Three things have gone wrong with this truck. 1) the radio had a buzz in it when on. The Dealer tried 3x to fix it. It was somehow tied to the air bag system. (???) How they figured that out amazed me. Well done. 2) the switch on the door for turning the dome light on/off got stuck. A bit of WD-40 (light oil) sprayed into the switch fixed it. 3) A support wire in the seat back broke. I let it go as it made the seat more comfortable for me. So maybe that is a thing gone right.
The truck has been great. Ford knows how to built trucks. I have little derogatory to say. I have made modifications to the truck; changed the rear end ratio, added an extra leaf spring, added a locking differential and Class IV trailer hitch. If I could do things again, I would get a truck with the ratio I wanted and had a locking differential from the factory. For all those who are thinking of changing the rear axle, remember to had the engine computer re-flashed to making it most efficient. I did not know that when I change the rear end and went 3 yrs before I was told.
The performance is adequate for my needs. I bought as a hauler for odds and ends and as a daily commuter. The transmission is a 5 speed manual, but 1st is so low, I only use it with a FULL load in back. I test drove a diesel with a 6spd manual and liked it better than the 5-speed. If you live in a snowy climate, you will need to get at least a locking differential with a 2wd. A 4wd would be best if you can afford the expense and lesser gas mileage. I have the 2wd.
The brakes are a bit weak for my liking. The acceleration is weak too. But it is a truck and I did not buy for the track. The engine is smooth and reliable. The oil filter is very easy to reach. Ford did well for maintenance ease. The mileage has been approx 16mpg for all of time, (mostly city as I do not take the truck on long trips due to poor gas mileage.)
The interior is satisfactory. As the trim level is XL, there are no bells or whistles. The expanse of vinyl make things ease to clean for such. The parts fit together nicely, but look cheap.
In short, this truck fits the bill as a work truck or a real man's truck. It is not for the prissy or the arrogant. I got it new for under $17,000 USD, a real steal. Well done Ford, well done.
I just bought a Ford F250 Super Duty about two weeks ago. The first problem I had was the turbo went out two days after I got it. I bought it from the dealer, so they fixed it without too many hassles.
Gas mileage is a concern of mine, but I did the math and figured about 19.5 mpg 'highway speed', so I think that's pretty good, let's hope for the best.
I own a 2002 f-250 SD. 2x4 XL trim package and a big honkin 7.3 litre diesel. I have had the interior light issue, wired in an after-market switch to correct it. I live near Chicago, but opted for 2 wheel drive as I own an older ford w/4x4, getting back to the diesel, I travel for a living. I get 21-22 mpg hyway and about 15 around town. My SD just turned 268,000 miles. My employer just installed complete brakes and two new front tires... The only money I have invested into the truck is fuel and maintenance per the dealer. This is costly as oil changes cost me 110.00. I had a control arm issue from day 1 that the dealer corrected by replacing it with new. It is a bare bones work vehicle and I love it to death. Trucks ride rough, and if you like a soft ride in a truck, buy a Honda Ridgeline. If you in the market for a truck that gets good mpg,,,, buy a motorcycle. cause trucks don't get good mpg. By years end I should be pushing 300,000 miles. Then it's my sons turn to use as he may. The truck burns NO OIL and drives down the road as strait as an arrow. I must tell you that Ford trucks are notorious for needing wheel alignments. After the next set of front rubber, I will have it inspected and done if needed. In january I will again be in the market for a new ford. I do not dislike the other auto makers product, but I feel that a Chevy or Gmc or even a Dodge would not ever have given me the longevity that this ford has...
On the airbag issue: I've had experience with a problem like it. I borrowed my neighbor's truck to haul a motorcycle across the state and EVERY 33 minutes (or whenever you turned the key on) you would hear 5 cycles of 5 chimes. Then the sound would stop and you'd be fine for another 30-33 minutes. I work at a small garage and used the internet to look for anyone with the same problem and I ended up fixing it for about $2.
The problem with the truck was that the airbag indicator light on the dash was burned out. The truck had a broken clockspring in the steering column, (electrical contact for the airbag so you can turn the wheel) causing the airbag light to come on. When the computer sensed that the bulb had burned out, Ford programmed it to alert the driver of the fault via a different means; the buzzer. As soon as I plugged in a different bulb into the instrument cluster, the chiming problem went away. Of course the airbag light is on now because the clockspring is still broken; but they didn't want that fixed, so what?
Anyway, I just thought I'd share my experience if anyone is interested.
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