There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Ford F-250in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250 The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fluid leaking from the bottom of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the engine block of the vehicle had fractured. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine block had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving uphill at approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was HOT before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was then allowed to cool down, and water was added to the radiator. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred 12,000 miles later. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the cabin began to fill up with diesel exhaust fumes and white smoke. The contact stated that "Drive Vehicle to Clean Exhaust Filter" warning light illuminated. The contact rolled down the window to relieve the cabin of exhaust fumes and smoke. The contact noticed that a rubber boot around the 4WD shift lever inside the vehicle was completely melted, and only a thick plastic ring around the shift lever opening where the rubber boot was attached remained. The contact replaced the rubber boot; however, the failure reoccurred within a week after replacement. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the exhaust pipes needed to be replaced and that the repair required the vehicle cabin to be removed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
I PURCHASED MY 2008 FORD F250 IN 2015 FROM A DEALERSHIP IN BURKBURNETT, TX. THE TRUCK STARTED LOOSING COOLANT FROM WHAT SEEM TO BE THE LOWER RADIATOR HOSE. THAT LEAK STOPPED BUT CONTINUED LEAK COOLANT FROM BUT WAS NOT VISIBLE. THEN THE COOLANT FILLER BOTTLE STARTED COLLECTING A BLACK FLUID AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ENGINE OIL. SO, I WAS GETTING OIL IN MY ANTIFREEZE. THE RADIATOR WAS DRAINED AND REFILLED WITH COOLANT BUT I STILL FOUND OIL IN THE COOLANT FILLER BOTTLE. RIGHT AROUND THANKSGIVING 2019, I DECIDED TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO A DEALERSHIP 50 MILES AWAY. THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AFTER THE TEST DRIVE AND HAS NOT STARTED SINCE. WE WERE GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $11,000 TO CLEAN OUT THE OILS IN THE ENGINE. THE PICKUP IS NOT WORTH THAT MUCH ACCORDING TO THE LIENHOLDER. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SITTING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND HAS BEEN SINCE THE NEW YEAR AFTER WE HAD IT TOWED FROM THE DEALERSHIP 50 MILES AWAY TO OUR HOME.
THE RADIATOR IS SEPARATING AT THE SEAL AT THE EDGE. WE ARE LOSING APPROX 1 GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE A DAY. I HAVE HEARD THIS COMPLAINT FROM SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS WE HAVE TALKED TO AND OTHER CUSTOMERS.
EXCESSIVE BLOWBY POLLUTING ENGINE. #8 AND #6 CYLINDERS, RINGS HEAVILY WORN OR DAMAGED DUE TO DIESEL REGEN CONTAMINATING LUBRICATION AND GETTING IN CRANKCASE. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN AND UNACCEPTABLE ISSUE CAUSING SCORED ENGINE BLOCKS AND FAILURE OF ENGINE AND DPF AND EGRS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V139000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COLLEY FORD (1945 AUTO CENTRE DR, GLENDORA, CA 91740, 909-592-4131) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
EXHAUST MANIFOLDS LEAK. FORD USES ALUMINA HEADS WITH STEEL MANIFOLD BOLTS AND CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. THE THREE METALS HAVE DIFFERENT HEAT RANGES WHICH CAUSE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS TO WRAP OR CRACK AND BREAK THE BOLTS CAUSING LEAKS.
TOTAL DAMAGE IN THE ENGINE, DEALER SALE WITH THIS PROBLEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE NUMBER EIGHT CYLINDER WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LOW ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR SEAL FRACTURED AND THE HOSES WERE LEAKING. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE RUSTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND LEAKING. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED BOTH EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, 20 STUDS, FOUR NUTS, AND TWO GASKETS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,851.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FIRE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED THAT WHITE SMOKE WOULD EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SELF-CLEANING FUNCTION HOWEVER, THE WHITE SMOKE STILL EMITTED AFTER THE FUNCTION WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 179,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY 08 FORD F250 6.4 HAS HAD EXCESSIVE BLUISH WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST WHILE DRIVING AND LASTS AROUND 20 SECONDS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND SITUATION MET ALL CRITERIA OUTLINED IN TSB 11-2-2. CAC WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL INTERMITTENTLY HAS SAME PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCURRENCE THE SMOKE WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT A MOTORCYCLE TRAVELING BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO VISIBILITY. FORD STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL.
HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. HAD THE AIR CHARGE COOLER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT AROUND 70,000 MILES. THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING AS WELL BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT AND WANTED 1400.00 TO REPLACE. WAS LOSING COOLANT AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 GALLON A WEEK GOING THRU THE AIR CHARGE COOLER AND OUT THE EXHAUST. AT 89,000 MILES I HAD TO PAY $1947.00 TO REPLACE BOTH THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONAL EGR COOLERS. AGAIN, DUMPING A GALLON OF COOLANT INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM A WEEK CAUSING SEVER SMOKING AND POLLUTANTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT THOUSANDS OR PROBABLY MILLIONS OF F-250 AND OTHERS WITH THE 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE. FORD REFUSED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO A TOTAL RECALL ON THESE ILL DESIGNED TRUCKS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH TURNING THEIR HEAD ON THIS DESIGN FLAW AND NOT MADE TO CORRECT THE AIR CHARGED COOLERS, PLASTIC RADIATORS AND THE EGR COOLERS.
CPSC# I1310184A. 2008 FORD F-250. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM. STATED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ALSO. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS LOOSING A GALLON OF COOLANT A WEEK. IT WAS GOING THROUGH THE AIR CHARGE AND OUT THE EXHAUST. AT 89,000 MILES, HE HAD TO PAY $ 1947.00 TO REPLACE BOTH THE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL EGR COOLERS. AGAIN, DUMPING A GALLON OF COOLANT INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM A WEEK WHICH CAUSED SEVERE SMOKING.
EXHAUST LEAK FROM BEHIND THE TURBO. EXHAUST ENTERS THE INSIDE OF THE CAB. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. EXPENSIVE TO FIX. MUST REMOVE CAB FROM FRAME TO REPAIR. HAZARDOUS FUMES ENTER VEHICLE CAUSING HEADACHES. DEALER IS ACTING LIKE THIS IS RARE BUT IN SEARCHING THE WEB I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE POWER FAILED AND LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD. UPON BEING SERVICED, ROCKER ARM WAS BROKEN AND CAUSED THE PROBLEMS. THERE WAS NO NOTICE OF THIS ISSUE AND IT AFFECTED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER/SPEED. IT IS NOTED THAT WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE 6.4L DIESEL ENGINES. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026