSTALLATION MAY DISTORT THE BLOCKS, REDUCING THE INTENDED CLAMPING FORCE OF THE U-BOLTS.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD ALLOW POSSIBLE SHIFTING AND DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT AND AXLE.

Manufacturer remedy

TRUXXX WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS/INSTALLERS AND WILL REPLACE AFFECTED WELDED LIFT BLOCKS WITH EITHER NON-WELDED ALUMINUM OR CAST IRON BLOCKS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRUXXX AT 1-800-381-8320.

Notes

TRUXXX RECALL NO. 08-01BLK.THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION KITS AND HAS NOT RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON FORD MOTOR COMPANY VEHICLES.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2006 Ford F-250 SD. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

274 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Ford F-250 SD.

Suspension

ODI #11053449

Incident: September 1, 2016 · Filed: December 8, 2017

FRONT END VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AROUND 60MPH WHICH TURNS INTO A REAL BAD SHIMMY SOMETIMES. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. HAVE RECEIVED A COUPLE OF NOTICES FROM FORD MOTOR CO. THAT TELL ME THEY ARE AWARE AND TO JUST SLOW DOWN WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAD THE TRUCK SINCE 2011. NO SPECIFIC DATES.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11002169

Incident: March 31, 2017 · Filed: June 26, 2017

CPSC: THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A TERRIBLE BOUNCE ATSPEEDS LESS THAN 30 MPH. I RETURNED THE TRUCK TO RICK'S TIRES AND HE CONTACTED FREESERVICE TIRES. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE BELTS SEPARATED ON THE LEFT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED WHILE TOWING A BOAT. THE TIRED HAD A LARGE HOLE AND PART OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE INNER TIRE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT PICK UP BED OUTER WALL AND BRACING SUPPORTS. UPDATED 06/28/2017*JS

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10990988

Incident: May 5, 2017 · Filed: May 22, 2017

FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND FUEL TANK FELL TO GROUND WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY

Service Brakes

ODI #10978627

Crash

Incident: December 23, 2012 · Filed: April 15, 2017

EMERGENCY BRAKES DO NOT HOLD. HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED FOR ADJUSTMENT SEVERAL TIMES. IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AS IT HAS NO PARK PINS. ALTHOUGH MY INSURANCE COVERED IT, IT ACTUALLY ROLLED INTO ANOTHER BUILDING ON MY PROPERTY. I HAVE TO US A WOOD BLOCK AGAINST THE WHEEL TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING ON ALL BUT THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCURRENCES WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED.

Suspension

ODI #10886051

Incident: July 17, 2016 · Filed: July 20, 2016

WHILE DRIVING AND GOING OVER A BUMP BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRUCKS FRONT END STARTS TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE CAUSING THE TRUCK TO LOSE CONTROL. NOTE ONLY DRIVING POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE (3) OCCASIONS MOSTLY RECENTLY 7/17/16 AND 7/19/16 WHILE TRAVELING S/B ON INTERSTATE 95 AND TRAVELING N/B ON INTERSTATE 95. THE DEFECT CAUSES YOU TO DRIVE AT REDUCED SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCK WITH STRAIGHT FRONT AXLES. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

Tires

ODI #10884819

Incident: July 9, 2016 · Filed: July 14, 2016

I HAVE BF GOODRICH RUGGED TRAIL T/A 275 70 R18 TIRES ON MY 2006 FORD F250 WHICH WERE PURCHASED 25 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE 22000 MILES ON THEM. WHILE TOWING MY TRAVEL TRAILER I EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND CAMPER FOR NY VISIBLE SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. EVERYTHING A APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER SO I CONTINUED ON DRIVING SLOWER. AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES THE TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW UP DAMAGING MY VEHICLE AND SENDING THE TREAD OF THE TIRE ACROSS THE OTHER LANES TRAFFIC WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR VEHICULAR ACCIDENT. I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK. I CHANGED THE TIRE AND CONTINUED DOWN THE ROAD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 200 MILES I STARTED GETTING THE SAME VIBRATION FROM THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. FEARING ANOTHER BLOW OUT AND HAVING NO SPARE TIRE I PULLED OVER AND SPENT THE NIGHT IN A CAMPGROUND. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT OUT TO GET TIRES AND UPON THE TIRE PERSONAL INSPECTING THE TIRE THEY SAID THAT IT HAD A AIR BUBBLE UNDER THE TREAD AND THAT IT TOO WOULD HAVE MORE THAN LIKELY BLOWN OUT ON ME. I DIDN'T THINK THAT THIS WAS COINCIDENCE ANYMORE. SO UPON GETTING HOME I CALLED BF GOODRICH AND MADE A COMPLAINT. THEN I RESEARCHED THE TIRES AND SAW THAT A BUNCH OF THEM WERE RECALLED. JUST THAT MINE WAS NOT WITHIN THE THE MANUFACTURE'S DATE CODE WITH IN A FEW WEEKS. I FEEL THAT IF I HADN'T HAD THAT CAMPER BEHIND ME THAT I PROBABLY COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK WITH POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES.

