Ford F-550 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 95 owner complaints and 23 safety recalls on file for the Ford F-550, across 14 model years (2007–2020). The 2020 model year has the most complaints (17). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
Ford F-550 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No F-550 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2020 F-550: 17 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2019 F-550: 14 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2017 F-550: 14 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2014 F-550: 2 complaints, 1 recall
- 2013 F-550: 6 complaints, 1 recall
- 2018 F-550: 8 complaints, 10 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford F-550 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 28 | 8 | 2 |
| Structure | 14 | 6 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Power Train | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Steering | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Suspension | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Wheels | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Ford F-550 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 F-550 | 17 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Diesel | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 F-550 | 14 | 4 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2018 F-550 | 8 | 10 | — | Steering | |
| 2017 F-550 | 14 | 5 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2016 F-550 | 9 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2015 F-550 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2014 F-550 | 2 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2013 F-550 | 6 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2012 F-550 | 13 | 5 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2011 F-550 | 12 | 5 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 F-550 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2009 F-550 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2008 F-550 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2007 F-550 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-550 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2020 (17), 2019 (14), 2017 (14). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford F-550?
Engine, with 28 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford F-550 have?
23 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.