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.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 384 complaints (10.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 87 | 22.7% |
| Steering behavior | 56 | 14.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 23 | 6.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 21 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 1.8% |
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 | 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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 ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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