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Ford · Known Issues

1999 Ford F-350 Problems: 6 Known Issues

1999 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated September 2026

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Issue summary

According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 1999 Ford F-350 has 6 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are 4R100 Automatic Transmission Failure Behind the 7.3L - Mechanical Diode and Torque Converter ($2,500-$6,000 repair), Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation ($200-$1,500 repair) and 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor Intermittent Failure and Stalling (Recall) ($40-$250 repair). Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $40 to $6,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.

In This Article

  • F-350 Transmission1
  • F-350 Steering1
  • F-350 Engine1
  • F-350 Exhaust1
  • F-350 Drivetrain1
  • F-350 Body/Panels1
  • FAQ
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In This Article

  • Transmission1
  • Steering1
  • Engine1
  • Exhaust1

All 6 Known Issues

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On the 1999-2003 Ford F-350 7.3L Power Stroke V8 diesel, the 4R100 four-speed automatic fitted to 1999-2003 F-350s behind the 7.3L Power Stroke is the weak link in an otherwise durable driveline, and F-350 duty cycles - fifth-wheel and gooseneck towing near a 20,000 lb-plus combined weight - expose it. Two failure patterns dominate owner reports. First, on 2001 and later units Ford replaced the 1-2 one-way sprag with a mechanical diode; when the diode fails the transmission will only complete the 1-2 shift if the driver lifts off the throttle. Second, the torque converter and the undersized factory cooler let fluid temperatures climb during towing, cooking the clutch packs and sending debris through the valve body and pump. A Ford TSB (02-21-1) also documents the torque converter external access dust plug falling out under severe-duty use, allowing fluid loss.

This issue also affects: Ford Aerostar, Ford Bronco, Ford Contour

Common Symptoms

  • 1-2 shift only completes when you lift off the throttle
  • Slipping or flaring shifts under load
  • Shudder at torque converter lockup
  • Burnt-smelling dark transmission fluid
  • Overheating transmission while towing
  • Fluid loss from the bellhousing area

How to Fix

Service the fluid and filter on a severe-duty interval and fit a gauge so you can actually see transmission temperature. A larger auxiliary cooler is the single highest-value preventative for a towing F-350. When the unit is apart, a heavy-duty rebuild with an updated mechanical diode or sprag, upgraded clutch counts, a billet or multi-disc torque converter and a shift kit is what the towing community specifies. No recall covers the 4R100; the dust plug concern is a TSB item, not a safety recall.

Typical repair cost:$2,500 - $6,000

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Community Reported
High ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Aug 2026

On the 1999-2025 Ford F-350, after hitting a bump at highway speed, the front end enters violent steering oscillation (death wobble) that requires slowing to a stop to recover. Caused by worn front-end components: track bar bushing, ball joints, tie rod ends, or steering damper.

This issue also affects: Ford F-250

Common Symptoms

  • Violent steering wheel shaking after bump
  • Shaking stops when slowing down
  • Loose steering feel
  • Front end clunking

How to Fix

Inspect and replace all worn front-end components. The track bar bushing is the most common culprit. Replace the steering damper, ball joints, and tie rod ends as needed. An alignment is required after repairs.

Typical repair cost:$200 - $1,500

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Medium Confidence

On the 1999-2003 Ford F-350 7.3L Power Stroke V8 diesel, the 1999-2003 F-350 with the 7.3L Power Stroke uses a camshaft position sensor at the front of the engine to time injection. The original black-bodied sensor fails intermittently, most often when it is damp or heat-soaked, cutting injection and stalling the engine without warning. Because these are hydro-boost brake and hydraulic-assist steering trucks, a stall at speed means a hard pedal and heavy steering - the reason NHTSA treated it as a safety defect. Owners describe stalling in rain, stumbling at low rpm, and no-start conditions that clear after the engine cools. Ford recalled roughly 1.17 million 1997-2003 vehicles with the 7.3L, including F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty, and replaced the black sensor with a revised gray unit. The recall does not cover 1994-1996 7.3L trucks, which use the same sensor design.

