Full-size pickups · model years 2014 to 2022
Ford F-250 Super Duty vs Ram 2500: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the F-250 Super Duty and the 2500 split evenly (2 each, the rest too close to call).
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2022 | F-250 Super Duty | 2500 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.0% | 0.9% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 30,000 | 39,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 4.9 | 5.3 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 6 | 7 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system F-250 Super Duty owners complain about most is steering; for the 2500 it is brakes. Complaints citing steering make up 53% of all F-250 Super Duty complaints, against 7.2% on the 2500. The 2500 leans the other way on brakes: 50% of its complaints, against 1.6% for the F-250 Super Duty.
Ford F-250 Super DutyRam 2500
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the F-250 Super Duty is death wobble (49% of its complaints). On the 2500 it is brake wear (63% of its complaints), against 1.3% on the F-250 Super Duty.
| Problem | F-250 Super Duty | 2500 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 1.3% 5323k mi | 63% 2,979most in 2018 · 44k mi |
| Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble" | 49% 1,962most in 2019 · 27k mi | 0.3% 1264k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 46% 1,835most in 2019 · 28k mi | 2.2% 103most in 2014 · 43k mi |
| Wheel bearing, tires or wheels | 6.3% 253most in 2019 · 27k mi | 2.1% 9923k mi |
| Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves | 0 | 8.0% 374most in 2018 · 39k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 3.9% 158most in 2020 · 73k mi | 3.7% 172most in 2018 · 24k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 3.8% 154most in 2019 · 60k mi | 3.7% 173most in 2018 · 32k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 2.5% 10080k mi | 2.0% 9449k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
F-250 Super Duty owners report problems earlier. Half the F-250 Super Duty complaints that give a mileage come before 30,000 miles; for the 2500 the halfway point is 39,000. 72% of F-250 Super Duty reports and 61% of 2500 reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Ford F-250 Super DutyRam 2500
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 2,632 for the F-250 Super Duty and 1,929 for the 2500.
Worst and best years
The 2019 F-250 Super Duty draws 5.5 times the complaints of a typical F-250 Super Duty year for its age. The 2018 2500 draws 12.3 times the complaints of a typical 2500 year for its age.
Ford F-250 Super Duty
Ford F-250 Super DutyRam 2500
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 4.9 campaigns per model year for the F-250 Super Duty and 5.3 for the 2500. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Ford F-250 Super Duty
44 recall campaigns and 6 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (7), transmission and drivetrain (6) and fuel system, diesel (4).
- 20E-090 (steering) covers 8 model years
- 22V-087 (structure) covers 6 model years
Investigations
- PE24019: Low-pressure fuel pump failure (closed, led to a recall)
- PE24014: Sogefi secondary diesel fuel filter leak (open)
- RQ21002: Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance (open)
Ram 2500
48 recall campaigns and 7 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (8), electrical (5) and backup camera (5).
- 19V-021 (steering) covers 5 model years
- 18E-096 (steering) covers 5 model years
Investigations
- RQ25003: Post recall remedy brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) failure (open)
- EA23001: High pressure fuel pump failure (open, led to a recall)
- PE22012: Loss of brake performance (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of 2500 complaints report a crash: 2.5%, against 1.5% for the F-250 Super Duty. Fire reports: 52 for the F-250 Super Duty and 46 for the 2500. Complaints on file report 0 deaths in the F-250 Super Duty and 2 in the 2500 for these model years.
Ford F-250 Super DutyRam 2500
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Ford F-250 Super Duty or the Ram 2500 more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the F-250 Super Duty and the 2500 split evenly (2 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the F-250 Super Duty has 4,016 complaints and the 2500 4,703 for model years 2014 to 2022, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the F-250 Super Duty or the 2500?
The F-250 Super Duty has 44 recall campaigns and the 2500 48 across model years 2014 to 2022. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 4.9 campaigns per model year for the F-250 Super Duty and 5.3 for the 2500.
What are the most common problems on the F-250 Super Duty and the 2500?
The most reported problem on the F-250 Super Duty is death wobble (49% of its complaints). On the 2500 it is brake wear (63% of its complaints), against 1.3% on the F-250 Super Duty.
More comparisons
- Ram 2500 vs Chevrolet Silverado 25002015 to 2020
- Ford F-250 Super Duty vs Chevrolet Silverado 25002015 to 2020