2000 Ford F-350 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about tire failures, especially tread separation and blowouts at highway speed, followed by front-end steering and suspension shaking after bumps or potholes. Reports are spread across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to well past 200,000, and many tire and wheel complaints involve truck camping, towing, or heavy loads.

1. 1
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 112 complaints (37%)
   • median 57,663 mi at 4.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2025

   Complaints describe tires losing their tread at highway speed, sometimes with a vibration or a popping sound beforehand and sometimes with no warning; several note the tire stayed inflated but the tread came off and damaged fenders or trim. Owners say pressure was kept at the recommended level, loads were within limits, and there were no punctures. Some complaints note sidewall cracking found beforehand, and several say the tire maker or dealer declined warranty help. Reported from roughly 9,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many at highway speeds and several under 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect all tires, including the spare, for sidewall cracking, bulges and tread separation, and check the DOT date codes. Ask for the tire brand, size and age, and whether any have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer states while driving at 65 MPH and with no warning, the front left tire experienced a blowout and caused damage to the vehicle. Consumer had to pull over. Firestone, lt # p265/75/r16 DOT#- unknown. Dealer had been notified. The consumer was traveling east bound in the fast lane. There was a thud and the consumer pulled over to the left. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10030177, filed 2003-09, 59,999 miles

   “Vehicle experienced tire tread separation while driving at 70 MPH. While the vehicle was in motion the consumer felt a heavy vibration that increased. The consumer tapped on the brake and it slowed, then the consumer heard loud noises and saw rubber flying to the left behind the vehicle. The tire was fully inflated but with no tread.”

   NHTSA complaint #10048163, filed 2003-11, 37,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Front-end shake after bumps ("death wobble")

   • 51 complaints (17%)
   • median 71,712 mi at 4.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2021

   Owners describe the front end shaking violently after hitting a bump or pothole, sometimes badly enough that they have to slow down and hold the wheel to stay in the lane. A few say they replaced tie rod ends, a center link or a spindle without curing it, and some have new tires that did not stop it. Others report a shimmy at 35-45 mph that appears as tires wear, and some say steering assist drops when turning and braking together. Reported from about 50,000 miles up through the 100,000-180,000 mile range, with several complaints filed on trucks over 15 years old.

   What to check: Drive the truck over rough pavement and speed bumps at highway speed if possible, and have a shop check ball joints, tie rod ends, track bar bushings, steering stabilizer and wheel balance before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a serious issue with the steering that my mechanic says is called the death wobble'. I was driving down the road and the steering began to wobble uncontrollably. My front tires are new, steering component all tight and inflation is accurate. I pulled to the aide of the road and almost crashed. The 'wobble' occurs sporadically and is not predicable. It has occurred 6-7 times in the two years I have owned the truck. I am extremely concered as it is my only transportation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11309470, filed 2020-02

   “While driving 5-70 MPH consumer lost power steering/braking. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Deaalership repaired the power steering and brake components, but the consumer was still having the same problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10117358, filed 2005-04, 22,300 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Cracked aluminum wheels

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe factory alloy rims cracking at the spoke base or along the inner lip, which lets air out of the tire, and a few say the crack ran more than halfway around the wheel. Owners report being told the wheels were out of warranty or that the problem was unfamiliar, while some say used-parts suppliers described it as common. One owner notes the wheels were rated below the truck's front axle rating when loaded. Mostly reported between about 90,000 and 230,000 miles, often found during tire service or inspection rather than while driving.

   What to check: Have each wheel checked for cracks at the spokes and inner lip, ask whether any rim has been replaced, and confirm the wheels fitted are rated for the truck's axle loads.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2000 f350 sd right rear single wheel 4x4 aluminum rim cracked on seam not at bolt holes called Ford was told they never heard of this problem that's funny called junk yard and was told this is a common problem I think Ford needs to recall them due to could case death if driving at breaks apart today I took tire off rim it is cracked whole way thru I still have rim to show or send picture they are factory Ford rims.”

   NHTSA complaint #10472097, filed 2012-08, 200,000 miles

   “Consumer stated front rims cracked. As a result, the tires were losing air. ...rims crashed at baseof spoke, resulting in loss of air. According to manufacturer these rims were rated at 2440 lbs each, 4880 lbs total cap on front. Truck rated at 5200 lbs fron guw-actual weight with one passenger is 4960 lbs, resulting in rims opeating in overloaded condition before any load at all is placed in or on truck. Dealer can't do anything.”

   NHTSA complaint #10111188, filed 2005-02, 121,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Stalling and no-start from engine sensors

   • 14 complaints (5%)
   • median 102,800 mi at 7.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2025

   Owners describe the engine cutting out without warning, sometimes at highway speed, and restarting after being left to sit, with symptoms described as worse after long shutdowns or in the morning. Several say the camshaft sensor was replaced, in one case more than once, and that stalling continued and glow plugs were then replaced; others report injector and injector module replacement or a recommendation to replace the engine. Some say the dealer did not resolve the problem. Spread from about 50,000 to 160,000 miles, with several reports on diesel trucks and one owner saying it recurred over many years.

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the camshaft position sensor and related sensors were replaced, and check for stored fault codes. A cold start and a long highway test drive are worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have an f350 diesel year is 2000. In 2003 I had engine-sensor failure. Ford said it was the cam sensor and charged approx. $400 to repair. This started happening again in feb. 2006. I had private repair shop replace cams, still stalls,took truck to Ford repair, replaced glowplugs and charged several hundred dollars, still having trouble. Seems to be worse in morning after non use for 12 hours.”

   NHTSA complaint #10152298, filed 2006-03, 95,600 miles

   “The first and only notification received was the April 5, 2025 email. The 2000 F350 did experience issues of stalling on the road many times. After several thousand dollars of repairs, the camshaft position sensor was replaced by a commercial diesel mechanic. No warnings of any kind were displayed. The truck stalled on the freeway ramp and other streets. These issues occurred since 2000 when the truck was purchased. The lack of notification and choice of fix caused danger and a lot of repair costs. This is unacceptable.”

   NHTSA complaint #11656953, filed 2025-04

Buying note. Give the tires, wheels and front-end steering parts a close look on this model year, since those account for most of what owners report, and ask for service records on sensors and the clutch. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with heavy-duty trucks is worth the cost.

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.