The Lemon Index
The 6.0 L V8 turbo diesel in the Ford Super Duty (F-250/F-350), model years 2003–2007. Owners filed 1,708 complaints about trucks with it (matched by VIN); 34% name the engine, #1 of the 12 diesel truck engine generations we track (1 = the most).
Known issues, checked against owner complaints
Problems owners of trucks with this engine name much more often than owners of other diesel truck generations (at least 1.5× the median, and 10+ complaints):
- Head gaskets. 52 of 1,708 owner complaints (3.0%) mention a head gasket, against a median of under 0.1% for the other diesel truck generations we track.
Head gasket failure and other problems with the 2004 f-350 6.0l powerstroke diesel engines.
2004 owner · NHTSA complaint 10401381 - The EGR cooler / valve. 150 of 1,708 owner complaints (8.8%) mention the EGR system, against a median of 0.3% for the other diesel truck generations we track.
Since I bought this 2007 ford f 350 I've had nothing but problems fuel pump injectors egr cooler fuel filters brakes the truck has been in th e shop three times since I've had it now I'm praying dont anything else go wrong what a waste.;
2007 owner · NHTSA complaint 11365421 - The oil cooler. 47 of 1,708 owner complaints (2.8%) mention the oil cooler, against a median of under 0.1% for the other diesel truck generations we track.
The all very common issues with the year f350 and the 6.0 l. Engines, are as such. The malfunctioning FICM. THE high and low oil coolers, the inter coolers and head studs. Also leaking break fluid .
2005 owner · NHTSA complaint 11462783 - Injectors. 157 of 1,708 owner complaints (9.2%) mention an injector, against a median of 1.2% for the other diesel truck generations we track.
Vehicle stalls while driving and wont start again suddenly while operating. Fuel injectors won’t feed fuel line to restart or operate. Occasional start but then stalls continuously until battery dies from trying. Will start when priming the carburetor however will not stay running and stalls out.
2005 owner · NHTSA complaint 11594346
What YouTube owners say Tone 0-100, higher = more praise than trouble.
Average owner tone 36/100 across 5 model years, from 195 videos about this engine and its cars.
Most-watched videos
- 6.0 Power Stroke won't Start after $7500 in Repairs 808,391 views
- REVIEW: Everything Wrong With a 6.0 Powerstroke 803,313 views
- Whats going on with my 6.0 Ford Powerstroke 729,882 views
Counted from video titles and captions: praise words against trouble words, weighted by views. Videos only count when the title names this engine or a car that had only this engine in those years.
Owner complaints by model year
Counts of complaints filed so far. Older trucks have had longer to collect them, and popular years draw more because more were sold: no one reports sales by engine, so there's no per-truck rate. Compare the shares below instead.
What owners complain about
Share of this engine's complaints that name each area (one complaint can name several).
What owners write
| Complaints that | Count | Share | Median, other diesel truck engines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Say the engine stalled, shut off or lost power | 523 | 31% | 7.8% |
| Mention an injector | 157 | 9.2% | 1.2% |
| Mention the EGR system | 150 | 8.8% | 0.3% |
| Mention the turbo | 126 | 7.4% | 1.0% |
| Mention coolant loss or overheating | 74 | 4.3% | 0.8% |
| Mention a "death wobble" | 57 | 3.3% | 0.2% |
| Mention a head gasket | 52 | 3.0% | under 0.1% |
| Mention the oil cooler | 47 | 2.8% | under 0.1% |
| Mention an oil leak | 21 | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Mention the CP4 or the high-pressure fuel pump | 5 | 0.3% | 0.7% |
Counted from the owner's own words in each complaint (all of the truck, not only the engine). A share, not a failure rate.
When problems show up
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 21,500 and 100,000 miles; the middle report was at 56,000 miles (1,524 complaints with a mileage).
Recalls that name this engine 2
05V270000 Jun 2005 Electrical System
Certain pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans equipped with 6.0l diesel engines may experience stalling without warning while driving and may or may not restart.
