2016 Ford F-250 SD Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a violent front-end shake after hitting a bump at highway speed, commonly called the death wobble, and many say it returns after steering and suspension parts are replaced. A smaller but consistent group reports diesel emissions hardware faults, mainly a failed DEF reductant heater that brings on a check-engine light, and rear camera or air bag warning problems tied to open recalls.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front-end shake after highway bumps (death wobble)

   • 145 complaints (50%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (56 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,755 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the steering wheel and front end shaking violently after the truck hits a bump, expansion joint or uneven pavement at highway speed, sometimes strongly enough that drivers slow sharply to regain control. Some say the shake recurs within a few thousand miles of repairs. Dealers and independent shops reported worn steering dampers, tie rods, ball joints, shocks and alignment issues, and replaced parts with mixed results; several owners say the condition came back after the work. Reported from a few thousand miles up to well past 150,000 miles, usually at highway speeds over bumps or bridge joints.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Road test on the highway and drive over expansion joints and uneven pavement at 60-70 mph to see whether the front end shakes. Ask whether the steering damper, tie rods, ball joints or track bar have been replaced, and have a mechanic inspect front-end play before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was traveling at a speed of 65 MPH down interstate 5 south in castaic, ca. The truck front end suddenly began to shake violently. It was only when I slowed down and pulled over when the shaking stopped and the truck drove normally. I later came to realize I had experienced what many call the 'death wobble'. I immediately took the truck to my local Ford dealer for repairs”

   NHTSA complaint #11365654, filed 2020-10, 60,000 miles

   “Driving on interstate and the truck started a uncontrollable wobble. During the wobble I felt I had no control of vehicle and was moving out of my lane. Ford needs to do something immediately before someone gets killed I also tell a fifth wheel camper and I can only imagine having that kind of weight behind me that the truck would flip and possibly kill me or someone else on the interstate.”

   NHTSA complaint #11315743, filed 2020-03, 11 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Diesel DEF reductant heater failure

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners of diesel trucks describe the check-engine light coming on, sometimes with reduced power or a message telling them to check the engine, and dealers tracing it to a failed diesel exhaust fluid heater or reductant heater and sender assembly. Some owners note that earlier model years were covered under a customer satisfaction program and ask why this year is not. A related complaint describes a clogged exhaust filter assembly needing replacement. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 130,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a diesel, ask whether the DEF heater or reductant heater has been replaced and whether any emissions-related service campaigns were completed; scan for stored emissions codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The reductant heater and sender assembly failed causing the malfunction indicator to light. This is the same problem addressed for the 2011-2015 model year per customer satisfaction program 18m01. The fault was confirmed by rivertown Ford in columbus ga via diagnostic tool. Clearly the issue per customer satisfaction program 18m01 remains and is affecting 2016 model year.”

   NHTSA complaint #11378297, filed 2020-12, 110,900 miles

   “Failure of reductant heater and sender unit for diesel emission fluid (def) with only 37,000 miles. Error codes will eventually force vehicle to idle and not drive at highway speeds. Ford vehicles prior to 2016 were fixed at no charge for this defect under Ford's customer satisfaction recall”

   NHTSA complaint #11395875, filed 2021-02, 37,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Worn front suspension and ball joints

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe shuddering, clunking and rough steering that appear at relatively low mileage, with some front-end shaking traced to worn ball joints. In one case a dealer diagnosed faulty front ball joints and replaced them; others describe repeated suspension repairs at their own expense. Several complaints group the shake with suspension wear rather than steering parts alone. Reported from roughly 30,000 miles upward, often in the 50,000-140,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the front ball joints, hub seals and wheel bearings checked for play or noise, especially on 4x4 trucks used on dusty or rough roads, and ask for service records on front-end work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford-250. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced severe shaking and vibration after driving over bumps on the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the front ball joints were faulty and needed to be replaced. The ball joints were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11526834, filed 2023-06, 30,000 miles

   “The contact's husband owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that a bracket was placed on the suspension to prevent the failure commonly known as the death wobble . Despite the repair, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a loud vibrating noise followed by violent shaking while driving over a bump in the road. Additionally, the steering wheel was vibrating uncontrollably making it difficult to steer the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11621295, filed 2024-10, 63,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Diesel high-pressure fuel pump failure and metal debris

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the truck losing power or stalling, sometimes with a check-engine light, and shops finding metal debris from a failed high-pressure fuel pump that traveled through the fuel system. In several cases the whole fuel system was quoted or replaced, and one owner reported a similar fuel-system diagnosis on a gasoline truck with reduced power mode. Reported from about 67,000 miles to beyond 200,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the high-pressure fuel pump or fuel system has been serviced, check for fuel or debris-related service records, and have a diesel specialist scan for fuel-system codes and inspect for contamination.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an inoperable high-pressure fuel pump(HPFP). The dealer determined that the entire fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11662363, filed 2025-05, 91,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the check engine light illuminated, and the message “Reduced Power Mode” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump, manifold assembly, fuel injectors, injector terminal seal, gaskets, vacuum pump, and left side fuel rail pressure pump needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,880.”

   NHTSA complaint #11593655, filed 2024-06, 76,880 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Rearview camera blank or distorted image

   • 12 complaints (4%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the backup camera cutting in and out, showing a blue or black screen, or displaying a distorted or blank image in reverse. Several say they were told parts for a rearview camera recall were not yet available, so the repair had not been made. A service bulletin and a customer satisfaction program address rear camera inspection and replacement on these trucks. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 50,000 to 200,000 miles.

   Recall 25V5720001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Put the truck in reverse and see whether the camera image is clear and steady. Ask whether the rearview camera recall (25V572000) or the related customer satisfaction program has been completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Backup camera cuts in and out goes to blue or black screen intermittently or does not come on at all. From park to reverse. This has been happening on and off over the last 5 months. Appears to be getting more frequent as time goes on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11362067, filed 2020-09, 50,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the rearview camera intermittently failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the camera occasionally displayed a blank or distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11693853, filed 2025-10, 200,000 miles

Buying note. A highway test drive over rough pavement and bridge joints is the most useful check on these trucks, since front-end shake and suspension wear dominate owner reports. On diesel examples, confirm the status of the rearview camera and air bag recalls and ask for records on emissions and fuel-system repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.