2008 Ford F-450 SD: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FOUR WINDS HURRICANE (NA), SERIAL NUMBER HAA020149. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH. HE IS UNABLE TO CLEARLY VIEW THE ONCOMING VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND STATED THAT THE CONVEX MIRROR WAS TOO SMALL AND USELESS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MIRRORS WERE NOT DESIGNED WRONG AND WERE NOT SAFETY RISKS. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,700. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED

Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203242 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE SUDDENLY RACES UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206716 at NHTSA ↗

NEW FORD F-450, REAR SEAT BELT BOLTS UNINSTALLED AND REAR SEAT BOLTS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. DETAILS: 4 REAR SEAT BELT BOLTS WERE ONLY INSTALLED BY 1 - 2 THREADS FOR A 1-1/2 BOLT CLEARLY PRESENTING A DANGER TO A CHILD OR ANYONE RIDING IN THE REAR SEAT. ALL REAR SEAT BOLTS SCREWED IN ONLY "FINGER TIGHT", NOT TORQUED PROPERLY. NOTE: FORD WAS NOTIFIED (ANSWERER: ROSE ON WED, 28 NOV @ 0845 HRS) NO RESPONSE AS REQUESTED TO INSURE THAT PROBLEM WAS BEING INVESTIGATED. NOTE: IT WOULD SEEM THAT FORD SHOULD TRY TO DETERMINE IF ANY OTHER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10210272 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450. THE CONTACT HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND HAS REPLACED THE RADIATOR SEVEN TIMES DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. THE TURBOS FAILED AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CRACKED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS. ONE STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, BUT THE OTHER DISAGREED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HIS CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY REGARDING THE LEMON LAW. HE ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURE…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,675 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226085 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TRUCK WITH ABOUT 18,000 MILES BY ORIGINAL OWNER FAILED ON 22 JUNE 2008; NEW MOTOR REQUIRED AFTER LENGTHY CONTACTS BETWEEN DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY; AS OF JULY 28, 2008, TRUCK IS STILL IN SHOP AND FMC NOT COOPERATIVE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236132 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES IN THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY RESULT FROM EXCESS HYDROCARBONS IN THE EXHAUST.

Consequence: LACK OF POWER OR ROUGH OPERATION, UNUSUAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, AND POTENTIALLY A VISIBLE FLAME OUT THE TAILPIPE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE OF THE BATTERY POSITIVE (B+) WIRE TO THE RIGHT HAND SPLASH SHIELD BOLT MAY RESULT IN THE BATTERY B+ WIRE CONTACTING THE SPLASH SHIELD BOLT.

Consequence: LONG TERM CONTACT COULD CAUSE WIRE CHAFE, RESULTING IN COPPER WIRE BEING EXPOSED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE BATTERY B+ WIRE COULD SHORT TO GROUND INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY B+ WIRE LOCATION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION THE WIRE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2008-02-28 (February 28, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 87,515 MY 2008 F250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." SOME 40% SPLIT AND CAPTAIN'S CHAIR DRIVER'S SEATS, EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORTS, MAY HAVE IMPROPER WELDS AT THE JOINT OF THE SEAT BACK PIVOT BRACKET AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT SIDE PIVOT BRACKET MAY CRACK OR BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE 40% SPLIT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORT OR, IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT BACK FRAME WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.