2018 Ford F-550 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (2) · Structure:frame And Members (1) · Structure:body (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford F-550 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (10)
Equipment 2019-06-05 · campaign 19V414000 · 4 vehicles
Defect: Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling certain 2018 Ford F-550 vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which can cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Farber will notify owners, and dealers will add a harness relay capacitor module, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188 or ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400.
Equipment 2019-05-29 · campaign 19V398000 · 13 vehicles
Defect: LGE Coachworks, Inc. (LGE Coachworks) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ford E-450, F-550, and Freightliner M2-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager back-up camera displays. The displays may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: ASA will notify LGE Coachworks owners, and dealers will replace the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400 or LGE Coachworks at 1-800-209-3985.
Equipment 2019-05-29 · campaign 19V401000 · 22 vehicles
Defect: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists (VCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550, 2014 E-350 and E-450, 2015 F-250 and F-450, 2016 E-450, 2017 E-350, F-450 and E-450, 2018 F-350, 2010 E-450, 2005-2006 E-450, 2009 E-450 and Chevrolet C4500-based Type I and Type III ambulances equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The monitors may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-05-13 · campaign 19V358000 · 4 vehicles
Defect: Unruh Fire, Inc. (Unruh Fire) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550-based fire trucks equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Unruh Fire has notified owners and will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began in May 20, 2019. Owners may contact Unruh Fire customer service at 1-800-856-7080.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-05-03 · campaign 19V342000 · 17 vehicles
Defect: Taylor Made Ambulances is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford E-350, F-450, E-450, F-550, and GMC G3500-based ambulances equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Taylor Made will notify owners and Whelen will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2019. Owners may contact Taylor Made Ambulances customer service at 1-800-468-1310.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-04-03 · campaign 19V269000 · 1 vehicles
Defect: Weis Fire & Safety is recalling one 2018 Emergency vehicle built on a Ford F-550 4x4 Crew Cab chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights recalled under 18E-063. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Weis Fire & Safety has already notified the owner, and replaced the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Weis Fire & Safety customer service at 1-785-825-9526.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-03-28 · campaign 19V251000 · 2 vehicles
Defect: Fire Equipment Sales & Service (FES) is recalling one Super C Brush emergency vehicle and one Tanker emergency vehicle equipped with Whelen brake lights recalled under 18E-063. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: FES has already notified owners, and replaced the brake lights, free of charge. Owners may contact FES customer service at 1-803-494-6000 or Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-03-28 · campaign 19V254000 · 1 vehicles
Defect: Blanchat Mfg., Inc. (Blanchat) is recalling one 2018 B-27 Minuteman vehicle built on a Ford F-550 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Blanchat has notified the owner, and will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2019. Owners may contact Blanchat customer service at 1-620-896-7145.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights 2019-03-26 · campaign 19V236000 · 36 vehicles
Defect: Excellance, Inc. (Excellance) is recalling certain 2018 Ambulances and Emergency Vehicles built on Ford E-350, E-450, F-650, F-550 4x4, Chevrolet G4500, G4500 Diesel, C3500, G3500, Freightliner M2, International 4300, and Dodge 4500 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Excellance has notified owners, instructing them to contact Whelen to have the brake lights replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Execellance at 1-256-772-9321.
Engine 2018-12-18 · campaign 18V894000 · 410,289 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.
Risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.
Service bulletins (11)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-06-23 · 25N10S1 · Other
certain 2017-2025 f-450 – f-600 chassis cab upfitted with an aerial bucket frame rail crack
Unknown Or Other 2024-08-07 · SSM 52787 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2017-2020 f-150 and 2017-2019 f-super duty vehicles may not successfully complete the transmission characterization/solenoid idn procedure using the integrated diagnostic system (ids) scan tool. this may be due to the ids not being at the latest software level
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-06-08 · SAN-Vol1 I1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the service awareness newsletter is an informal communication that contains information that may not be presently available in a tsb, ssm, gsb, or other electronic communication. this article includes information on warranty, technical service tips and other service information.
Power Train 2023-05-03 · 20N04 S2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2017-2019 my f250/f350 and all f450/550 vehicles steering linage damper replacement. reason for this supplement: updated program terms, includes new mobile service repair assessment and updated owner letters with revised program terms.
Structure:frame And Members 2022-09-19 · 21B04 S4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain 2017 through 2020 model year f550 equipped with payload plus upgrade package frame rail crack program terms: program will be extended for an additional year; urgency/expiration date: program will be extended for an additional year owner refunds: refunds have been extended to december 31,
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module:software 2021-10-22 · TSB 21-2367 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2018-2019 f-super duty vehicles equipped with a 6.7l engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (mil) with diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) p2459, p245a and/or p259f stored in the powertrain control module (pcm). this may be due to the pcm software. to correct the condition, fol
Showing the 6 most recent of 11 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-11 · Structure:body · 73,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ford f-550. the contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact stated that the frame was cracked between the bed and the cab. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was confirmed that the vehicle was previously repaired under a related unknown recall and declined to per…”
2024-07-25 · Structure:frame And Members · 268,967 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ford f-550. the contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the subframe suddenly fractured in half. the contact stated that the fracture occurred near the rear cabin of the vehicle. the vehicle was later towed from the scene. the cause of the failure was not yet determined. the manufacturer and local dealer were noti…”
2023-11-17 · Power Train · 26,000 mi“the contact owns a 2018 ford f-550. the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the contact observed a humming sound coming from the rear-end of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ring and pinion needed to be replaced. the vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the ring…”
2023-07-31 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:other Fuel Types:turbo/Supercharger · 66,265 mi“the contact's company owns a 2018 ford f-550. the contact stated while an employee was driving at 55 mph, the service vehicle soon warning light illuminated intermittently. the contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the turbocharger to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but experienced failure a second …”
2021-03-17 · Suspension · 17,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2018 ford f-550. the contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehcile started to shake violently from front end of vehicle. the contact stated no warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to heartland ford (5979 west, us hwy 136, covington, in 47932, (765)793-2233) where it was diagnosed with needing the steering d…”
2021-01-20 · Steering · 14,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2018 ford f-550. the contact stated that when driving their vehicle, the vehicle would veer left or right on it's own without warning. the vehicle's steering would not be able to straighten itself. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer (dorsch ford lincoln kia 2641 eaton rd, green bay, wi 54311; (920) 469-3000) who re…”
2020-10-06 · Suspension · 38,550 mi“front end violently shakes on vehicle above 45mph city and highway driving. been to dealer 2x for issue with no resolve…”
2019-08-05 · Air Bags · 25,754 mi“the air bag covering has failed along the seams.*dt*jb *dt *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.