FaultScore

Worst years for a Ford F-550 SD

Owners have filed 613 complaints about the Ford F-550 SD with NHTSA across model years 1997 to 2026. More of them are about the fuel & propulsion than anything else.

Avoid

1999 Ford F-550 SD

92 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

2005 Ford F-550 SD

41 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Ford F-550 SD year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2026 3 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2025 3 0 0 Steering
2024 5 0 0 Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
2023 1 0 0 Lights
2022 B 15 0 1 Electrical System
2021 C 16 0 5 Fuel & Propulsion
2020 7 3 0 Fuel & Propulsion
2019 4 0 2 Engine & Cooling
2017 5 0 0 22,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2016 4 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2015 D 18 3 3 22,350 Engine & Cooling
2014 C 10 0 2 33,006 Engine & Cooling
2013 3 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2012 8 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2011 4 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2010 2 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2009 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
2008 C 31 2 0 32,048 Engine & Cooling
2007 C 25 0 2 32,500 Fuel & Propulsion
2006 C 55 0 1 47,140 Fuel & Propulsion
2005 B 41 0 0 50,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2004 D 67 1 5 40,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2003 D 40 2 6 60,753 Fuel & Propulsion
2002 C 31 0 3 41,500 Fuel & Propulsion
2001 B 35 0 3 120,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2000 D 85 5 3 51,500 Tires
1999 F 92 0 9 49,555 Transmission & Drivetrain
1997 2 0 0 Brakes

What breaks on a Ford F-550 SD

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Fuel & Propulsion 185 30.2%

Worst in 2006

Engine & Cooling 107 17.5%

Worst in 2004

Worst in 1999

Tires 63 10.3%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2004

Brakes 31 5.1%

Worst in 2000

Wheels 26 4.2%

Worst in 1999

Suspension 20 3.3%

Worst in 1999

Body & Structure 17 2.8%

Worst in 1999

Steering 16 2.6%

Worst in 2000

Acceleration & Cruise Control 10 1.6%

Worst in 1999

Other & Unspecified 9 1.5%

Worst in 2015

Equipment & Accessories 8 1.3%

Worst in 2003

Lights 6 1.0%

Worst in 1999

Exactly what failed on a Ford F-550 SD

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Valve 29 21.2%
Diesel 20 14.6%
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs 17 12.4%
Tank Assembly 15 10.9%
Clutch Assembly 14 10.2%
Engine 12 8.8%
Automatic Transmission 12 8.8%
Cooling System 6 4.4%
Body 6 4.4%
Wiring 6 4.4%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Ford F-550 SD, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Feb 1999 peak 11 Aug 2026

Ford F-550 SD problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Ford F-550 SD

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.