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FaultScore report

2014 Ford F-550 SD problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2014 Ford F-550 SD with NHTSA between 2014 and 2023. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 14 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Ford F-550 SD All 2014 cars
C

FaultScore 53/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford F-550 SD.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

33,006 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

50%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 12 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 85 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 12
Against the median year of the Ford F-550 SD. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 85
50% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2014 compares with every other Ford F-550 SD

Click any bar 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

What breaks on a 2014 Ford F-550 SD

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Fuel & Propulsion 2 20.0%

Median failure at 38,968 miles

Body & Structure 2 20.0%

Median failure at 64,656 miles

Engine & Cooling 2 20.0%

0 crashes, 2 fires · median 31,127 mi

Wheels 1 10.0%

Median failure at 8,950 miles

Brakes 1 10.0%

Median failure at 12,600 miles

Steering 1 10.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 1 10.0%

Median failure at 88,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 12.5%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 12.5%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 4 50.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 12.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 12.5%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jun 2014 peak 2 Aug 2023

NHTSA investigations into the 2014 Ford F-550 SD

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

RQ14005 Opened 13 Jan 2015 Closed 15 Mar 2016 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Vehicle Commanded Engine Shutdown

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V-535 were inadequate. Recall 13V-535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect. Ford manufactured approximately 555,985 subject vehicles between February 22, 2010 and January 30, 2015 that may be affected by defective EGT sensors and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software calibration. The subject vehicles are equippe...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 26,242 miles NEW York, NY Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD F-550 CRANE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE OVERNIGHT UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED BFI JOB NUMBER: 304652019, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,242. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA complaint #11252907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,012 miles NEW York, NY Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD F-550. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE OVERNIGHT UNDER THE HOOD. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,012.

NHTSA complaint #11252912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 64,656 miles Monteagle, TN

STRUCTURE:BODY

The contact owns a 2014 Thor Outlaw Motorhome built on a 2014 Ford F-550 Super Duty chassis. The contact stated she noticed that the front cap was separating from the structure. The contact took the motorhome to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front cap to be replaced. The motorhome was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,656.

NHTSA complaint #11539737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,242 miles NEW York, NY Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD F-550 CRANE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE OVERNIGHT UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED BFI JOB NUMBER: 304652019, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,242. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA complaint #11252907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,012 miles NEW York, NY Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD F-550. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE OVERNIGHT UNDER THE HOOD. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,012.

NHTSA complaint #11252912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Columbia Station, OH

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY NOTICE LARGE VOLUME SMOKE COMING FROM TRUCK. IT WAS A SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE, FITTING SIMPLY CAME APART, SPEWING TRANSMISSION FLUID ON HOT EXHAUST AND UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, NEARLY CAUSING A FIRE AND DISABLING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ON SIDE OF ROADWAY UNABLE TO MOVE TO SAFETY. FLUID ON ROADWAY COULD CAUSE UPCOMING VEHICLES (TRYING TO AVOID DISABLED VEHICLE) BEING UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY, ESPECIALLY MOTORCYCLES, PART IS POORLY DESIGNED/ENGINEERED AND WOULD/SHOULD NEVER FAIL UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. PART IS NOT A NORMALLY SERVICED OR "WEAR" TYPE PART. NO WARNING OF POTENTIAL OR EMINENT FAILURE. I AM 66 YEARS OLD, BEEN IN TOWING/SERVICE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 35+ YEARS AND CANNOT RECALL SEEING A PART FAIL SUCH AS THIS. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD VERY REAL, IF AMBIENT TEMP AND WORK LOAD ON UNIT HAD BEEN HIGHER IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, OIL SPRAY ON HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, OH YES, SEEN THAT. BEING A MECHANIC I WAS ABLE TO EFFECT A TEMPORARY REPAIR, REPLACED FLUID AND DROVE IT AWAY. I HAVE FAILED PART TO SUPPLY IF REQUESTED. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST IS LABEL OF REPLACEMENT PART, SECOND PICTURE OF NEW PART AND BROKEN PART, THEN ANOTHER VIEW OF SAME. I TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE SHOWING THE CORROSION THAT FORMED IN THE CRACK OF FITTING THAT FORCED IT TO SPLIT APART, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE NORMALLY WHITE CORRODED ALUMINUM HAD TRANS OIL SPRAYED ONTO IT. THERE IS ALSO A PICTURE OF THE LOCATION ON TRUCK FROM UNDERNEATH RADIATOR AREA, SHOWING MY TEMPORARY REPAIR, THE BLUE HOSE AREA IS WHERE FITTING WAS LOCATED. THE OTHER LINE IS THERE WITH THE SAME TYPE FITTING UNDER THE GRAY PLASTIC RETAINER, READY TO BREAK AT ANY MOMENT.