Engine

ODI #10874521

Incident: October 21, 2015 · Filed: June 16, 2016

HEADS WENT BAD NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADS AND NEW HEAD STUDS BECAUSE THE OLD HEAD STUDS STRETCHED AND THE HEADS WARPED , ALSO HAD TO DO AN EGR DELETE . I WAS TOLD IT WAS BUILT PROOFING AND IT HAS TO BE DONE TO ALL 6.0 LTRS.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10863294

Incident: June 1, 2009 · Filed: May 5, 2016

LIKE TOYOTA CARS, IF "WINTER-STYLED, RUBBER FLOOR MAT ON DRIVERS SIDE BECOMES UNHOOKED & SLIDES FORWARD, IT CAN LODGE THE ACCELERATOR DOWN CAUSING A HIGH SPEED. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. THESE ARE FORD FACTORY INSTALLED MATS I PAID EXTRA FOR AT TIME VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. OCCURS WHEN I ACCELERATED HARD, SUCH AS TO PASS ANOTHER CAR OR ENTER/MERGE ONTO AN INTERSTATE. HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL MAT BACK. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.

Wheels

ODI #10781421

Incident: October 8, 2015 · Filed: October 12, 2015

MY FACTORY 20" WHEEL CRACKED ON ME AND AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH SEEMS TO BE A NORMAL PROBLEM

Service Brakes

ODI #10733029

Incident: November 14, 2011 · Filed: July 9, 2015

IN LATE 2011, WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK DOWN HIGHWAY 90 EAST IN PASCAGOULA, MS, THE TRUCK BEGAN SLOW DOWN AND PULL DRAMATICALLY TO THE RIGHT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. I MANAGED TO WRESTLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND, IN COMBINATION WITH THE SLOWING SPEED, BROUGHT THE TRUCK SAFELY TO A STOP IN A WALMART PARKING LOT IN ABOUT 1 MILE. I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND THE FRONT RIGHT ROTOR WAS SMOKING AND GLOWING RED HOT. APPARENTLY THE BRAKE CALIPER HAD SEIZED AFTER APPLICATION. I WENT INSIDE WALMART TO KILL TIME AND LET THE BRAKES COOL OFF, HOPING THAT WHEN COOLED, THE CALIPER WOULD RELEASE AND THE TRUCK WOULD BE DRIVABLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1-1/2 HOURS, I RETURNED TO THE TRUCK AND NOTED THAT THE WHEEL WAS NOT SMOKING, BUT WAS STILL RADIATING HEAT. I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AND IT DROVE WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE ISSUES UNTIL I APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE, THE TRUCK WAS NOW PULLING TO THE LEFT. EXPECTING A SIMILAR ISSUE, I DECIDED TO DRIVE DIRECTLY TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN PASCAGOULA. HOWEVER, UPON NEEDING TO APPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN, THEY DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP AS THE REGULAR BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. I CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR BRAKE ISSUES (PULLING AND HEATING FROM SEIZED CALIPERS) AND IN JUNE 2015 HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO THE ONE IN 2011. LOOKING AT BLOGS AND COMPLAINT SITES, FORD'S SUPER DUTY SERIES OF TRUCKS, AS WELL AS F-150S, ARE KNOWN TO HAVE BRAKE ISSUES. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX. PLEASE HELP. I'M TIRED OF SHELLING OUT $2,000+ WHEN ALL I SHOULD HAVE TO DO IS REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. DUE TO THE SUDDEN AND SEVERE "PULL" AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF STOPPING ABILITY, THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM.

Other Ford F-250 SD model years

Check your 2006 Ford F-250 SD VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford F-250 SD at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Ford VIN