Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Ford F-250
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Ford F-250 has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 197 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11T002000 TREAD BELT SEPARATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V026000 FMVSS 403/ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK/RICON NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V025000 THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM/FMVSS 404/RICON NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V191000 FMVSS 301/FUEL TANK BRACKET INSTALLATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V096000 FMVSS 207/DRIVER SEAT BACK FRAME NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V541000 DRIVER AIR BAG/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V139000 POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE/EXHAUST SYSTEM NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V140000 POSITIVE BATTERY WIRE LOCATION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 80 complaints
- Suspension 35 complaints
- Engine 19 complaints
- Tires 16 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 15 complaints
- Power Train 14 complaints
Of the 197 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 197 complaints, owners report 3 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$17,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Ford F-250 has a below-average rating due to its high count of steering, suspension, and brake complaints alongside notable recalls on tires, fuel system, and airbags. The combination of common failures in critical areas with recalls affecting safety components impacts dependability and ownership costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 50,000–70,000 miles | $500–$1,100 | very common |
| suspension system | 60,000–80,000 miles | $400–$900 | common |
| service brakes | 40,000–60,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| engine cooling | 70,000–90,000 miles | $700–$1,500 | occasional |
| power train system | 80,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant system service every 3 years
- Transmission fluid change every 50,000 miles
- Inspect and rotate tires every 6,000 miles
- Replace cabin air filter annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual steering noises or stiffness
- Uneven tire wear
- Brake pedal feels soft or spongy
- Overheating engine
- Delayed transmission shifts
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Ford F-250 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.