1999 Ford F-350 SD Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two kinds of trouble: 7.3L diesel trucks that quit without warning when the camshaft position sensor acts up, and tire or wheel problems that appear as tread separation or cracked aluminum rims. Reports also cover spark plugs pulling out of the cylinder head on V-10 trucks and steering that shimmies or wanders over bumps. Mileage varies widely, with sensor stalls and some tire failures showing up well under 100,000 miles and most other complaints arriving past that point.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Diesel engine stalls from camshaft position sensor failure

   • 22 complaints (15%)
   • median 123,350 mi at 8.2 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2010

   Owners of 7.3L diesel trucks describe the engine quitting without warning while driving, sometimes at highway speed and often while towing a trailer; the shutdown also takes away power steering and power brake assist. Some trucks restart after a pause, others need a tow, and several owners say they now keep a spare sensor and a wrench in the truck. Complaints describe dealers replacing the sensor and, in some cases, telling owners the part is a known repeat failure. A few owners report difficulty getting the related recall work completed at a dealer. Reported from roughly 30,000 miles to over 190,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 07V553000

   What to check: Ask whether the camshaft position sensor has been replaced and whether recall 07V553000 was performed; that campaign describes a sensor that may work intermittently and stall the engine.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Multiple cps failures. I've had 2 sensors fail in a 40,000 mile period. When the sensor fails the engine shuts off. It's not a fun ride when you have a trailer weighing close to 10,000 pounds on the back of a truck that looses power without warning. I now carry a brand new packaged spare sensor and tools to change it in my truck at all times.”

   NHTSA complaint #10189176, filed 2007-04, 225,000 miles

   “Took my truck to the laird noller Ford dealership for a cam sensor recall in november 2008. They could not make the repair that day and my appointment was rescheduled for after christmas 2008. The dealership told me that there was a recall on the parking brake module and they would replace it at the same time they replaced the cam sensor. Approximately a week after christmas (it was a wednesday) I took it back in for the repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10293614, filed 2009-11, 165,000 miles
2. 2
   Tires

   Tread separation and bulging on tires

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 78,567 mi at 9.6 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2015

   Complaints describe tread peeling away from the carcass at highway speed, sometimes with the tire still holding air, and large bulges found on the tread during a walk-around. Owners report damage to fenders, running boards, wheel wells and brake lines when the tread lets go. Several say the tire manufacturer inspected the failed tire and declined a claim, and tire brand and model vary across the reports. Reported from about 20,000 miles to nearly 200,000 miles, with many past 75,000 miles.

   What to check: Read the DOT date codes on all tires, look for bulges or wavy tread edges, and plan on replacing anything showing separation no matter how much tread is left.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My front tire tread separated from the tire on my truck while doing 75 MPH. I also spoke with another guy that has his tires listed on craigslist that had the same problem. When my tire came off it damaged my fender, running board on the exterior have not had a chance to see what other damage was done. No one was hurt no other known damaged was caused to other vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10336758, filed 2010-06, 197,290 miles

   “We were driving on the interstate and noticed the vehicle was shaking. When we arrived at our destination we found that the right rear tire has a large bulge on the tread of the tire. We went on line to investigate these type of tires and found that cooper tire co. Had a recall on those similar type of tires however, we have the mt style tire and they had recalled the rt style due to steel cords busting in the tires. The recall is for the exact same tire except that ours are a mud terrain and the recall is for the radial tread tire.”

