2004 Ford F-550 SD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
36,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 49 complaints (38.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 20 | 40.8% |
| Engine operation | 19 | 38.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 16.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 12.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Diesel | 19 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 8 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Fuel System, Diesel: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 8; Electrical System: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Electrical System:Wiring: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2004: 4; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 6; 2010: 7; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Diesel leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 20 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10079949 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095159 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
WHILE SHIFTING, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. THE TRANSMISSION SURGED, AND THE VEHICLE BLEW OUT BLUE SMOKE. THE CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT EBP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE ENGINE LOADED UP WITH FUEL, SMOKE, SURGING WHEN DOWN SHIFTED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, AND SEVERE MISSING WHEN GEARS WENT DOWN TO FIRST, ALL OCCURRED AS THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE TOW HAUL POSITION. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON ICE OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095520 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN HIT A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN TIMES. FORD TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS HIS AND TO GO GET A LAWYER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB VEHICLE JERKS AT TIMES WHILE LOOSING POWER. THE CONSUMER FILED CASE WITH A LAWER. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097370 · 2004-10-21 (October 21, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113759 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)
THE CONSUMER'S 2004 FORD F550 HAS HAD THREE SETS OF BATTERIES SINCE PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119055 · 2005-04-22 (April 22, 2005)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE BRAKING POWER. GVW IS 17500 MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STALLS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH THE HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL EXISTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119055 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128269 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
DT: PURCHASED NEW FORD 2004 F550 TRUCK IN JULY 2004 AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE SERVICES FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON SEPTEMBER 2004, NOVEMBER2004, DECEMBER 2004, MAY 2005 AND JUNE 2005. ALL INSTANCES, TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS AND TURBO BLEW OUT. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OCCURRED UNDER 1400 MILES AND THE SPEED WHEN ALL INCIDENTS HAPPENED WAS 40-45 MPH. TRUCK WAS SERVICED BY FORD DEALER IN ALL INCIDENTS. TRUCK WOULD WORK FOR TWO OR THREE WEEKS THEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SUCH AS VIBRATION AND A LOAD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128618 · 2005-07-13 (July 13, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMERS 2004 FORD F550 SD STALLED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMERS CONCERN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10128618 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V270000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2005-06-10 (June 10, 2005)
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART.
Consequence: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE (FICM) WIRE HARNESS OR REPLACED, AND/OR HAVE A NEW INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE (ICP)) SENSOR CONNECTOR INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V352000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 2011-07-13 (July 13, 2011)
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
Consequence: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA campaign record ↗