This issue also affects: Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer, Ford F-150

Common Symptoms

  • Sudden engine stall while driving
  • Stalling that is worse in rain or high humidity
  • Extended crank or no-start when hot, restarts after cooling
  • Stumble or surge at low rpm
  • Loss of power brakes and power steering assist after a stall

How to Fix

Have the VIN checked at a Ford dealer or on the NHTSA recall lookup; the recall remedy replaced the black CPS with the updated gray sensor at no charge, and Ford offered reimbursement for owners who had already bought one and had receipts. Outside the recall the fix is a Motorcraft gray-body sensor, which is inexpensive and takes minutes to change. Many 7.3L owners carry a spare sensor and an 8mm wrench in the truck for exactly this reason.

Typical repair cost:$40 - $250

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Community Reported
High ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Aug 2026

On the 1999-2010 Ford F-350, the exhaust manifold bolts on the 6.0L and 7.3L Power Stroke diesel engines break due to thermal cycling, causing exhaust leaks with a ticking noise especially on cold starts. Broken bolts are very difficult to extract.

Common Symptoms

  • Ticking noise on cold start
  • Exhaust smell in cab
  • Noise diminishes when warm
  • Visible soot at manifold

How to Fix

Extract broken bolts and replace with updated studs and nuts. Use anti-seize on new hardware. In severe cases the manifold may need replacement if warped. Consider having a diesel specialist handle extraction.

Typical repair cost:$300 - $1,200

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On the 1999-2016 Ford F-350, f-350 dually trucks run a full-floating Dana 80 rear axle whose hubs carry adjustable tapered inner and outer bearings with a seal riding on the innermost part of the spindle. Unlike a sealed unit bearing, this design is a maintenance item, and the loads a DRW F-350 carries - a pin weight applied well behind the cab by a gooseneck or fifth wheel, plus the extra outboard tire - make bearing preload and lubrication critical. Owners across ford-trucks.com and thedieselstop.com report the seal weeping gear oil onto the brakes, followed by a growl that changes with load, and eventually a spun or destroyed bearing. Gear oil reaching the rear brake friction is the safety consequence, on a truck that is already brake-limited when loaded.

Common Symptoms

  • Gear oil weeping from behind the rear dually hub
  • Growling or humming from the rear that changes with load
  • Wheel play at the rear hub
  • Oil-contaminated rear brakes
  • Overheated hub after a tow

How to Fix

Pull the hubs and inspect at the service interval, especially before a heavy towing season. Replace both inner and outer bearings and the seal as a set, and set preload correctly - torque the outer nut to spec while rotating, then back it off the specified number of clicks per the Ford procedure; overtightening cooks the bearings and undertightening lets the hub walk. Repack with the correct gear lube and inspect the brake friction for oil contamination, replacing it if any is present. Bearings are commonly serviced in the 80,000-150,000 mile window, sooner on trucks that tow at weight or run oversized tires and offset wheels. No recall covers this.

Typical repair cost:$300 - $1,200

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Community Reported
Low ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Aug 2026

On the 1999-2016 Ford F-350, the 1999-2016 Super Duty cab has a double-wall rocker and cab-corner structure that traps water and road debris and rots from the inside out. On the F-350 the pattern is worse than on lighter trucks for two structural reasons: dual rear wheels throw far more salt spray and grit up onto the rear arches and cab corners than a single-rear-wheel truck, and F-350s spend disproportionate time in plow, farm and construction service where the truck is wet and salted constantly. Failure shows first as bubbling paint at the bottom of the cab corner behind the door, then perforation at the rocker seam and the rear wheel arch on the bed. Because the inner rocker is part of the cab structure, extensive rot is a structural and inspection problem, not just cosmetic.

