FaultScore

Ford F-550 SD tire problems

63 of the 613 complaints filed about the Ford F-550 SD are about the tires — 10% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.

63

Complaints

10%

Share of all complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

Tires complaints by model year

1997 F-550 SD 1 1.6%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

1999 F-550 SD 10 15.9%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2000 F-550 SD 36 57.1%

Median failure at 15,322 miles

2001 F-550 SD 8 12.7%
2002 F-550 SD 2 3.2%
2003 F-550 SD 1 1.6%
2005 F-550 SD 2 3.2%

Median failure at 21,000 miles

2012 F-550 SD 1 1.6%
2013 F-550 SD 1 1.6%

Median failure at 19,980 miles

2019 F-550 SD 1 1.6%

What owners said

2019 Ford F-550 SD Orlando, FL

TIRES

Between August 5 and August 9, 2025 we purchased 46 Nebula brand 245/70R 19.5 16PR tires. We experienced a complete tire failure on one of our trucks while operating on the highway. Fortunately, our driver was able to safely steer the truck to the shoulder with minimal damage to the tow truck. Upon closer inspection of the tires we noticed 32 of the tires installed on our fleet began showing a seem all the way around the sidewall. It was the same seem location for all tires. The seem showed visual signs of deterioriation almost as if it was coming undone. We removed the tires from service and have been working with the distributors on a warranty claim.

NHTSA complaint #11737551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford F-550 SD at 19,980 miles Tucson, AZ

TIRES

COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION OF DRIVER FRONT TIRE LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON I-10 NEAR WILCOX, AZ. ENROUTE TO AS MUTUAL AID SEARCH AND RESCUE CALL NORMAL TRAFFIC TRAVELING APPROX. 70 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10762741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Ford F-550 SD Hondo, TX

TIRES

INCIDENT #1: IT WAS DETERMINED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS THE MANUFACTURER OF MY EXPEDITION VEHICLE/MOTOR HOME (MH) WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN., DOT REGULATION UNDER 571.108 COVERING LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. SPECIFICALLY MY MH WAS MISSING TWO AMBER CLEARANCE LAMPS ON THE FRONT, AND TWO RED SIDE MARKER LAMPS ON THE REAR. AFTER MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE VIOLATION THEY CORRECTED THE MISTAKE. INCIDENT #2: IT WAS DETERMINED 08/07/2012 DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS THE MANUFACTURER OF MY MH WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN., CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS TITLE 49, PART 571: 571.120 FOR MOTOR HOMES. THE COMBINED WEIGHT RATING OF THE TIRES ON THE REAR AXLE WAS 12790, AND THE COMBINED WEIGHT RATING OF THE RIMS WAS 13660. THE WEIGHT RATING OF THE REAR AXLE OF MY MH WAS 14706. THE COMBINED WEIGHT RATING OF THE REAR TIRES WAS 1916 POUND LESS THAN THE WEIGHT RATING OF THE AXLE-NOT LEGAL PER DOT REGULATIONS. THEREFORE, OWNER ASKED MANUFACTURER TO PUT THE FACTORY DUAL TIRES & RIMS BACK ON THE MH IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH DOT REGULATIONS. INCIDENT #3: IT WAS DETERMINED 04/30/2014 THAT MANUFACTURER OF MY MH WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH DOT & NHTSA (NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION) REGULATION 49 CFR PART 571 (FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS; CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY). NO LABEL ON MY MH PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: THE WEIGHT OF A FULL LOAD OF WATER, THE UNIT WEIGHT OF WATER AND A CAUTIONARY STATEMENT THAT THE WEIGHT OF WATER IS PART OF CARGO. MOTOR HOME LABELS MUST DISPLAY THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO. IN ADDITION, FOR MOTOR HOMES, THE LABEL MUST SHOW THE SAFETY BELT EQUIPPED SEATING CAPACITY AND MUST INDICATE THAT THE TONGUE WEIGHT OF A TOWED TRAILER COUNTS AS CARGO. UPDATED 5/29/14*CN UPDATED 10/30/2014 *JS UPDATED 8/23/2017

NHTSA complaint #10585720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Ford F-550 SD Wausau, WI

TIRES

2002 FORD F550 FLATBED TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED, TO THE POINT THEY COULD NOT BE RE-TREADED. THE REAR BRAKES AND WHEEL SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUEL SENDING ASSEMBLY FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1251.46. THE UPPER SHOCKS WERE RUSTED, THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND MARKER ASSEMBLY WERE BROKEN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED DOT INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10458366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford F-550 SD at 36,000 miles Downey, CA

