2025 Ford F-250 SD Gear Position Indication Recall (25V163)
Ford Motor Company · 11,621 vehicles · Reported March 14, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 11,621 2025 Ford F-250 SD; 2025 Ford F-350 SD; 2025 Ford F-450 SD vehicles. The steering column shifter may have been improperly welded and detach from the steering column. A detached shifter will prevent the driver from shifting into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway and increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V163 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V163000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S20 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 14, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025 Ford F-250 SD; 2025 Ford F-350 SD; 2025 Ford F-450 SD |
| Units affected | 11,621 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Gear Position Indication (Prndl) |
| Safety risk | A detached shifter will prevent the driver from shifting into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway and increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Ford F-250 SD in recall 25V163?
The steering column shifter may have been improperly welded and detach from the steering column.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column shifter may have been improperly welded and detach from the steering column.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 F-250 SD with recall 25V163?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A detached shifter will prevent the driver from shifting into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A detached shifter will prevent the driver from shifting into park, which can result in a vehicle rollaway and increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your F-250 SD shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the gear position indication, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V163?
Recall 25V163 covers 11,621 vehicles: 2025 Ford F-250 SD; 2025 Ford F-350 SD; 2025 Ford F-450 SD.
NHTSA lists 11,621 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ford | F-250 SD |
| 2025 | Ford | F-350 SD |
| 2025 | Ford | F-450 SD |
What is the fix for the F-250 SD gear position indication recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the steering column serial numbers and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the steering column serial numbers and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S20.
When was recall 25V163 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V163 to NHTSA on March 14, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 28, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 14, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V163000. |
| April 28, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 18 months ago. If your F-250 SD was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my F-250 SD is part of recall 25V163?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V163 is open on your F-250 SD, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V163000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should F-250 SD owners do about recall 25V163?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V163000 applies to your F-250 SD.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any gear position indication symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are F-250 SD owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 6 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 25V163 was reported on March 14, 2025, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after March 14, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 32 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 6 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Ford F-250 SD: 16 complaints in total, 0 about the transmission
- 2025 Ford F-350 SD: 14 complaints in total, 5 about the transmission
- 2025 Ford F-450 SD: 2 complaints in total, 1 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
2025 E-350 Safety Recalls* Main control valve body or transmission replacement Recall incomplete As transmission controls highway speed at 60mph and higher. RECOMMENDED FOR ALL 2025 E-350 to be reported as UNDRIVABLE and brought in IMMEDIATELY for Safety Recall, and highway safety international. Please BROADCAST as amber alert and/or new cast notifications.
2025 Ford F-350 SD owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11679472, filed August 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact stated that the transmission independently shifted from first gear. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was uncontrollable.
2025 Ford F-350 SD owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11691078, filed October 2, 2025
After using manual mode and brakes to slow down I went back to automatic mode without coming to a stop. I was turning left and it felt like I had let off the gas completely but I was pressing harder and harder but my truck wouldn't do anything and the gas pedal did nothing.
2025 Ford F-350 SD owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11709484, filed January 7, 2026
Can recall 25V163 make my F-250 SD a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this gear position indication recall means their F-250 SD qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2025 Ford F-250 SD: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2025 Ford F-250 SD has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your F-250 SD been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-250 SD recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V163
Did the recall 25V163 fix work?
Since recall 25V163 was reported on March 14, 2025, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed April 28, 2025.
Is the 25V163000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my F-250 SD is part of recall 25V163000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V163000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.