Ford F-250 Super Duty Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 317 of the 5,347 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Ford F-250 Super Duty (5.9%) name the transmission, below the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2020, 2019 and 2017.
Transmission complaints
317
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
5.9%
of 5,347 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
9
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ford F-250 Super Duty transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 21 | 6.2% | 4 | — | 13 |
| 2009 | 3 | 3.9% | 1 | — | 7 |
| 2010 | 8 | 7.1% | 1 | — | 9 |
| 2011 | 23 | 6.2% | 3 | — | 36 |
| 2012 | 18 | 5.6% | 1 | — | 30 |
| 2013 | 3 | 2.6% | 0 | — | 30 |
| 2014 | 8 | 4.7% | 1 | — | 32 |
| 2015 | 19 | 6.4% | 0 | 14V204000 | 35 |
| 2016 | 14 | 4.8% | 1 | — | 27 |
| 2017WORST | 25 | 2.2% | 1 | 22V88000017V225000 | 48 |
| 2018 | 16 | 4% | 0 | 22V880000 | 39 |
| 2019WORST | 44 | 3.8% | 4 | 18V802000 | 41 |
| 2020WORST | 77 | 28.3% | 0 | 22V25600020V365000 | 82 |
| 2021 | 23 | 14.5% | 0 | — | 74 |
| 2022 | 1 | 16.7% | 0 | — | 68 |
| 2023 | 7 | 15.9% | 0 | 23V595000 | 56 |
| 2024 | 7 | 17.1% | 1 | — | 46 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 26V11900025V163000 | 28 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Ford F-250 Super Duty transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 317 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Ford F-250 Super Duty years to avoid for the transmission
2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty
77 transmission complaints (28.3% of the year's 272). Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 22V256000, 20V365000.
2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty
44 transmission complaints (3.8% of the year's 1,158). Most often described: shudder or vibration. Covered by transmission recall 18V802000.
2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty
25 transmission complaints (2.2% of the year's 1,155). Most often described: shudder or vibration. Covered by transmission recalls 22V880000, 17V225000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ford F-250 Super Duty years to avoid.
Ford F-250 Super Duty transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Ford F-250 Super Duty model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V119000 · 2026-03-03 · 2025 models
The driveshaft friction weld may fail, resulting in rear driveshaft separation and a sudden loss of drive power.
- 25V163000 · 2025-03-14 · 2025 models
The steering column shifter may have been improperly welded and detach from the steering column.
- 23V595000 · 2023-08-25 · 2023 models
The left rear axle shaft may have been improperly heat-treated during manufacturing and may break.
- 22V880000 · 2022-11-29 · 2017–2018 models
A radial damper inside the driveshaft may move out of position over time, which can cause a driveshaft imbalance and result in a fracture.
- 22V256000 · 2022-04-14 · 2020 models
A washer within the vehicle's transmission can disintegrate, causing metallic debris to become lodged in the 'Park' mechanism.
- 20V365000 · 2020-06-23 · 2020 models
The transmission torque converter damper plate was not tempered, resulting in a brittle damper plate that may fracture and cause the engine to stall or require increased brake pedal effort in order to stop the vehicle.
- 18V802000 · 2018-11-14 · 2019 models
An incorrect transmission case casting may cause the park pawl assembly to not be secured, possibly resulting in unintended vehicle movement.
- 17V225000 · 2017-03-31 · 2017 models
These transmissions may have a damaged park rod actuating plate that can result in unexpected vehicle movement even though the transmission has been shifted to 'Park.' As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
- 14V204000 · 2014-04-17 · 2015 models
An error with the transmission control software may be such that while shifting from "Park" to "Drive" the vehicle may display "Drive" but possibly engage "Reverse" for 1.5 seconds before engaging "Drive." Therefore, the vehicles do not conform to Federal…
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 77 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 28.3% of all 272 complaints for that year. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (23 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 22V256000, 20V365000.
Does the 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 44 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 3.8% of all 1,158 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (3 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 18V802000. 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 25 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 2.2% of all 1,155 complaints for that year. The most common description is "shudder or vibration" (2 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 22V880000, 17V225000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Ford F-250 Super Duty years have the most transmission complaints?
2020 (77), 2019 (44) and 2017 (25), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Ford F-250 Super Duty transmission problems?
In the 317 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (16.1%), hesitation or delayed engagement (9.8%) and loss of power or limp mode (8.5%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ford F-250 Super Duty model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration