Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 2016 Ford F-550 with NHTSA between 2020 and 2026.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 6 worst.
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.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 39
Against the median year of the Ford F-550. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
50% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 28
17% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2016 Ford F-550
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
428.6%
1 crashes, 1 fires · median 85,000 mi
Engine & Cooling
321.4%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 84,003 mi
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
214.3%
Median failure at 160,000 miles
Electrical System
214.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Wheels
17.1%
Median failure at 6,736 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
17.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Body & Structure
17.1%
1 crashes, 1 fires · median 85,000 mi
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
116.7%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
466.7%
150,000+ miles
116.7%
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.
May 2020peak 3Feb 2026
Recalls on the 2016 Ford F-550
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 20194205,327 units in Canada
Other
Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempered. If the window breaks, the glass may separate into large pieces instead of very small ones. Note: This is a voluntary recall that is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Safety Risk: Glass that breaks in to large pieces could create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: The company will notify consumers by mail and instruct them to inspect the designation code marked on the rear window glass. Products affected by this recall have the designation “DOT 287” along with the lettering “VMR” (Replacement Market) and a date code that is before July 2019. This information is printed on the bottom corner of the glass. Consumers should contact Vitro's customer service at 1-412-995-6457 or argbacklites@vitro.com to arrange for replacement of the glass.
Recall 2016185271 units in Canada
Tires
On certain vehicles, the inner sidewall of the affected tires may have been damaged during vehicle assembly. This could result in a loss of air or, in some cases, a rupture during use. If this were to occur, a damaged tire that ruptures or rapidly loses air may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the tires and replace if necessary.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Hackettstown, NJFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Unknown issue causes the fuse box to over heat melting the harness and fuse box killing the fule pump and engine. Truck turned of and immediately restarted on the highway
NHTSA complaint #11425632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hackettstown, NJFire
ENGINE
Unknown issue causes the fuse box to over heat melting the harness and fuse box killing the fule pump and engine. Truck turned of and immediately restarted on the highway
NHTSA complaint #11425632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hackettstown, NJFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Unknown issue causes the fuse box to over heat melting the harness and fuse box killing the fule pump and engine. Truck turned of and immediately restarted on the highway
NHTSA complaint #11425632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesOakdale, CACrashFire
AIR BAGS
TRUCK WAS IN MOTION AND WAS IN SERIOUS IMPACT WITH A TREE AFTER IT WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT OFF A RURAL SECTION OF HIGHWAY 4 NEAR STOCKTON CALIFORNIA.*DT*JB
NHTSA complaint #11324584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesOakdale, CACrashFire
STRUCTURE:BODY
TRUCK WAS IN MOTION AND WAS IN SERIOUS IMPACT WITH A TREE AFTER IT WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT OFF A RURAL SECTION OF HIGHWAY 4 NEAR STOCKTON CALIFORNIA.*DT*JB
NHTSA complaint #11324584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 85,006 milesVancouver, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2016 Ford F550. The contact stated that while one of the employees was driving 30 MPH and making a turn, a diesel fuel-burning odor was coming from the engine and entered the inside of the cabin through the A/C vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The driver was three hundred feet away from the business and continued to drive up to the business. The driver exited the vehicle and noticed oil dripping from underneath the vehicle. The driver opened the hood and noticed diesel fuel all over the engine. Upon further investigation, the driver noticed that the plastic drain valve on the bottom of the water separator was cracked, and oil was spewing upwards into the engine. The company mechanic repaired the vehicle on-site by replacing the filter. The driver was able to continue driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,006.
NHTSA complaint #11717386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 160,000 milesRiceboro, GA
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-550. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a black image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11707713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,000 milesLas Vegas, NV
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-550. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced NOX sensor, but the failure persisted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 83,000.
NHTSA complaint #11623427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Niceville, FL
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) however the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11525960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodland Hills, CA
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V337000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11522360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, CT
AIR BAGS
nhtsa recall 22v337 No horn, no air bags It has been almost a year and I can't get it fixed
NHTSA complaint #11508132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, CT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
nhtsa recall 22v337 No horn, no air bags It has been almost a year and I can't get it fixed
NHTSA complaint #11508132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, CT
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
nhtsa recall 22v337 No horn, no air bags It has been almost a year and I can't get it fixed
NHTSA complaint #11508132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hackettstown, NJFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Unknown issue causes the fuse box to over heat melting the harness and fuse box killing the fule pump and engine. Truck turned of and immediately restarted on the highway
NHTSA complaint #11425632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hackettstown, NJFire
ENGINE
Unknown issue causes the fuse box to over heat melting the harness and fuse box killing the fule pump and engine. Truck turned of and immediately restarted on the highway
NHTSA complaint #11425632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hackettstown, NJFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Unknown issue causes the fuse box to over heat melting the harness and fuse box killing the fule pump and engine. Truck turned of and immediately restarted on the highway
NHTSA complaint #11425632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,736 milesBelfast, NY
WHEELS
PURCHASED NEW F550 2016 HAD 6736 MILES ON TRUCK AND ALUMINUM WHEELS STARTED TO BUBBLE AND CRACK,FORD AGREED TO REPLACE ALL 4 WHEELS,3215 MILES AND THE WHEELS ARE DOING THE SAME THING,THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN IN THE WINTER AND BARELY IN THE RAIN,THESE WHEELS SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS BECAUSE SOONER OR LATER THEY WILL COME APART ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #11355568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesOakdale, CACrashFire
AIR BAGS
TRUCK WAS IN MOTION AND WAS IN SERIOUS IMPACT WITH A TREE AFTER IT WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT OFF A RURAL SECTION OF HIGHWAY 4 NEAR STOCKTON CALIFORNIA.*DT*JB
NHTSA complaint #11324584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesOakdale, CACrashFire
STRUCTURE:BODY
TRUCK WAS IN MOTION AND WAS IN SERIOUS IMPACT WITH A TREE AFTER IT WENT DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT OFF A RURAL SECTION OF HIGHWAY 4 NEAR STOCKTON CALIFORNIA.*DT*JB
NHTSA complaint #11324584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.