TIRES

I HAVE A 2005 FORD F550 CREW CAB WITH 36,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND HAS NEVER HAD A HEAVY LOAD ON IT. MY VEHICLES ARE METICULOULY MAINTAINED AND TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED MONTHLY AND PRIOR TO ANY LONGER TRIP. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THE DAY PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUSTAINED A FULL BLOWOUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FENDER/WHEELWELL AREAS. MY VEHICLE ALMOST ROLLED BUT WAS ABLE TO CORRECT IT WITHOUT A CRASH. ORIGINAL TIRES ARE CONTINENTIAL 225/70R 19.5 WITH EXCELLENT RUBBER STILL ON THE TIRES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHO SAID THE TIRE OBVIOUSLY HAD A DEFECT. INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES REVEALED HEAVY CRACKS IN THE GROVES. HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST. READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THIS TIRE. CONTINENTIAL SHOULD REIMBUSE THE COST OF THE TIRES AND THE COST OF THE REPAIRS TO MY TRUCK AND TOWING. TRIP WAS DELAYED 6 HOURS WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW AND REPAIRS. I DO NOT HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE, BUT HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10392414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Ford F-550 SD Castro Valley, CA

TIRES

HERCULES S-209 TIRE BLEW ALL TREAD LOST MAJOR SEPARATIONS OTHER TIRES NOTICE WIDESPREAD MINOR CRACKING.

NHTSA complaint #10351117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD SAN Francisco, CA Crash

TIRES

2000 FORD F-550 FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE INTO A DITCH. *KB (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

NHTSA complaint #10194662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford F-550 SD at 6,000 miles South SAN Fracisco, CA

TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD F550. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE SLOWLY DEVELOPED A BLISTER ON THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6000 WHEN THE BLISTER APPEARED, AND AT 7,000 WHEN THE TIRE BLOWOUT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE CONTINENTAL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07

NHTSA complaint #10184232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Ford F-550 SD Broadview Heights, OH

TIRES

1999 FORD F550 REAR RIGHT DUAL TIRES SHEERED OF THE AXLE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE STUDS BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10147578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD Saline, MI

TIRES:VALVE

RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR FORD F550 TRUCKS CONCERNING THE VALE STEMS USED ON 19.5 INCH TIRES. *BF ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VALVE STEM FAILED CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE TIRES SIDEWALL. ON ANOTHER OCCASION ONE OF THE DUALLY WHEEL TIRE VALVE STEMS FAILED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR DUALLY TIRE VALVE STEMS WITH THE TREAD NUT ON TOP. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10110974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford F-550 SD Auburn, CA

TIRES

SIX OF THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS LEAKED AIR. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10109606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Ford F-550 SD at 50,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

TIRES

TIRE BLOW OUTS AND BULGE IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE. THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THREE DIFFERENT TIRE FAILURES. TWO FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS WHICH OCCURRED WHILE PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER, THE THIRD WAS A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL WHICH WAS DETECTED BEFORE THE TIRE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE TIRE APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION WITH NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR DEFECTS.

NHTSA complaint #10001283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD at 24,500 miles Hudson, NH

TIRES:VALVE

1. TRAVELING EAST ON I-88 IN NY. LOAD 6500 LBS. AT 60 MPH. . SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR IN FRONT LEFT TIRE, WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO BRAKE DOWN LANE WITHOUT INCIDENT. . ROAD SERVICE REPLACED TIRE, COULD FIND NO DEFECTS OR PUNCTURES IN FLAT. WAS SUGESTED VALVE STEM SAFETY MARGIN TO CLOSE TO TIRE INFLATION. RUBBER STEM REPLACED WITH A METAL ONE.

NHTSA complaint #10089081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD at 13,645 miles LAS Vegas, NV

TIRES

I OWN A 2000 FORD F550 MODIFIED BY FONTAINE MODIFICATION COMPANY, LOUISVILLE, KY TO TOW A FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER, GVR 15,900 LBS. THIS WAS A DEMO VEHICLE FOR FONTAINE AND HAD 2598 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS DELIVERED TO ME AS A NEW VEHICLE WITH A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILES WARRANTY ON 9-29-2002. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALER, CUNNINGHAM CAMPERS HAD TWO BLOW OUTS ON THE RIGHT REAR DUAL 225/70R-19.5/F GENERAL TIRES ON 8-6-2002. TWO MORE BLOW OUTS, (EXPLOSIONS) OCCURRED IN OF JUNE 2003, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I REPLACED THE GENERAL TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES. THIS VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT HIGH PRESSURE VALVE STEMS WHICH I REPLACED WITH THE HIGH PRESSURE VALVE STEMS AFTER THE SECOND BLOWOUT. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON MY COMPLAINT AND BLAMED CONTINENTAL TIRE COMPANY (GENERAL) AND CONTINENTAL BLAMED FORD FOR THE PROBLEM SAYING THAT THE ZIPPER TEARS WERE CAUSED BY INFERIOR VALVE STEMS. I HAVE ANOTHER TIRE THAT IS VERY QUESTIONABLE AND I AM AFRAID TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY TOWING A 5TH WHEEL THAT WEIGHS 15,900 WITH TIRES EXPERIENCED 4 BLOW OUTS IN THE PAST YEAR AND A QUESTIONABLE 5TH TIRE AND 4 MORE ORIGINAL TIRES LEFT ON THE VEHICLE WHICH NEITHER FORD NOR CONTINENTAL WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I WILL BE TAKING SEVERAL LONG TRIPS IN THE NEXT YEAR TOTALING OVER 5,000 MILES--HELP .

NHTSA complaint #10037399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD at 12,000 miles Babylon, NY

TIRES:SIDEWALL

VALVE STEM FAILURES ON FOUR TIRES WHILE IN TRANSIT. *MR THREE OF THE TIRES I HAVE AS EVIDENCE PLUS VALVE STEM AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF TIRES. TIRE #1 12,000 MILES, #2 13,000 MILES, #3 14,500 MILES. I WENT FOR VALVE STEM RECALL ABOUT 14-17 MONTHS PRIOR TO ALL TIRE FAILURES AT SAYVILLE FORD. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION, BILLS FOR ROAD SERVICE REPAIRS, ETC. THEY TOLD ME THE "ZIPPER FAILURE" ON THE SIDEWALL IS DUE TO "UNINFLATED TIRES NOT THE FAULTY VALVE STEMS THAT FAILED". THE LAST BLOWOUT IS STILL ON THE RIM WHICH I WILL CHANGE SOON BEING IT IS THE SPARE TIRE. ONE TIRE WAS THROWN OUT (DISCARDED) BY ERROR. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE THREE TIRES THAT I KEPT FOR EVIDENCE, NEW VALVE STEMS (DIFFERENT TYPE) AND ROAD SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #10024425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD at 12,000 miles Babylon, NY

TIRES:VALVE

VALVE STEM FAILURES ON FOUR TIRES WHILE IN TRANSIT. *MR THREE OF THE TIRES I HAVE AS EVIDENCE PLUS VALVE STEM AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF TIRES. TIRE #1 12,000 MILES, #2 13,000 MILES, #3 14,500 MILES. I WENT FOR VALVE STEM RECALL ABOUT 14-17 MONTHS PRIOR TO ALL TIRE FAILURES AT SAYVILLE FORD. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION, BILLS FOR ROAD SERVICE REPAIRS, ETC. THEY TOLD ME THE "ZIPPER FAILURE" ON THE SIDEWALL IS DUE TO "UNINFLATED TIRES NOT THE FAULTY VALVE STEMS THAT FAILED". THE LAST BLOWOUT IS STILL ON THE RIM WHICH I WILL CHANGE SOON BEING IT IS THE SPARE TIRE. ONE TIRE WAS THROWN OUT (DISCARDED) BY ERROR. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE THREE TIRES THAT I KEPT FOR EVIDENCE, NEW VALVE STEMS (DIFFERENT TYPE) AND ROAD SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #10024425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD Northfield, NJ 1 injured

TIRES:SIDEWALL

REQUEST FOR RECALL INFORMATION FOR 19.5 INCH CONTINENTAL STEEL CORD SIDEWALLS. *MR A ZIPPER RUPTURED ON THE 19.5 INCH STEEL CORD SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10021732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD Livingston, TX

TIRES:VALVE

I THINK METAL VALVE STEMS ARE NEEDED IN THESE H.D. TRUCKS. HAS ANY FAILED? ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****769357. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10008527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD Rensselaer, NY Crash

TIRES

GENERAL TIRES WERE NOT ALL TERRAIN WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE TIRE EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLE. MR THE TIRES INABILITY TO HOLD THE ROAD CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL AND HIT A POLE. MODEL/LT SCC

NHTSA complaint #10014834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Ford F-550 SD North Babylon, NY

TIRES

THE VALVE STEMS FAILED ON 3 TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO FAIL, HOWEVER THE WARRANTY TIRE CENTER INDICATED A NAIL WAS EMBEDDED IN THE TIRE. *PH *JB

NHTSA complaint #10011778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford F-550 SD problems