2008 Ford F-450 SD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
68 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
34,090 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 68 complaints (16.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 22.1% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 17.6% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 13.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 11 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
Engine: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 11; Fuel System, Diesel: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Power Train: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 6; Steering: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2007: 3; 2008: 7; 2009: 8; 2010: 12; 2011: 6; 2012: 8; 2013: 3; 2014: 7; 2015: 6; 2016: 6; 2019: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10215977 · 2008-01-25 (January 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND SMOKE. THE PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME, THE WELDING NUT WAS BROKEN. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS BEING HELD TOGETHER BY THE NUTS AND BOLTS. FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237187 · 2008-08-06 (August 6, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450 SD. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE TWO MORE QUARTS OF OIL THAN WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE EXCESS OIL WAS NORMAL AND THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE SERVICED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,113.UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW FUEL INJECTOR WERE LEKING DIESEL OIL ONTO THE CRANKCASE. UPDATE 09/19/08. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,113 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224219 · 2008-04-11 (April 11, 2008)
IN 2007 I PURCHASED A 2008 FORD F-450 .. IT INCLUDES A FORD BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM. I OWN A 5TH WHEEL RV TRAILER WITH DEXTER ELECTRIC OVER HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES. I TRADED IN A 2006 FORD F-350 TRUCK WITH A FORD BRAKE CONTROLLER AND WITH WHICH I HAD TOWED THE TRAILER OVER 20,000 MILES WITH NO BRAKING DIFFICULTY. RECENTLY WE ENCOUNTERED SOME BRAKE CONTROLLER ISSUES INCLUDING ERRONEOUS DASHBOARD DISPLAY MESSAGES. I HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER PURCHASERS OF A 2008 FORD F-450 WHO WERE ALSO TOWING RV TRAILERS THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING ISSUES. …
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294042 · 2009-11-30 (November 30, 2009)
OUR FORD F450 PICKUP HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR FOR SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING OVER FIVE TIMES. THREE OF THE EPISODES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT-DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 11/5/09. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,381 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231366 · 2008-06-17 (June 17, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450 SD. WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE SAME FAILURES OCCURRED THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43,520.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238377 · 2008-08-15 (August 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450 SD. WHILE DRIVING, THE RADIATOR BUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FAILED WHILE TOWING A BOAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IT POPPED AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES REGARDING THESE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW THE CONS…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293416 · 2009-11-24 (November 24, 2009)
FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR WARRANTY VEHICLE, FUEL TANK LEAKS, AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORKING, FORD REFUSE TO REPAIR RADIATOR RECALL - CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 08B06 AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX ENGINE PROBLEM. AT TIME OF THE ENGINE PROBLEM OCCURRED LOSS OF POWER SHAKING KNOCKING SOUND WHITE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. LOSS OF OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. MAYBE EGR COOLER, INJECTOR OR TURBO PROBLEM? FORD SHIFTS THE BLAME ON TO THE CUSTOMER AND WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 19,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10257033 · 2009-01-31 (January 31, 2009)
I OWN A 2008 FORD F-450 WITH A 6.4 DIESEL MOTOR. I HAVE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH DRIVE TRAIN PROBLEMS SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY. FINALLY, WHILE DRIVING ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY DOING 50MHP THE MOTOR QUIT RUNNING. BAKE AND STEERING FAILURE FOLLOWED. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO A DEALER AND AFTER 3 DAYS TO FIND THE PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BURNT WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A SINGLE ISSUE OR WIDE-SPREAD. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB (TECH SERVICE INFORMATION) REGARDING THIS FAILURE. I ASKED WHY NO R…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,606 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289568 · 2009-10-19 (October 19, 2009)
LTR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2008 FORD F450 TRUCK DEFECTIVE ENGINE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED FROM JULY 12, 2008 TO NOVEMBER 28, 2008 SHE EXPERIENCED THREE FAILED ENGINES. THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF HEAT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ENOUGH TO MELT THE WIRING AND CAUSE SMOKE TO COME INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. ON EACH OCCASION, THAT THE ENGINE FAILED, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONSUMERS SON WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, OIL BEGAN BLOWING ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD. THE FUEL PUMP ALSO FAILED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10289568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321167 · 2010-03-20 (March 20, 2010)
DRIVING AS NORMAL ON FWY HEARD A LOUD NOISE THOUGHT I GOT A FLAT. STOPPED VEHICLE ON SHOULDER, BRAKING WAS DIFFICULT AND WHITE SMOKE WAS AROUND THE CAR. I GOT OUT AND DID NOT SEE ANY FLAT TIRES BUT I SAW SMOKE BETWEEN THE CAB AND BED OF THE TRUCK. I RAN BACK TO THE DRIVER DOOR AND SAW A SMALL FIRE ON THE FLOOR NEXT TO THE 4X4 SHIFTER FOR THE TRANSFER CASE. I IMMEDIATELY GRABBED MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FROM HER CAR SEAT AS THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE AND RAN APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AWAY AND TOLD MY DAUGHTER TO STAY. I JUMPED INTO THE BACK OF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10461525 · 2012-06-06 (June 6, 2012)
CPSC#X1190467A. 2008 FORD F450. CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK EXPLODED. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. THE TRANSFER CASE HAD EXPLODED AND SENT METAL INTO MY TRANSMISSION AND BUSTED IT. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL LINE WAS CUT AND THE WIRING WAS BURNED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF A FACTORY DEFECT. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10461525 at NHTSA ↗