2008 Ford F-550 SD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
33,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 26 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 4 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.8% |
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 | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
Engine: 6; Power Train: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 3 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 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10361340 · 2010-10-20 (October 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF SUDDENLY. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER WHEN IT SHUT OFF. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467342 · 2012-07-19 (July 19, 2012)
I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2008 F-550 SUPERDUTY USED FOR MY BUSINESS. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000 AND HAS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE ENGINE ASSEMBLY TWICE. BOTH INSTANCES THE TRUCK WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE FAILURES OCCURRED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO GET TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. BOTH FAILURES ALSO GAVE NO WARNING. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN AUGUST 2009 @ 32,225 WHEN DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AND IT IMMEDIATELY STALLED. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO DEALER UPON WHICH IT WAS DETERMINED A…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,225 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568430 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)
AT FORTY FIVE MILE AN HOUR THE TRANSMISSION LITERALLY FELL APART INTERNALLY. MY F-550 HAS ONLY PULLED A TRAILER FIVE TIMES AND IT HAS A COMPLETE TOW PACKAGE. I WAS NOT TOWING ANYTHING NOR DID I HAVE ANY OTHER WEIGHT ON THE TRUCK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOW CLUNK AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE F-550 HAS LESS THAN 75000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND HAS BEEN USED VERY SELDOM TO HAUL ANYTHING. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND FIND THAT MANY OF THESE SAME TRANSMISSIONS HAVE LIKEWISE FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11359863 · 2020-09-18 (September 18, 2020)
TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS TO LOW GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11359863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259808 · 2009-02-24 (February 24, 2009)
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND AT 14,000 MILES IT STARTED BOGGING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE DIED OUT AROUND 5 TIMES, AFTER THE DEALERSHIP SAT ON THE VEHICLE FOR 5 DAYS WITHOUT DIAGNOSING I MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CONDUCTED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR ECM REPROGRAMMING NOW AT 16,000 MILES THE VEHICLE IS DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN AND NOT TO MENTION RADIATOR LEAKING, BRAKES SQUEALING, TRANS FLUID SEEPAGE AND FUEL LEVEL GAUGE NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. PLEASE HELP!!!! $65,000 VEHICLE THEY SHOULD BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10393538 · 2011-03-28 (March 28, 2011)
VEHICLE - EATON HYBRID FORD F550DR BUCKET TRUCK VIN [XXX]. DRIVING ON IH 35 AT APPROX. 50 MPH, TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I HIT THE BRAKES ON THE HYBRID TRUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ( I WAS PUSHING THE PEDAL VERY HARD ), THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES DID NOT LOCK UP NOR DID I FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE INDICATING THE ABS HAD BEEN ACTIVATED. I HIT A VAN FROM BEHIND HARD ENOUGH TO PUSH IT FORWARD AND THEN HIT IT A SECOND TIME AND PUSHED IT UNTIL THE VAN BROUGHT US TO A STOP. I BELIEVE THE BRAKES FAILED, IT OCCURRED ONLY ONCE, R…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,029 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358591 · 2010-10-01 (October 1, 2010)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,799 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10499419 · 2013-02-20 (February 20, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS CLOGGED DUE TO THE FUEL TANK DELAMINATING. AS A RESULT, BOTH THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY THE REPAIR COSTS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND A PERCENTAGE OF THE FUEL TANK REPAIR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11491913 · 2022-11-02 (November 2, 2022)
Brought the truck in to ford and they told me that paint lining from the tank may of gone into the fuel lines and system so they suggested that we replace the tank and they also replaced 2 injectors and the wiring harness for the injectors and reset the check engine light drove fine till the check engine light come on then its in limp mode and only drives at 40 miles per hour it is unsafe to drive on the highway and I do like this truck
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11491913 at NHTSA ↗