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Ford F-550 SDModel year report

2008 Ford F-550 SD Problems

Complaints
26filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
33,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Ford F-550 SD (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2008 Ford F-550 SD. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 8 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine (6) and transmission and drivetrain (5). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 65% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 33,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 86 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 34 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “Events leading up to the failure is typical over road driving. The failure is with the main cooling radiator, after about 20,000 it begins to leak at the drivers side bottom left corner. Consequences are the vehicle is not drivable until repairs are made. The truck was purchased in june 2007 and we are now having to replace the third radiator. The truck was under warranty with the first replacement, we had to pay a warranty adjustment with the second radiator. Now with the third one gone out they want us to pay for the entire replacement cost.”

NHTSA complaint #10235256, filed 2008-07, 86,000 miles

Engine: “Ford 6.4l diesel engines (2008-2010) in f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks contain radiators that were improperly constructed and unable to withstand engine pressures and leak coolant, and can cause catastrophic engine failures due to overheating. Ford replaced countless radiators in its 6.4l vehicles under warranty and issued a number of service bulletins related to its 6.4l radiator failures. However, even its redesigned radiators continue to fail. In our very low mileage f550 diesel, the radiator failed at 23000 miles even after being inspected by Ford and approved as adequate. …”

NHTSA complaint #10536573, filed 2013-08, 23,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Vehicle overheats and looses power at different speeds; we had over $1100.00 in repairs done and it still overheats with the wrench light coming on, took it back to mechanic and he ran the codes and now says it is the oil cooler not working. Ford said they do not have a recall on this and the heart of texas Ford place in brady, tx mechanic said there are alot of complaints on this oil cooler part for the f550 6.4 diesel.”

NHTSA complaint #10560786, filed 2014-01, 36,000 miles

Fuel system: “While driving on the interstate my vehicle lost power very quick. Rust in the fuel tank clogging the filter stopped fuel to the engine was the problem after stopping several times. Having no shoulder on this area of the interstate to exit the flow of traffic, an eighteen wheeler nearly killed us all. We had the tank removed and cleaned.”

NHTSA complaint #10358591, filed 2010-10, 61,799 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

65% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 61,799 miles.

4%0–1030%10–2530%25–5013%50–754%75–1004%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 33,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’07’094’11’134’15’18’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Ford F-550 SD → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 86 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 86 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ford F-550 SD

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2022985,00012———Not enough data
202113148,0009———Not enough data
20151122,3503———Not enough data
2014933,0066———Not enough data
2012640,50010———Not enough data
20082633,0004——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20072332,5001———Falling
20064443,9821——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20053247,5004——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20044936,0002——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20033360,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20022259,0004———Falling
200129130,0006——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20007251,5005——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19996165,0008——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Ford F-550 SD model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Ford F-550 SD have?

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2008 Ford F-550 SD as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Ford F-550 SD is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 8 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine with 6.

Has the 2008 Ford F-550 SD been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Ford F-550 SD reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 33,000 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 61,799 miles; 65% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.