Transmission and brake issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The Ford F-250 has been around for decades, albeit in various guises. Looking nothing like it does today, it was originally a 2nd generation F-series pickup truck that evolved from the original Ford F-2 and F-3.
The 1965 F-250 was the first factory-built F-series 4-door crew cab, and it was only sold as a special order.
First introduced as part of the Ford F-series 9th generation at the 1996 Detroit Auto Show, the F-250 Super Duty (SD) truck was designed primarily for heavy haulers and commercial users. This is still the case, although SD trucks also appeal to owners of trailers, caravans, boats, and so on. People who live in rural areas also tend to show a preference for this type of truck.
But car owners don’t want vehicles with defects and malfunctions. When vehicles have transmission or brake problems, owners immediately question the reliability of the truck and their own safety.
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) speak volumes.
Click on other model years to view more problems: 2019 2020 2021
According to NHTSA records, powertrain problems related to transmission top the list of problems that owners of the 2022 Ford F-250 are experiencing. They aren’t all the same issues and range from loud clunking noises to “complete transmission failure” and a “complete loss of power after take off”. One complaint reports a transmission-related fire.
The trailer brakes are also reportedly a problem, even though Ford has only issued a recall for the 2022 Ford F-250 SD and not the F-250 regular, super, or tremor crew cab.
There don’t appear to be any complaints to the NHTSA by owners of the F-250 SD. However, complaints listed under other models may have been filed by F-250 SD owners.
There are, though, 6 recalls and 77 manufacturer communications, including technical service bulletins on file on the 2022 F-250 SD page. The recalls relate to:
All of these increase the risk of a crash and/or injury.
There are no recalls or manufacturer communications on file for the other F-250 models, just 6 complaints.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Power Train | |
| Electrical System | |
| Electrical System: Integrated Trailer Brake Control | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Engine | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Air Bags | |
| Firerelated |
Transmission problems are not uncommon with older vehicles, but not with new ones. Yet powertrain problems for new vehicles are chillingly common. For example, the Damaged Driveshaft May Fracture recall mentioned above, applies to the 2017-2021 Ford F-250 SD as well as the 2022 model. So, not surprisingly, there are many NHTSA complaints about the powertrain and transmission.
A South Carolina owner of a 2022 Ford F-250 with only 700 miles on the clock describes how his truck caught alight. He relates the failure NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V087000 (STRUCTURE, POWER TRAIN). This is the damaged driveshaft recall.
While driving at about 55 mph “the transmission would downshift.” He noticed the transmission warning light on the instrument panel. Then suddenly, “the installation on the vehicle fell on the draft shaft and caught on fire and melted. The fire and smoke were on the rear of the vehicle,” but he managed to put the fire out.
The local dealer did not diagnose a failure, but they notified Ford. The incident happened on November 25, 2021, and there had been no follow up when the complaint was filed on April 22, 2022.
An owner from Wisconsin describes hearing an “excessively loud clunk” from the transmission when engaging the forward and reverse gears. The complaint states that when shifting the gears while the truck is moving, the truck lurches forward as it stops.
An owner from New York, whose truck has 10-speed transmission, describes how, when putting the vehicle in drive, it went into neutral once and into reverse twice. He says that the gears grind when downshifting from 5 to 4 and 4 to 3. The “gears also slip when going into those same gears,” and sometimes the vehicle “jolts”.
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There is just one complaint to the NHTSA, from an owner in New York. It states very simply, “Trailer brake module fails without notice.”
There is no recall for the 2022 F-250, but we know from Ford’s trailer brake recall issued on March 25, 2022, that some 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles have this problem. Ford says it’s because of a software error that affects towed trailers equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system. If the trailer brakes lose functionality, this can extend the overall stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash.
While it is certainly true that only a small percentage of any vehicle model is likely to turn out to be lemons, you don’t have to be stuck with it if yours is one of these. So, if you suspect that your 2022 Ford F-250 truck might be a lemon, please contact the Lemberg Law lemon law team. We will assess and evaluate your case free of charge.
We have negotiated numerous settlement deals for our clients. If you’ve got yourself a lemon, we can do the same for you. Remember, the law says Ford has to pay the legal fees of lemon law cases.
Just call us or fill in our contact form. We are here to help.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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