Selling a worn-out or dead Ford F-350

Run the VIN against NHTSA's recall list before anything else. The agency's file holds 145 recall campaigns that touch this truck, and three of them tell owners to park it until a dealer has done the work.

NHTSA's numbers for every model year

These rows come out of the NHTSA flat files for complaints and recalls, as downloaded October 10, 2026. Trucks built before the 1999 Super Duty are grouped by body style, and the newest four years share a row. The crash and fire columns tally complaints whose owners said one happened. Campaigns often span many years, so the last column adds up to well over 145.

Steering is the part named in more F-350 complaints than any other, 1,322 in all. It leads every model year from 2006 through 2019. Tires lead 1999-2001, and engine and cooling lead 2002-2005.

The generations, and what each one left behind

The old-body F-350 stayed in production through 1997 and was sold beside the new F-150 until the Super Duty replaced it for 1999. NHTSA still files 15 complaints under 1998. Super Duty pickups come from Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, which Ford opened in 1969; Ohio Assembly in Avon Lake also builds F-350 chassis cabs.

Two fuel tanks, 1989-1993

Trucks with a second tank drew three fuel recalls. On 1989 trucks, a faulty selector valve could overfill one tank and push fuel past the cap (91V146). On 1990-1993 trucks, a check valve in the pump could send unused fuel back into the other tank until it spilled (93V125, whose 1,131,000 count also takes in F-150 and F-250 pickups). A worn pressure regulator could damage that check valve on 1993 trucks (00V424).

The first Super Duty: two diesels that quit

The 7.3 Power Stroke's known fault is a camshaft position sensor. Ford's recall 07S57, NHTSA 07V553, covers 1,176,000 heavy-duty Fords from 1997 to 2003 with the International-built 7.3. Ford blamed circuit wear from manufacturing variation, plus a design too sensitive to its surroundings. When the sensor drops out the engine stops, though Ford said brake and steering assist hold down to about 30 mph in high gear. Dealers swap older sensors for a redesigned one, a service part since April 2007.

The 6.0 replaced it partway through 2003. A loose engine ground stud can overheat a radio suppression strap on 2003 trucks (04V327), and 2004-2005 trucks can stall without warning while driving and may not restart (05V270, a 180,104-vehicle campaign that also covers other 6.0 diesel pickups, SUVs and vans). Ford also lists a "6.0L and 6.4L diesel maintenance communication," campaign 09L04, on its F-350 recall pages.

Fuel again: on 1999-2000 trucks with 8-foot beds, a misplaced strap isolator could let the strap cut the tank in a crash test (99V219).

The speed control switch, 1993-2003

NHTSA lists five campaigns for the cruise control deactivation switch on F-350s from 1993 to 2003: 06V286, 07V078, 07V336, 08V051 and 09V399. Ford's August 2006 campaign alone reached 1.2 million vehicles, the 1994-2002 gas Super Duty among them. Ford said the switch could corrode, overheat and catch fire. Dealers added a fused wiring harness.

2008-2016: the 6.4 and the 6.7

The 6.4 arrived with two 2008 recalls: a diesel particulate filter that could overheat from excess hydrocarbons in the exhaust (07V139), and a battery cable without enough clearance (07V140). Some 2008 four-wheel-drive trucks with a 156-inch wheelbase spilled fuel in a 30 mph barrier test (08V191). Ambulance and fire-engine F-350s from 2011-2015 could shut down on a false exhaust temperature reading (15V175).

2017 on: shaking wheels, hub extenders, driveshafts

Steering complaints jump on the fourth generation: 271 of 573 on the 2017 and 234 of 467 on the 2019. Ford's TSB 18-2268 covers some 2017-2019 F-250 and F-350 4x4 trucks whose steering wheel shakes above 45 mph after a rough patch or an expansion joint. The fix is a new steering damper with an alignment check. Recall 25V626 covers 2020-2021 trucks whose upper steering shaft can come loose.

Three recalls say do not drive. Two are for front wheel hub extenders that can work loose and take the wheel with them: 21V390 on 2021 trucks with dual rear wheels, and 23V758 on 2022-2023 trucks whose extender nuts may be under-tightened. The third, 25V401, is for some 2025 trucks that may be missing a brake booster pushrod spring. The drivetrain list is long: a Dana 275 rear axle housing that can bend on 2020-2021 diesels (21V536), aluminum driveshafts struck by loose insulators on 2017-2022 gas trucks (22V087), a transmission washer that can jam Park on 2020 diesels (22V256), and a high-pressure fuel pump that biodiesel deposits can fail on 2020-2022 trucks (24V957).

Is the repair worth it on a one-ton?

None of the sources behind this page puts a dollar figure on an F-350 repair, so price yours with a written quote. Then hold it against what the same truck brings running, at your mileage and with your bed or body.

1. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls first. A stall on a 1997-2003 7.3 or a 2004-2005 6.0 can be recall work, not a dead engine.
2. Ask a Ford dealer to print open campaigns. Campaign titles like 09L04 show up only in Ford's own list.
3. On a recent diesel, ask what coverage the VIN still has. Ford's page lists 5 years or 100,000 miles of Power Stroke coverage on today's trucks.
4. If the engine is gone, our blown engine guide explains how to weigh a swap against selling.
5. Thinking of selling the parts yourself? Read part out or sell whole first.

How the whole-truck sale works

1. Describe it plainly: VIN, mileage, engine, single or dual rear wheels, and pickup bed, flatbed or service body.
2. Request an offer online, or dial (877) 421-6008.
3. Explain the spot where it sits, whether a ranch yard, a long driveway or a shop lot, and if it rolls in Neutral. Pickup is free anywhere in the US. A plow frame or a gooseneck hitch is worth mentioning too.
4. Don't strip it. Leave the turbo, the injectors and the wheels on. If something is already off, see missing parts and list it when you ask.
5. At pickup, hand over the title, keys and ID. Whether the plates come off with you is a state-by-state rule, laid out in after you sell.

Comparing other Ford trucks? See the F-250, F-150, Excursion and E-Series, or browse all Ford models.