Ford F-550 SD Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 438 consumer complaints across the 15 model years of the Ford F-550 SD (1999–2022) that have at least 5 complaints. 2000 has the most, with 72. Across all years, the part named most often is fuel system (167 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst F-550 SD years →
All F-550 SD model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9 | 85,000 | 12 | 235 | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 12 | 148,000 | 9 | 237 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 11 | 22,350 | 3 | 141 | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 9 | 33,006 | 6 | 160 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 6 | 40,500 | 10 | 141 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 26 | 33,000 | 4 | 86 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2007 | 23 | 32,500 | 1 | 45 | — | Falling |
| 2006 | 44 | 43,982 | 1 | 97 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 32 | 47,500 | 4 | 119 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 49 | 36,000 | 2 | 69 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 33 | 60,000 | 5 | 41 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 22 | 59,000 | 4 | 17 | — | Falling |
| 2001 | 29 | 130,000 | 6 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 72 | 51,500 | 5 | 12 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 61 | 65,000 | 8 | 9 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Fuel system167 37%
- Engine cooling63 14%
- Tires54 12%
- Transmission and drivetrain52 11%
- Engine36 7.9%
- Electrical system32 7.0%
- Brakes26 5.7%
- Wheels24 5.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2005: “I was driving my truck and it started to lose power like it was running out of fuel. Then all of a sudden the truck just shut off. I couldn't get the truck to restart at all. The truck was towed to a garage. When I looked in to the fuel tank I found the inside of it was peeling apart. I checked the filter and they both were clogged with the lining of the fuel tank.”
NHTSA complaint #10550628, filed 2013-11, 140,000 miles2004: “We own a fleet of Ford diesel engine trucks which continue to experience fuel delivery problems. The problem is engine cut-off and surging and hard starting. Ford says not their problem and charges us. I don't think we have the only ones. Toyota is not the only company not dealing with this problem. Think only the government will make them fix it.”
NHTSA complaint #10329666, filed 2010-05, 74,145 miles2007: “Ford gas tank delamination. Loss of power. Engine missing. This has brought me extreme heartache at the worst time. I am a seasonal worker who relies solely on his truck. Without it I am out of business. It will cost me anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 to fix it. And I simply don't have it.”
NHTSA complaint #10500525, filed 2013-02, 124,335 milesOther Ford models
38,897 complaintsFord Explorer
34,624 complaintsFord Escape
27,530 complaintsFord Fusion
22,441 complaintsFord Focus
22,107 complaintsFord Taurus
18,162 complaintsFord Windstar
14,152 complaintsFord Edge
14,106 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology