FaultScore

2012 Ford F-550 engine problems

10 of the 20 complaints about the 2012 Ford F-550 are about the engine — 50% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 75,000 miles.

F

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 9 90.0%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 10.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 72,000 miles Livingston, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-550 chassis with an Earth Roamer RV. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the turbocharger needle on the instrument cluster fell to zero. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the abnormal banging sound was louder, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled off the highway and then stated that the power steering had failed. The contact was turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the power steering and the abnormal engine sound remained present. The contact was able to drive several yards before the vehicle stalled. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA complaint #11590361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,800 miles Beacon Falls, CT

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-550. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact made multiple attempts to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle repeatedly failed to start up. Due to the failure, the contact called the dealer and had the vehicle towed there for an inspection. The contact then called an independent mechanic who informed him that based on what he described; his vehicle had experienced engine failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 35,800.

NHTSA complaint #11462602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC Fire

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON TRAIL IT WAS NOTICED THAT SMOKE AND FIRE WERE COMING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH THE VEHICLE SUPPLIED FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AFTER THE EXTINGUISHER RAN OUT THE VEHICLE FIRE ACCELERATED AND TOTALLY ENGULFED THE VEHICLE.*DT

NHTSA complaint #11354215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Charleston, WV Crash 1 injured

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-550. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAULING SAND AND REGROUND GRAVEL UP A HILL, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO PARK. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED GEARS, AND RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO DRIVE, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE HILL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE JUNE 05,2019 AND SEPT.6, 2019. THERE WAS A FULL TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL HAULING SAND AND GRAVEL, THE CONTACT STOPPED ON THE HILL, RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL, DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE HILL IN REVERSE WITH NO POWER. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE BRAKES COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LACK OF POWER. THE CONTACT QUICKLY CUT INTO THE BANK; HOWEVER, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WENT UP ON THE BANK AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND KNEE, AND A BROKEN LEFT HAND, NECK, RIBS, LOWER BACK, ARM, AND LEGS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE BANK TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND REMAINED ON THE HILLSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *PM CONSUMER STATED BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED AT THE SAME PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #11256086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tonawanda, NY

ENGINE

I HAVE ONLY USED THE TRUCK FOR FIVE MONTHS AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS AND ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK FROM THE GAS TANK LEAKING, PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THE BOX HOIST THAT WOULD NOT RAISE. I HAVE HAD THE BOX HOIST FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THE WELD KEEPS BREAKING. I AM SURE FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE HOIST PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS FOR IT. AS A CONSUMER I FEEL CHEATED. MY RECENT PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE, IT HAD STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY FOR NO REASON AT ALL AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND PUT MY SON'S LIFE AT RISK. I LOOKED UP THE ABOVE VIN NUMBER ON THE INTERNET BUT COULD NOT FIND DIRECT RECALLS RELATING TO IT. FORD HAS PUT OUT RECALLS ON SOME OF THE ENGINES FOR FORD F550S YR 2012 BUT ONLY FOR AMBULANCE TYPE TRUCKS NOT DUMP TRUCKS. I AM COMPLAINING BECAUSE MY DUMP TRUCK HAS THE SAME ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM AS ON THE AMBULANCE TYPE F550S FROM YEAR 2012, WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #11252148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 114,484 miles Oregon, OH

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT FRACTURED INTERNALLY WITHIN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER (MATHEWS FORD OREGON, 2811 NAVARRE AVE, OREGON, OH 43616, (419) 698-4444) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S THREE YEAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND SERVICE WAS DENIED PER THE CAMPAIGN FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NUMBER: 17B30. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY ONCE BEFORE AND INDICATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED ENGINE CAM FOLLOWERS FELL OFF AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. UPDATED 10/5/18

NHTSA complaint #11104106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Compton, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-550. WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE AT 60 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER LOSS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. SUDDENLY, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WORTHINGTON FORD (2950 N BELLFLOWER BLVD, LONG BEACH, CA 90815, (562) 420-3333) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #11083152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Tavares, FL

ENGINE

DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID SYSTEM FAILED SHUTTING DOWN MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND I HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. I NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. NOW I AM TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND OVER $5000.00 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. FORD HAD GOTTEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THEY SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE. I ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME AND PAID OVER $59,000 FOR IT. I TRIED TO CONTACT SEVERAL FORD EXECUTIVES OVER TWO WEEKS AGO AND HEARD BACK FROM NONE.

NHTSA complaint #10966637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Decker, MT

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-550. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE EXHAUST CLEANING CYCLE OPERATED, THE CYCLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, STALLED, AND THE CHECK OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA complaint #10923835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Lawrensville, GA

ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD F-550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE COMPUTER SCANNER SYSTEM WAS SENDING THE INCORRECT READING TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER SCANNING SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA complaint #10692327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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