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U.S. public vehicle records

Ford F SUPER DUTY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

384 owner complaints analyzed

12 distinct recall campaigns

83,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1981 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 189 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 384 complaints (10.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior8722.7%
Steering behavior5614.6%
Transmission and shifting256.5%
Engine operation236.0%
Fuel system concerns215.5%
Electrical and battery issues71.8%

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.

Engine
39
Tires
32
Steering
25
Electrical System
22
Vehicle Speed Control
21
Tires:Tread/Belt
19
Engine And Engine Cooling
18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
18
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine39
Tires32
Steering25
Electrical System22
Vehicle Speed Control21
Tires:Tread/Belt19
Engine And Engine Cooling18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip18

Engine: 39; Tires: 32; Steering: 25; Electrical System: 22; Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Tires:Tread/Belt: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 18

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
18
25,000 to 49,999
24
50,000 to 74,999
38
75,000 to 99,999
36
100,000 to 149,999
47
150,000 and above
26
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99924
50,000 to 74,99938
75,000 to 99,99936
100,000 to 149,99947
150,000 and above26

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 38; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 47; 150,000 and above: 26

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 195 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.

1995
13
1996
1
2000
49
2001
78
2002
23
2003
21
2004
14
2005
15
2006
8
2007
12
2008
11
2009
6
2010
10
2011
16
2012
18
2013
19
2014
26
2015
23
2016
9
2017
5
2018
6
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199513
19961
200049
200178
200223
200321
200414
200515
20068
200712
200811
20096
201010
201116
201218
201319
201426
201523
20169
20175
20186
20251

1995: 13; 1996: 1; 2000: 49; 2001: 78; 2002: 23; 2003: 21; 2004: 14; 2005: 15; 2006: 8; 2007: 12; 2008: 11; 2009: 6; 2010: 10; 2011: 16; 2012: 18; 2013: 19; 2014: 26; 2015: 23; 2016: 9; 2017: 5; 2018: 6; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 87 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 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 878766 · 2001-01-22 (January 22, 2001)

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ROADS WERE WET SHE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 878766 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960754 · 1995-02-28 (February 28, 1995)

SMELLED ODOR; WITHIN MINUTES COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES; PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR; DID NOT RETURN; SLOW SPEED. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960754 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 959611 · 1995-02-06 (February 6, 1995)

SUSPENSION STEERING ; TRUCK IS UCONTROLABLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959611 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 719966 · 2000-03-11 (March 11, 2000)

TWO TIMES, ON ON 9/99 & THE RECENT ON 3/3/00, FIRST AT 9800 MILES AND THE 2ND. AT 28,236 MILES. SPEED AT FIRST WAS AT 55MPH. AND THE 2ND. TIME AT 65MPH. THIS IS A CLASS A MOTORHOME WITH A FORD F- SUPER DUTY CHASSIS WITH A 34FT. ITASCA BY WINNEBAGO ON IT. THE FIRST TIME I HIT A RAISED SPOT ON THE CEMENT HIGHWAY WITH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, AND THE 2ND. TIME IT WAS A 10 INCH. DIA.,APPROX. 2INCH DEEP CHUCK HOLE WITH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. WHEN IT HITS THESE DISTURBUANCES IT CAUSES THE FONT END TO GO INTO A VERY TREMENDOUS SHIMMY, THAT IS SO SERVE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719966 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026740 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING DURING HOT SUMMER MONTHS THE VEHICLE COULD BE MOVING 50-60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SPEED WOULD SUDDENLY DROP TO ABOUT 40 MPH THEN BACK TO 60 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER EVERY YEAR BUT FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. *AK *CB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026740 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030025 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION QUIT RUNNING, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 4,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030025 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 744558 · 2001-04-25 (April 25, 2001)

ON MAY 6, 2000 I PURCHASED OUR MOTORHOME AT BUYERS R.V. MART. LOCATED IN CA. TH E WIFE AND I DROVE HOME AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE UNTIL JUNE 4, 2000. ON THAT DAY WE TOOK THE MOTORHOME FOR A SHORT TRIP TO MURRIETA , CA. ABOUT 60 MILES FROM HOME , WE PASSED LAKE ELSINORE TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 15, THE ENGINE STARTED TO STALL AND THEN JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I MAGE. NO SAFETY DEFEC T LISTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744558 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10222481 · 2008-03-27 (March 27, 2008)

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A1997 FORD F SUPER DUTY. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING. HE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THAT PROBLEM WHENEVER HE APPROACHED LOWER SPEEDS IN HIS VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR WITH A NEWER AND NON-DEFECTED SENSOR. AFTER THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THEY TRIED SEVERAL SENSORS AND NONE OF THEM WOULD START THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC THEN PLACED THE OLD SENSOR BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 287,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222481 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 740506 · 2001-02-06 (February 6, 2001)

FUEL PUMP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD-COULD NOT PUSH MOTORHOME-FINALLY STARTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740506 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10095386 · 2004-10-05 (October 5, 2004)

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMERS FATHER EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. THE ENGINE ALSO HAD RUN ROUGH. (1996 COACHMAN MOTOR COACH ON A FORD SUPERDUTY CHASSIS) *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095386 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10211183 · 2007-12-07 (December 7, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD F SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V553000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: SOFTWARE) AND FORD RECALL NUMBER 07S57. HE HAS REPLACED THREE CAM SENSORS IN HIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 146,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211183 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039089 · 2003-09-18 (September 18, 2003)

THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION BOX PRIMARY TO THE FUSE BOX ON MY 1995 FORD SUPER DUTY WITH 7.3 TURBO DIESEL CAUGHT FIRE. THE BOX MELTED THE BIG RED WIRE, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE . I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. NOW I HAVE NO DASH LIGHTS AND MY DIMMER SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 231,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039089 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1992
1
1993
2
1994
2
1995
1
1996
2
1997
3
1998
0
1999
3
2000
3
2001
1
2002
0
2003
0
2004
0
2005
0
2008
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19921
19932
19942
19951
19962
19973
19980
19993
20003
20011
20020
20030
20040
20050
20080

1992: 1; 1993: 2; 1994: 2; 1995: 1; 1996: 2; 1997: 3; 1998: 0; 1999: 3; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2008: 0

Year-by-year records

Ford F SUPER DUTY model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198110Not available
198710Not available
198910Not available
1990100
199111+1
1992710
199312+1
19941320
199581-1
199652+1
1997193+1
1998110-3
1999873+3
20006330
2001321-2
2002340-1
20032700
20041400
20052700
2008310Not available