Fix. Dealers will upgrade the fuel injection control module (ficm) wire harness or replaced, and/or have a new injection control pressure (icp)) sensor connector installed free of charge. The recall began on july 22, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
04V327000 Jul 2004 Electrical System
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with 6.0l diesel engines, the engine ground stud that attaches the negative battery terminal eyelet to the engine block may be loose.
Fix. Dealers will replace the engine ground stud and the radio suppression strap and adjacent components will be inspected for damage and replaced, if necessary. The recall began on july 23, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA recalls on these trucks and years whose text names this engine (its size, or diesel / Cummins / Duramax / Power Stroke). The rest (brakes, air bags, wiring ...) are on each truck year's page.
Trucks with this engine
In owners' words
Truck had no check engine light then caught on fire going down the road and burned to ground within seconds Incident report 46-24-05039 08_30-74 US-30 - PA 74 30 W
2003 Ford Super Duty (F-250/F-350) owner · NHTSA complaint 11618329
Wrench light comes on, but truck goes into limp loses power very dangerous don't know if it's going to cause me to be rear-ended, steering goes back and forth right to left can't hardly hold it in road
2005 Ford Super Duty (F-250/F-350) owner · NHTSA complaint 11606568
Vehicle stalls while driving and wont start again suddenly while operating. Fuel injectors won’t feed fuel line to restart or operate. Occasional start but then stalls continuously until battery dies from trying. Will start when priming the carburetor however will not stay running and stalls out.
2005 Ford Super Duty (F-250/F-350) owner · NHTSA complaint 11594346
Against the other diesel truck engine generations
| Engine | Years | Complaints | Name the engine | Name the fuel system | Stalled or lost power | Recalls naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 Power Stroke | 2003–07 | 1,708 | 34% | 16% | 31% | 2 |
| 6.4 Power Stroke | 2008–10 | 572 | 28% | 7% | 11% | 2 |
| Duramax L5P | 2017–26 | 1,229 | 16% | 10% | 14% | 2 |
| 7.3 Power Stroke | 1999–03 | 2,049 | 15% | 5% | 12% | 1 |
| Duramax LML | 2011–16 | 779 | 13% | 20% | 17% | 0 |
| 6.7 Cummins | 2007–26 | 7,667 | 11% | 8% | 6.4% | 9 |
| 6.7 Power Stroke | 2011–26 | 5,640 | 10% | 11% | 7.8% | 6 |
| Duramax LBZ | 2006–07 | 186 | 8% | 5% | 7.0% | 0 |
| Duramax LMM | 2007–10 | 385 | 8% | 6% | 5.2% | 0 |
| Duramax LB7 | 2001–04 | 592 | 7% | 17% | 5.4% | 1 |
| Duramax LLY | 2004–06 | 374 | 7% | 11% | 7.8% | 0 |
| 5.9 Cummins | 1999–07 | 3,245 | 4% | 7% | 5.0% | 0 |
Shares of each engine's own complaints, matched by VIN. They show what owners complain about, not how often trucks break. Every diesel truck engine compared
Quick answers
Is the Ford 6.0 Power Stroke reliable?
No one reports sales by engine, so there's no per-truck score. Of the 1,708 complaints owners filed about trucks with it, 34% name the engine, #1 of 12 diesel truck engine generations we track (1 = the most). 52 (3.0%) mention a head gasket, against under 0.1% for its peers. 150 (8.8%) mention the EGR system, against 0.3% for its peers.
What trucks have the Ford 6.0 Power Stroke?
In our data: the Ford Super Duty (F-250/F-350), model years 2003–2007, matched by the VIN in each owner complaint.
What are the most common 6.0 Power Stroke problems?
In owner complaints to the government: engine, steering, fuel system.
How many recalls name the 6.0 Power Stroke?
2 NHTSA recalls on these trucks name it.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints (FLAT_CMPL + COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED_2025-2026), received through 20261109; engines: NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder; NHTSA recalls API. Engine names and years: Ford.