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Reliability report · 2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty · Updated July 2026 · What it costs to keep →

The loudest Super Duty year — and death wobble is why. Inspect the front end hardest here.

The 2019 generates more federal complaints than any other F-250 year in our data — 1,151 — and the biggest single theme is the front-axle death wobble, reported over and over as violent shaking at highway speed over bumps and expansion joints.

It also has a 2019-only rollaway recall (18V-802) from a transmission-case casting defect. Neither is a reason to walk away from an otherwise good truck, but both are reasons to inspect hard: test the front end over rough pavement, and confirm the truck holds Park on a slope.

Evidence: 1,151 NHTSA complaints · 12 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Squawking

What that means: By far the highest complaint count of any F-250 year we cover (1,151), and the complaints are dominated by suspension and steering — the death wobble. Add a 2019-specific transmission park-pawl rollaway recall and this is the year to bring the most scrutiny to the front axle and the Park function.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

1,151

Federal complaints

12

Recalls

$400–$3,000

Track bar / full front-end rebuild

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Front-axle death wobble (the 2019 signature)

major

This is the dominant complaint category for the 2019, and owners describe it vividly: the truck 'shakes violently' at 40–70 mph, usually after hitting a bump or expansion joint, sometimes forcing them to slow drastically or pull over. The Super Duty's solid front axle amplifies any worn component into a self-sustaining oscillation. Ford's response was a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 18-2268 — dealer fix instructions) and a follow-on Customer Satisfaction Program (a CSP — Ford's goodwill coverage) covering a steering-linkage-damper replacement on 2017–2019 4WD trucks — but note this is a TSB/CSP, not a safety recall. Mechanics are firm that the damper is a band-aid; the durable fixes are the track bar (the number-one cause), ball joints, and tie rods. Some owners report the dealer's 'shimmy shock' remedy on backorder. Test-drive over rough pavement above 50 mph — if it wobbles, budget for real front-end work.

Damper under CSP

$0

Track bar / full front-end rebuild

$400–$3,000

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall databases, 2019 F-250 SD · Independent mechanic and Ford-tech channel transcripts (Super Duty)

Transmission park-pawl rollaway recall (2019-specific)major

Recall 18V-802 (Ford 18S36) is unique to the 2019 Super Duty: an incorrect transmission-case casting may leave the park-pawl assembly unsecured, so the truck can move even when shifted to Park — a rollaway risk. The remedy is a transmission inspection and, if needed, replacement, free of charge. This is the single most important recall to confirm remedied on a 2019. On your test drive, park on a slope, shift to Park, and confirm the truck holds without creeping before you release the brake.

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall databases, 2019 F-250 SD

$0

Recall remedy (18V-802)

6.7L Power Stroke CP4 high-pressure fuel pumpmajor

  • 6.7L Power Stroke diesel

The diesel's defining risk continues. The Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump can run dry, make metal, and contaminate the entire high-pressure system — pump, injectors, lines, and the fuel conditioning module — so a failure means a roughly $10,000 full-fuel-system replacement (mechanic-quoted). Triggers are contaminated fuel, missed filter services, and misfueling (gasoline or DEF in the diesel tank). Pull the lower fuel filter, look for metal glitter, and get the fuel-filter service history before you buy.

Sources: NHTSA complaint and recall databases, 2019 F-250 SD · Independent mechanic and Ford-tech channel transcripts (Super Duty)

$0

Clean fuel, filters serviced

~$10,000 (mechanic-quoted)

Pump grenades / full fuel system

6.2L Boss gas V8: the misfire jobmoderate

  • 6.2L gas V8

2019 is the last year of the 6.2L Boss V8 before the 7.3 Godzilla arrives. It carries the same '$3,500 misfire job' reputation (16 plugs, 8 coils, intake-manifold runners) a Ford tech describes in our sources. It is a durable tow engine, but ignition work is expensive. Ask for plug and coil history and use any persistent misfire as a bargaining point.

Sources: Independent mechanic and Ford-tech channel transcripts (Super Duty)

$400–$900

Routine plugs / coils

~$3,500 (mechanic-quoted)

Full misfire repair

Owners describe the truck shaking violently at 40 to 70 over a bump. Feel for it before you buy.
6 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Ford dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 18V-802Incorrect transmission-case casting can leave the park pawl unsecured — rollaway risk even in Park. Free transmission inspection/replacement (Ford 18S36). 2019-specific.open
  2. 19V-808Daytime Running Lights may not dim when headlights switch on, dazzling oncoming drivers (FMVSS 108). Free reflash (Ford 19C10).open
  3. 19V-880SuperCrew carpet: seat-belt-pretensioner sparks can ignite B-pillar carpet in a crash. Free repair (Ford 19S52).open
  4. 19V-864Power-tailgate latch: water can short the release switch and open the tailgate while driving. Free wiring/switch repair (Ford 19S48).open
  5. 19V-278Engine block-heater cable can short and overheat wiring (fire). Free cable replacement (Ford 19S11).open
  6. 22V-252Rearview camera poor electrical connection can display a blank or distorted image (FMVSS 111). Free camera replacement (Ford 20C19).open
  7. 21V-155Continental tires may have been over-cured, risking sidewall break. Free inspection/replacement (Ford 21S10).open
  8. 22V-087Gas trucks: aluminum-driveshaft underbody insulators can loosen and damage the driveshaft. Free repair (Ford 22S09).open
  9. 23V-420SuperCab owner's manual lacks head-restraint adjustment instructions (FMVSS 202). Free mailed manual addendum (Ford 23C20).open
  10. 25V-572Rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image; letters phased 2026. Free repair (Ford 25S89).open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2019 F-250 Super Duty

Two sourced numbers. No fake total.

Theft

Stolen roughly 2× as often as the average vehicle. Worth pricing comprehensive coverage before you buy, not after.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2019–21 models, published April 2022 (report WT-21). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford F-250 SuperCrew 4WD.

237 vs 100

2× average — off this chart

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Damper under CSP$0
Track bar / full front-end rebuild$400–$3,000
Recall remedy (18V-802)$0
Clean fuel, filters serviced$0
Pump grenades / full fuel system~$10,000 (mechanic-quoted)
Routine plugs / coils$400–$900
Full misfire repair~$3,500 (mechanic-quoted)
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01Test-drive over rough pavement above 50 mph and feel for death wobble; inspect track bar, ball joints, and tie rods for play.
  2. 02Confirm the 2019-only park-pawl rollaway recall (18V-802) is remedied; park on a slope and verify the truck holds Park.
  3. 03On a 6.7 diesel: inspect the lower fuel filter for metal glitter; ask for fuel-filter history and any misfueling.
  4. 04Run the VIN against all twelve recalls and get the dealer printout.
  5. 05On a 6.2 gas V8: ask for plug and coil history and note any persistent misfire.

Own one already?

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vincanary.com/ford/f-250/2019