Ford F-450 SDYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 467 NHTSA owner complaints across 36 model years, no Ford F-450 SD year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The F-450 SD has 89 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1999, 2008 Best years'00 '04 '05 '06Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints467Top: Engine and engine cooling Safety recalls891991–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Ford F-450 SD years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-450 SD median. Tap a year for its full report.

6 3 5 3 2 2 4 1 66 43 23 14 16 33 40 35 16 68 3 3 6 3 2 1 1 1 1 0 3 1 18 24 5 10 2 3

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2026Too new–/1003 complaints · 5 recalls 2025Too new–/1002 complaints · 5 recalls 2024Not rated–/10010 complaints · 3 recalls 2023Not rated–/1005 complaints · 13 recalls 2022Not rated–/10024 complaints · 14 recalls 2021Not rated–/10018 complaints · 12 recalls 2020Not rated–/1001 complaint · 10 recalls 2019Not rated–/1003 complaints · 9 recalls 2018Not rated–/1000 complaints · 7 recalls 2017Not rated–/1001 complaint · 11 recalls 2016Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls 2015Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls 2014Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls 2013Not rated–/1002 complaints · 8 recalls 2012Not rated–/1003 complaints · 7 recalls 2011Not rated–/1006 complaints · 8 recalls 2010Not rated–/1003 complaints · 6 recalls 2009Not rated–/1003 complaints · 5 recalls 2008Caution37/10068 complaints · 3 recalls 2007Not rated–/10016 complaints · 1 recall 2006Solid53/10035 complaints · 1 recall 2005Solid55/10040 complaints · 4 recalls 2004Solid57/10033 complaints · 2 recalls 2003Not rated–/10016 complaints · 5 recalls 2002Not rated–/10014 complaints · 4 recalls 2001Not rated–/10023 complaints · 7 recalls 2000Solid47/10043 complaints · 5 recalls 1999Caution36/10066 complaints · 9 recalls 1998Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls 1997Not rated–/1004 complaints · 3 recalls 1996Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls 1995Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls 1994Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls 1993Not rated–/1005 complaints · 3 recalls 1992Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall 1991Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Ford F-450 SD problems

All model years combined: 467 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

91Engine and engine cooling6 crash/fire/injury

82Fuel system, diesel3 crash/fire/injury

56Power train4 crash/fire/injury

45Tires1 crash/fire/injury

41Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury

33Engine

30Fuel/propulsion system

28Steering

25Service brakes, hydraulic

14920 other systems13 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling	91	6
Fuel system, diesel	82	3
Power train	56	4
Tires	45	1
Electrical system	41	7
Engine	33	5
Fuel/propulsion system	30	1
Steering	28	2
Service brakes, hydraulic	25	6
20 other systems	149	13

89 recalls

Ford F-450 SD recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Tailgate: hinge and attachments26V-689 · 2026 · Oct 20, 2026 · 30,123 vehicles Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel26V-653 · 2025–2026 · Oct 6, 2026 · 20,266 vehicles Exterior lighting: headlights26V-606 · 2026 · Sep 22, 2026 · 28,625 vehicles Windshield wiper/washer: linkages26V-204 · 2022–2023 · Mar 31, 2026 · 422,613 vehicles Delivery: fuel pump26V-158 · 2020–2022 · Mar 17, 2026 · 9,839 vehicles Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control26V-104 · 2022–2026 · Feb 20, 2026 · 4,381,878 vehicles Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly25V-729 · 2022 · Oct 24, 2025 · 174,853 vehicles Back over prevention: software25V-686 · 2020–2022 · Oct 10, 2025 · 291,901 vehicles Steering: column25V-626 · 2020–2021 · Sep 19, 2025 · 115,539 vehicles Sensing system: camera25V-572 · 2015–2019 · Sep 3, 2025 · 1,456,417 vehicles Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel25V-540 · 2025–2026 · Aug 22, 2025 · 355,656 vehicles Delivery: fuel pump25V-455 · 2021–2023 · Jul 7, 2025 · 850,318 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 89 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

16 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the F-450 SD

May 9, 2024
Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter LeakPE24014 · 2015–2021 · still open
Open
Aug 3, 2021
Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceRQ21002 · 2020 · still open
Led to recall 26V-104
Jan 15, 2021
Power Tailgate Release SystemsRQ21001 · 2017–2021 · closed Jan 10, 2024
No recall
Oct 12, 2018
Power tailgate opens unintendedPE18011 · 2017–2019 · closed Dec 12, 2019
Led to recall 19V-864
Jan 13, 2015
Vehicle Commanded Engine ShutdownRQ14005 · 2011–2015 · closed Mar 15, 2016
Led to recall 15V-175
Jun 22, 2006
ENGINE STALLINGEA06012 · 1998–2003 · closed Dec 7, 2007
Led to recall 07V-553
Mar 22, 2005
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · 1994–2002 · closed Aug 2, 2006
Led to recall 05V-388
Feb 17, 2005
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYEA05004 · 2001 · closed Jul 6, 2005
No recall
Feb 15, 2005
ENGINE STALLINGEA05003 · 2003–2004 · closed Nov 2, 2005
Led to recall 05V-270
Oct 22, 2004
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYRQ04011 · 2001 · closed Feb 17, 2005
No recall