2016 Ford F-350 Safety Report

The 2016 Ford F-350 presents a mixed safety picture, with a notable absence of official NHTSA crash test ratings, making it difficult to assess its performance in controlled collision scenarios. Despite this, the vehicle has accumulated 204 total complaints, including 5 crashes, 4 fires, and 12 injuries, indicating real-world safety incidents. A significant concern is the complete lack of recalls for this specific model year, which is unusual given the volume and nature of complaints, especially those related to critical safety components like steering and airbags. This suggests that potential widespread defects may not have been formally addressed by the manufacturer or NHTSA through the recall process. The most prominent and frequently reported issue is the 'death wobble,' a severe and uncontrollable shaking of the front end, primarily occurring at highway speeds (50-75 MPH) or when encountering road imperfections. This steering and suspension-related defect is mentioned repeatedly in complaints, with drivers describing difficulty maintaining control and needing to come to a complete stop to mitigate the issue. Other significant complaint patterns include various engine problems (e.g., seizing, knocking sounds, loss of motive power, DPF issues), transmission malfunctions (hard shifting, slipping, torque converter lock-up), and airbag failures, including instances where airbags did not deploy in head-on crashes, leading to total vehicle loss and injuries. The rearview camera issue, while mentioned in sample complaints, appears to be related to a recall (25V572) that is not officially listed for the 2016 F-350, suggesting a potential misattribution or a broader recall affecting similar components across model years. Given the absence of official crash test data, the safety assessment relies heavily on complaint data. The high number of complaints related to steering and suspension, particularly the 'death wobble,' points to a significant safety hazard that can lead to loss of control. The reported airbag non-deployment incidents are also extremely concerning, directly impacting occupant protection in a crash. The lack of recalls for these critical issues means owners are left to address these potentially dangerous defects without manufacturer-mandated repairs. While the overall number of crashes and injuries is relatively low compared to the total complaints, the severity of the reported issues, especially the 'death wobble' and airbag failures, warrants serious consideration.

Our recommendation: Given the significant unaddressed safety concerns like the 'death wobble' and airbag non-deployment, and the lack of official crash test ratings or recalls, potential buyers should proceed with extreme caution and thoroughly inspect the steering, suspension, and airbag systems before purchase.