NHTSA complaint #11220902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Dewey, AZ

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FORD HAS INSTALLED SIX FUEL TANKS IN THIS TRUCK. ALL HAVE CRACKED DUE DO FAULTY FACTORY INSTALLATION. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTO'S IF YOU WANT THEM. FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT WON'T FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10881909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,937 miles Dewey, AZ

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL TANK DEVELOPS A LEAK AND WE HAVE REPLACE FOUR FUEL TANKS SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT.

NHTSA complaint #10860895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,600 miles Orange, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED SOFT WHEN DRIVING THIS RV (ON A 2014 FORD F53) TO STORAGE YARD. FOUR HOURS AFTER PARKING, I STARTED THE RV TO ADJUST ITS LOCATION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO OTHER SYMPTOM OF TROUBLE, NO WARNING MESSAGE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, THE MESSAGE CENTER ON THE DASH BOARD WARNED OF 'LOW BRAKE FLUID'. WE ARE LUCKY THIS HAPPENED IN THE STORAGE YARD AND NOT ON THE ROAD. FORD DEALER FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THAT THE RELIEF VALVE IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10837547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,950 miles Winnetka, CA

WHEELS

STARTING OUT FROM A CAMPGROUND THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEELING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I STOPPED TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG BUT OLD SAW NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO CELL COVERAGE TO CALL FOR HELP SO I CONTINUED ON TO STEWAT, BC, CANADA. A MECHANIC IN STEWART JACKED UP THE MOTORHOME AND THE WHEEL WOBBLED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. REMOVING THE WHEEL, THEY FOUND THE BEARING WAS SO BAD IT CAUSED THE BEARING NUT TO BOND TO THE SPINDLE. CHECKING THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING FOUND THE BEARING GREASE TO BE FULL OF SMALL PIECES OF METAL. CLEANING THE GREASE OFF SHOWED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE EXTREMELY PITTED. THE MECH. SAID THAT IF WE HAD DRIVEN ANY FURTHER IT WAS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE WHEEL COULD HAVE COME OFF

NHTSA complaint #10761428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elbow Lake, MN

STEERING

ALL SUPER DUTY CAB AND CHASSIS AND VANS ALSO SINCE 2011 THOUGH 2015 HAVE HAD THE SEAT MOVED TO THE CENTER BY 1 1/2 " TO ALLOW FOR THE AIR BAG TO HAVE ROOM TO EXPAND, BETWEEN SEAT AND DOOR. BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO MOVE THE PEDALS AND STEERING WHEEL OVER TO THE CENTER 1 1/2 " . THEY LEFT THEM OFF SET TO THE SEAT CENTER BY 1 1/2 " TO THE LEFT OF CENTER OF THE SEAT. SO BASICALLY YOU STEER OFF TO THE LEFT OF CENTER , WHICH IS A DANGEROUS AND IT HIDES PART OF THE SPEEDOMETER. SO YOU SPEND TIME STRUGGLING TRYING TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER , WHICH CAUSES YOU NOT TO LOOK AT THE ROAD. THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL ///////

NHTSA complaint #10597795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elbow Lake, MN

STRUCTURE

ALL SUPER DUTY CAB AND CHASSIS AND VANS ALSO SINCE 2011 THOUGH 2015 HAVE HAD THE SEAT MOVED TO THE CENTER BY 1 1/2 " TO ALLOW FOR THE AIR BAG TO HAVE ROOM TO EXPAND, BETWEEN SEAT AND DOOR. BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO MOVE THE PEDALS AND STEERING WHEEL OVER TO THE CENTER 1 1/2 " . THEY LEFT THEM OFF SET TO THE SEAT CENTER BY 1 1/2 " TO THE LEFT OF CENTER OF THE SEAT. SO BASICALLY YOU STEER OFF TO THE LEFT OF CENTER , WHICH IS A DANGEROUS AND IT HIDES PART OF THE SPEEDOMETER. SO YOU SPEND TIME STRUGGLING TRYING TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER , WHICH CAUSES YOU NOT TO LOOK AT THE ROAD. THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL ///////

NHTSA complaint #10597795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.