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Ford F-350 — Years to Avoid

Reliability breakdown of every Ford F-350 model year. Based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Model Years
58
Years to Avoid
2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 1999
Best Years
1998, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1969, 1968, 1967
2026
15 complaints7 recalls55 TSBs
2025
24 complaints7 recalls121 TSBs
2024
67 complaints3 recalls214 TSBs
2023Avoid
59 complaints15 recalls285 TSBs
2022Avoid
175 complaints17 recalls239 TSBs
2021
132 complaints15 recalls1 invest.240 TSBs
2020Avoid
245 complaints16 recalls3 invest.303 TSBs
2019Avoid
744 complaints12 recalls3 invest.254 TSBs
2018Avoid
318 complaints10 recalls3 invest.255 TSBs
2017Avoid
858 complaints14 recalls3 invest.325 TSBs
2016
318 complaints4 recalls1 invest.119 TSBs
2015
318 complaints4 recalls2 invest.129 TSBs
2014
162 complaints5 recalls1 invest.148 TSBs
2013
122 complaints10 recalls1 invest.151 TSBs
2012
302 complaints10 recalls1 invest.130 TSBs
2011
267 complaints8 recalls1 invest.157 TSBs
2010
79 complaints7 recalls43 TSBs
2009
80 complaints5 recalls38 TSBs
2008
322 complaints7 recalls1 invest.94 TSBs
2007
91 complaints3 recalls2 invest.42 TSBs
2006
398 complaints4 recalls2 invest.102 TSBs
2005
439 complaints4 recalls2 invest.143 TSBs
2004
375 complaints3 recalls2 invest.93 TSBs
2003
268 complaints5 recalls5 invest.87 TSBs
2002
285 complaints4 recalls4 invest.42 TSBs
2001
369 complaints6 recalls8 invest.38 TSBs
2000
555 complaints5 recalls5 invest.62 TSBs
1999Avoid
700 complaints13 recalls5 invest.98 TSBs
1998Best Year
20 complaints1 recalls3 invest.19 TSBs
1997
191 complaints4 recalls2 invest.152 TSBs
1996
167 complaints4 recalls1 invest.171 TSBs
1995
196 complaints3 recalls1 invest.183 TSBs
1994
126 complaints7 recalls4 invest.159 TSBs
1993
129 complaints9 recalls3 invest.94 TSBs
1992
74 complaints7 recalls9 invest.71 TSBs
1991
34 complaints7 recalls11 invest.55 TSBs
1990
63 complaints7 recalls11 invest.52 TSBs
1989
55 complaints5 recalls7 invest.45 TSBs
1988
34 complaints4 recalls8 invest.36 TSBs
1987
8 complaints2 recalls7 invest.26 TSBs
1986
17 complaints2 recalls6 invest.25 TSBs
1985
4 complaints1 recalls4 invest.23 TSBs
1984
2 complaints3 recalls4 invest.16 TSBs
1983
1 complaints7 recalls3 invest.12 TSBs
1982Best Year
0 complaints2 recalls1 invest.9 TSBs
1981Best Year
3 complaints4 recalls1 invest.9 TSBs
1980Best Year
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.4 TSBs
1979Best Year
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
1978Best Year
0 complaints9 recalls1 invest.
1977Best Year
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
1976Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls1 invest.
1975Best Year
2 complaints4 recalls
1974Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls
1973Best Year
0 complaints3 recalls
1972Best Year
0 complaints3 recalls
1969Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls
1968Best Year
0 complaints2 recalls
1967Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls

How we calculate this

Each year receives a composite risk score based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, safety investigations, and technical service bulletins. Years scoring more than 2x the model's average are flagged as “years to avoid.” Years in the lowest risk bracket are marked as “best years.” All data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Which Ford F-350 Years Should You Avoid?

Based on federal safety data, the 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 1999 Ford F-350 are the most problematic years, with significantly higher rates of owner complaints, recalls, and safety investigations compared to other model years.

If you're shopping for a used Ford F-350, consider the 1998, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1969, 1968, 1967 model years — these have the fewest reported issues relative to other years.

58 model years analyzed