Common Symptoms

  • Bubbling paint at the bottom of the cab corner behind the door
  • Perforated rocker panel below the door
  • Rust through at the rear wheel arch of the bed
  • Water on the cab floor from a rotted rocker seam
  • Flaking rust visible behind the plastic rocker molding

How to Fix

Catch it early: pull the plastic rocker trim, clean out the drain holes at the bottom of the rocker and cab corner, and treat the cavity with a cavity wax or oil-based rustproofing every year in salt states. Repair is done with weld-in outer cab corner and rocker panels (and inner rocker panels where the structure is gone), which are widely available for 1999-2016 Super Duty in regular, super and crew cab; composite bolt-on panels exist for owners who want a non-welded repair. Filler over perforated metal will bubble back within a season. No recall or corrosion campaign covers this.

Typical repair cost:$800 - $4,000

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Medium ConfidenceVerifiedReviewed Aug 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Ford F-350 problems?

According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 1999 Ford F-350 has 6 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: 4R100 Automatic Transmission Failure Behind the 7.3L - Mechanical Diode and Torque Converter, Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation, 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor Intermittent Failure and Stalling (Recall). Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.

Is the Ford F-350 reliable?

The 1999 Ford F-350 has 6 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 3 issues are rated critical: 4R100 Automatic Transmission Failure Behind the 7.3L - Mechanical Diode and Torque Converter and Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation and 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor Intermittent Failure and Stalling (Recall). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.

How much does it cost to fix common Ford F-350 problems?

Repair costs for known Ford F-350 issues range from $40 to $6,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, 4R100 Automatic Transmission Failure Behind the 7.3L - Mechanical Diode and Torque Converter, typically costs $2,500-$6,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.

What is the 1999-2003 Ford F-350 4R100 Automatic Transmission Failure Behind the 7.3L - Mechanical Diode and Torque Converter?

The 4R100 four-speed automatic fitted to 1999-2003 F-350s behind the 7.3L Power Stroke is the weak link in an otherwise durable driveline, and F-350 duty cycles - fifth-wheel and gooseneck towing near a 20,000 lb-plus combined weight - expose it. Two failure patterns dominate own… Repairs typically run $2,500-$6,000. Severity: high.

What is the 1999-2025 Ford F-350 Death Wobble - Violent Steering Oscillation?

Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.

Data compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, automotive forums, and AI-assisted research. No aggregated owner-report counts available for this vehicle yet.

Drivetrain
1
  • Body/Panels1
  • FAQ
  • After hitting a bump at highway speed, the front end enters violent steering oscillation (death wobble) that requires slowing to a stop to recover. Caused by worn front-end components: track bar bushing, ball joints, tie rod ends, or steering damper. Repairs typically run $200-$1,500. Severity: high.

    What is the 1999-2003 Ford F-350 7.3L Power Stroke Camshaft Position Sensor Intermittent Failure and Stalling (Recall)?

    The 1999-2003 F-350 with the 7.3L Power Stroke uses a camshaft position sensor at the front of the engine to time injection. The original black-bodied sensor fails intermittently, most often when it is damp or heat-soaked, cutting injection and stalling the engine without warning… Repairs typically run $40-$250. Severity: high.

    What is the 1999-2010 Ford F-350 Exhaust Manifold Bolt Breakage?

    The exhaust manifold bolts on the 6.0L and 7.3L Power Stroke diesel engines break due to thermal cycling, causing exhaust leaks with a ticking noise especially on cold starts. Broken bolts are very difficult to extract. Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.

    What is the 1999-2016 Ford F-350 Dual-Rear-Wheel Rear Axle Bearing and Seal Failure on F-350 DRW (Dana 80 Full-Float)?

    F-350 dually trucks run a full-floating Dana 80 rear axle whose hubs carry adjustable tapered inner and outer bearings with a seal riding on the innermost part of the spindle. Unlike a sealed unit bearing, this design is a maintenance item, and the loads a DRW F-350 carries - a p… Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.

    What is the 1999-2016 Ford F-350 Cab Corner, Rocker Panel and Rear Wheel Arch Rust-Through?

    The 1999-2016 Super Duty cab has a double-wall rocker and cab-corner structure that traps water and road debris and rots from the inside out. On the F-350 the pattern is worse than on lighter trucks for two structural reasons: dual rear wheels throw far more salt spray and grit u… Repairs typically run $800-$4,000. Severity: medium.