   NHTSA complaint #10358121, filed 2010-09, 76,380 miles
3. 3
   Wheels

   Cracked aluminum wheels leaking air

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 122,729 mi at 8.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners describe cast aluminum wheels cracking around the spokes, which shows up as a tire that keeps losing air or a sudden flat at speed. Several complaints report more than one wheel cracking, and one notes both front wheels developing cracks on the same truck. Shops found the cracks by putting air in the tire with the wheel off the truck and listening for the leak. Reported from about 7,000 miles upward, though most appear above 120,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect each aluminum wheel for hairline cracks near the spokes, watch for tires that need air every few days, and ask whether any wheel has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The tire on my truck kept leaking air down over a whole day. I would refill with air the next morning and would try and find where the leak was. Could not find any whole in the tire. When the service station took the wheel off the truck and put air into the tire we could hear air leaking out. We then located a crack in the aluminum wheel. We then located a second crack in the aluminum wheel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10310967, filed 2010-02, 121,459 miles

   “Truck's two front aluminum wheels have cracked and will not hold air. They could come apart at anytime. The cause of the crack has yet to be determined. The dealership has been notified. The crack is completely around the spoke to the inside. Vehicle was never in a accident. Consumer noted only one wheel was stuck in the mud up to the hub cap but that wheel isn't cracked.”

   NHTSA complaint #10050060, filed 2003-12, 179,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Spark plugs ejecting from the cylinder head

   • 12 complaints (8%)
   • median 96,830 mi at 9.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2009

   Complaints describe a loud pop from under the hood followed by rough running or a dead miss, with the spark plug and coil found blown out of the head. Owners of V-10 trucks report the threads stripping out of the cylinder head, and repairs range from a thread insert to a reconditioned or replacement head. Some say a plug let go again on the same engine after the first repair. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 110,000 miles.

   What to check: Listen for a misfire or a ticking noise from the engine bay, and ask whether any cylinder head has been repaired with an insert or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Truck has 56k miles on it. My wife was driving a couple of miles from hom ewhen she heard a loud bang or pop noise which shook the truck. The truck then continued making a loud noise, she drove back home and after looking at the engine, I determined that a coil pack had blown off. The spark plug was also attached to it so the next morning I called my local Ford dealer, av Ford and they said more than likely it's what they call a 'blown plug'. They estimated the head should be replaced since this would strip the threads of the head. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10111889, filed 2005-02, 56,500 miles

   “April 2nd of 2004 driving at 30 MPH and coasting to a stop sign the number 3 spark plug blew out of the right side cylinder head of my 1999 Ford f-350 with a v-10 engine in it. Ford in kingman,az. Installed a reconditioned cylinder head that had a spark plug blow out of it and a steel insert was the fix for that cylinder head. I was given a reconditioned head with the insert in it and told by the Ford mechanic in kingman,az. That it is just a matter of time before it blows another spark plug out or sucks the steel insert into the engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10068525, filed 2004-05, 91,660 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering shimmy over bumps and steering gear wear

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 140,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2012

   Complaints describe the front end shaking sharply after the truck hits a bump at highway speed, with the steering wheel moving hard enough that the driver has to slow down. Others report the wheel not returning to center after a turn, wander that needs constant correction, and steering gear boxes found cracked or broken. Owners who raised the shaking with dealers say they were quoted diagnostic work or told no campaign applied. Most reports fall between about 100,000 and 160,000 miles, with a few much earlier.

   What to check: Drive over expansion joints and rough pavement at highway speed during the test drive, then have the steering gear box, tie rod ends and front end play inspected before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had 2 steering gear boxes break on my truck. The first was when my truck was hit while parked. The individual hit the front of my vehicle and dented in the front bumper and fender. It was not until we went to load the truck on the wrecker that we discovered the broken box. The second time I was driving down the road and the person in front of me slammed on their brakes to avoid an individual making a turn in front of them. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10202244, filed 2007-09, 140,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 1999 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated that when driving at least 30 MPH and attempting a turn or switching lanes, the power steering system would not return the steering wheel back to center, causing the vehicle to drift outside the lanes. The contact called the dealer regarding the issue and the dealer advised that the failure was contributed to the steering box and recommended diagnostic testing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10359117, filed 2010-10, 161,000 miles

Buying note. On a 7.3L diesel, ask for service records on the camshaft position sensor and confirm recall 07V553000 was completed, since an engine shutdown at speed also cuts power steering and brake assist. On any version, budget for a careful tire and wheel inspection and check the front end for steering play or shimmy before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.