The Ford F-150 is the flagship vehicle for the American automaker, but there are other trucks in the F series that also bring in considerable income. The F-250 is one of those, and many owners are very pleased with their purchase. Drivers who bought the 2008 model are far from pleased, however

The 2008 F-250 was plagued with problems that left owners both frustrated and angry. Critics were far from forgiving, as well, and blasted Ford for the 2008 model. Consumer Reports has all the details as to why the 2008 Ford F-250 was one of the worst models in the F-Series lineup.

The 2008 Ford F-250 failed to impress consumers and critics

Consumer Reports didn’t hesitate to slap the 2008 Ford F-250 with a reliability rating of one out of five. It’s a rating that the review site rarely, if ever, uses so when you see a vehicle that gets such a low score, it’s best to steer clear of it. You might purchase a great vehicle, but the odds are not in your favor.

The brakes, engine cooling system, and the suspension were all problem areas that received a low-reliability score of one out of five. The transmission major was the only area to receive a five out of five, and this wasn’t enough to save the 2008 F-250.

For many consumers who bought the 2008 F-250, they found themselves with some massive repair bills. Car Complaints reports that one of the highest repairs was the engine. It would blow up, and costs owners over $4,300 to fix. The drain water separator light also comes on, and owners had to shell out an astonishing $9,500. 

The 2008 F-250 was riddled with recalls

Far too often, consumer complaints are ignored by automakers. It’s all too common for dealerships to outright deny that there is an issue with a vehicle, even though it’s clear that the issue is not all in the owner’s head. In this case, the NHTSA stepped in, and slammed the 2008 Ford F-250 with nine recalls that Ford couldn’t deny.

Just a glance at some of the recalls might make one think that the 2008 F-250 is possessed. The lift can activate on its own, the engine makes strange noises, and flames shoot out of the tailpipe. Other problems include tread that comes loose on the tire, fuel spills out, seats break, and airbags that won’t’ deploy.

Thankfully, this is not some real-life version of Christine. It was simply some bad engineering decisions and faulty parts that needed to be replaced. For the owners who bought it thinking they were getting a dependable vehicle, however, they were sorely disappointed.

Is the F-250 still problematic or has Ford turned it around?

For those who get a lemon, it’s easy to assume that the entire line is just as bad. That’s not always the case. More often than not, automakers have to admit that what they’re doing isn’t working, and they go back to the drawing board to redesign the problematic vehicle and come out with something truly awesome.

That seems to be what happened with the Ford F-250. It’s far from perfect, but it’s come a long way since the 2008 model came out. That’s why the 2020 Ford F-250 is currently getting such great reviews. 

Car and Driver stated,

“The 2020 Ford Super Duty lineup represents the pinnacle of the company’s pickup-truck capabilities and technology. From the F-250 to the F-350 and all the way up to the F-450, these heavy-duty behemoths are built to tow substantial loads and even double as family transportation.”

Some of the features that critics and owners are loving include a 6.2-liter V-8 engine, rear or four-wheel drive, and a lot of safety features. The ride is far from smooth, but this is because the F-250 is designed as a work vehicle.

It can tow up to 7,850 pounds, after all. Even though businessmen might like to drive them, Ford gears the F-250 toward the working-class population.

It’s undeniable that the pricing on some of the higher trim levels, like the Harley Davidson edition, are way too expensive, but that boils down to your budget.

The base model starts at $35,730, and the price rises drastically from there. It’s a massive improvement over the 2008 model, however, so owners who want a new F-250 might be willing to pay that price.