2012 Ford F-550 SD Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 19, 2016 · 6 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other F-550 SD years
Not enough data 15th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Ford F-550 SD. That ranks 15th out of 32 F-550 SD model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 50%), typically at around 45,000 miles. There are 10 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2012 Ford F-550 SD problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine3 · ~45,000 mi
Equipment2
Electrical System1 · ~36,000 mi
Exterior Lighting1
Tires1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine350%45,000——
Equipment233%———
Electrical System117%36,000——
Exterior Lighting117%———
Tires117%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2015, with 3 complaints
2014: 2201422015: 3201532016: 120161

n = 6 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2012 Ford F-550 SD recalls (10)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Mar 25, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V175000 · 6,322 vehicles

Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured February 22, 2010, to January 30, 2015, and equipped with ambulance or fire engine preparation packages. The affected vehicles may detect an incorrect Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGT) fault indicating that the vehicle is too hot, causing the engine management system to shut down the engine and prevent its immediate restart.

Risk: Engine shut down and a subsequent cool down period may delay medical treatment or assistance to those needing it, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S09.

Equipment adaptive/mobilityFeb 25, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V112000 · 117 vehicles

Problem: Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Fix: Farber will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.

EquipmentJun 23, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V360000 · 10 vehicles

Problem: Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Palfleet will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 29, 2014. Owners may contact Palfleet customer service at 1- 502-376-2458.

EquipmentJun 18, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V336000 · 42 vehicles

Problem: Dual-Tech, Inc. (Dual-Tech) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-550 Super Duty trucks modified by Dual-Tech, equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Dual-Tech will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2014. Owners may contact Dual-Tech customer service at 1-800-852-0345.

EquipmentJun 13, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V326000 · 10 vehicles

Problem: Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Manning and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Manning will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. This action is the same as the service campaign action. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Manning at 1-800-876-8768.

EquipmentJun 13, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V328000 · 21 vehicles

Problem: Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners and dealers to inspect the Muncie PTO pressure switch to determine if it is from the range of defective switches and if required, remove the pressure switch assembly and put a plug in the port where the PTO switch had been installed. This switch was never being utilized. This will be done free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-July 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1-800-247-5958.

EquipmentJun 12, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V327000 · 10 vehicles

Problem: Stahl is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Stahl and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Stahl will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. Owners may contact Stahl customer service at 1-800-277-8245, or Muncie at 1-800-367-7867.

Equipment; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasolineJun 10, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V379000 · 16 vehicles

Problem: Utility Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Utility Truck) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 UTLI41A, 2011 UTLN41, and 2012 UTLN46 aerial trucks manufactured December 2010 to September 2013 equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies installed on 2010-2013 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Utility Truck will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Utility Truck customer service at 1-254-857-8813.

Equipment; engine and engine cooling:engine:gasolineJun 10, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V382000 · 4 vehicles

Problem: Somerset Welding & Steel, doing business as J&J Truck equipment (J&J), is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis with 6.8L gasoline engines modified by J&J to be equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Somerset will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began August 2014. Owner's may contact Somerset customer service at 1-800-777-2671.

EquipmentJun 4, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V307000 · 19 vehicles

Problem: Tactical Vehicle Outfitters (Tactical) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ford F-350 and F-550 vehicles modified by Tactical and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Tactical will notify owners, and dealers will install a new PTO pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Tactical customer service at 1-405-603-6700.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown (RQ14005) — opened Jan 13, 2015, closed Mar 15, 2016, led to recall 15V175000.
  • CNG Fuel Container Securement (PE13038) — opened Nov 15, 2013, closed Mar 9, 2014, led to recall 14V040000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Vehicle shut down completely during normal highway driving at approximately 65 mph. Lost engine power and all interior power, including ignition power.

Engine · received Aug 19, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10897158

We just had to pay an $800.00+ bill for pinched wires under the cab of the truck caused by the manufacturer not properly routing the harness, therefore causing a dead short in the truck and causing the replacement of 4 batteries since june 2015. The service writer said this was done by ford and not…

Electrical System · received Oct 26, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10786146

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford f-550 sd. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, a loud banging sounded was heard inside the cabin and the engine power reduced substantially. The engine was turned off and restarted, but the failure persisted. An independent mechanic diagnosed…

Engine · received Aug 24, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10758761

Vehicles pto pressure switch is leaking onto exhaust and per jerr-dan who has a recall for the same complaint on the same vehicle range and application (ref num. 14v-507) this vehicle is not covered? Vehicle is a 2012 f550 with a muncie power take of unit with a pressure switch mounted next to…

Equipment · received Mar 18, 2015 · NHTSA complaint 10695049

The turbo bearing failed in the truck at 21,101 miles. The dealership replaced it, but since then i have spent way too much time at the dealership for problems with this truck that i should not be having. There is also a typewriter ticking noise coming from the engine after oil changes, ford is…

Engine · received May 27, 2014 · NHTSA complaint 10594281

Other Ford F-550 SD years

← 2011 F-550 SD · 2013 F-550 SD →

See all Ford F-550 SD problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Ford F-550 SD?

Owners most often report engine, equipment, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 3 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2012 Ford F-550 SD?

Yes, 10 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2012 Ford F-550 SD a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-550 SD model years, the 2012 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.