Vehicle lost complete power while driving on interstate at cruising speed. There were absolutely no warnings, the engine just quit, disabling the vehicle in high speed traffic. The dealer repair was to replace wiring harness for high pressure fuel pump due to wires shorting the engine after the insulation was chafed by internal contact with other engine parts, which was a known issue with this engine for builds prior to august 20, 2007, according to a ford tsb: 07-26-2. This part is completely internal and not subject to inspection until failure. My family and I were extremely fortunate that we were able to get safely to the shoulder of the interstate with many semi's and cars around us when the failure occurred. Also, since engine wouldn't start at all, we were subjected to extreme cold weather conditions while waiting for tow vehicle, over 2 hours. This is a potential life-threatening defect!! Losing all power in seconds without warning in high-speed traffic is unacceptable, ford!
2008 Ford F-450 SD engine complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 39 of 39, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford f-450 sd. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle failed to accelerate and the brake light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the technician stated the manifold bolts were corroded, the oil cooler was clogged and it had to be replaced. After the vehicle was repaired. The failure continued to occur and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The technician stated the turbo caused the egr sensor to fail and it also had to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford f-450 sd. The contact stated that while the vehicle was hauling a trailer at 60 MPH uphill when the vehicle decelerated to 20 MPH independently as the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic stated that the computer would need to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 96,000. Updated 11/15/13*cn updated 12/2/2013
2008 ford f-450. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle radiator failure and denied warranty claim. *smd the consumer was pulling a 27-foot trailer, when suddenly the vehicle the temperature gauge went from normal to completely hot, and a digital temperature gauge lit up. The consumer was able to pull over to the shoulder. He added water to the radiator reservoir and proceeded once again to drive the truck, and trailer, to the next exit. The consumer allowed the engine to cool, added more water and some stop leak into the reservoir. The following day, the consumer took the truck to the dealer. An inspection revealed the radiator failed and caused damage to the engine. The extended service carrier informed the dealership, they would honor the radiator claim, but first they requested the dealer to break down the motor, inspect and take photographs and send them in for analysis. An adjuster from an independent agency performed a thorough vehicle inspection and determined there was no coolant/water in the engine. The inspector further concluded the cause of the overheating was a failed radiator resulting in a complete loss of coolant and the cause of the engine damage was continued operation of an overheated vehicle due to lack of proper fluids.
Motor replaced and/or rebuilt by dealer twice since purchased.
First time it was my radiator, I replaced it. Second time it was and injector, I had that fixed. Now it is my turbo and engine. Ford refuses to cover it under wanrrenty, many people have had issues with these models.
Defective design and poor quality of the engine cooling radiator 3rd one installed. No one should have to go threw 3 radiators in 126 k miles just crazy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford f-450. While traveling 55 MPH, the contact noticed that all of the warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. Moments later, the vehicle stalled and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the turbo head was replaced. Prior to the most recent failure, the turbo head had been replaced three times. The current mileage was 70,000 and the failure mileage was 32,000.
Probably around 30,000 miles my ford f450 started having the water in fuel light come on constantly. I would attempt to drain and there would be no water. Right around the same mileage that my f250's water in fuel sensor went bad (at 35,000 miles), the computer in my f450 had been "re-calibrated" at the dealership while in for service. The re-calibration caused the truck to go into "limp home" mode everytime the water in fuel sensor came on. This is a major safety issue as these diesel trucks are used to haul heavy equipment and sometimes on the interstate at high rates of speed. The limp home mode suddenly and without warning takes the throttle away and the truck won't go over about 30 MPH which could cause very serious wrecks with that kind of weight just stopping in front of other vehicles going 50-80 MPH. Once stopped, you have to turn vehicle off, pretend to drain the fuel and you are good for another hour or so. It got to where the truck was doing this at least 5 times a day. Like I said, my f250's sensor also went out (before being re-calibrated) right before 36,000, and I guess mine had gone out about the same time, but being self-employed, I depended on my truck to work 6-7 days a week and couldn't take it in. My dad & several friends with 2008 super duty trucks all had the same problems. The point is ford is installing crappy parts, not standing behind them (wanted $800 to replace entire housing on a part that should last way longer, but failing on many of the trucks,), and the re-calibration has made it dangerous on top of being bad business.
5/15/09 ~ radiator leaking coolant, replaced radiator. 4 months later replaced fuel injector and oil cap assembly. 9/1/10~ replace coolant hose again.
2008 ford f-450 sd diesel engine and radiator failure. Throughout ownership I have consistently had the notice of "cleaning exhaust" come up. I made ford aware of it and they would tell me that they fixed the problem, but it would continue to happen. I was pulling a 5 horse trailer (approximately 18,000 pounds empty) within which I had only 3 horses. It was a warm, but not hot day and I was driving at approximately 70 MPH on fairly flat terrain. The water temp light came on and the temperature gauge suddenly went to hot. I began to lose power. I pulled over immediately. I discovered that there was a ford dealership approximately 2 miles away. I waited for a bit and I drove 20 MPH to dealership. Thank god I was going to meet some people who have a 5th wheel and could come pick up the horses. Thank god I was near a small town. I was about to get off of the highway to head out into the middle of nowhere! I do not consider this vehicle dependable at all. I must have a dependable truck to haul horses!!! The truck is approximately 1,000 miles out of warranty. I have spoken with several people who own 2008 ford f-350 and f-450 trucks who have had engine and cooling system problems around the 30,000 to 40,000 mile mark. The engines had to be replaced. That is ridiculous on a diesel engine! They should last 200,000 miles!!!
Over the last two years, our 2008 ford f-450 has been into ford service several times related to the emissions control system. Specifically the regeneration process. The truck goes into the regeneration mode and over the last week has instantaneously shut the engine, braking, and steering systems down without so much as a 5 second warning. Thus, causing immediate danger to myself and my families health, safety, and life (along with others on the highway).with this vehicle, when this has occurred, we were towing an 15k pound, 40 foot fifth wheel. Pacific ford, long beach, ca was contacted within 10 minutes of this occurring. The service center at this dealerships advise to us was to "baby" the truck. We just got the truck back after two weeks at the dealership for the regeneration issue, where they couldn't identify anything wrong with the truck. This is extremely dangerous to my family and all others on the road and ford has not provided any solution to this situation as they have repeatedly told us they can't locate anything wrong. The last time this occurred, today 9/4/10, myself, wife, and two small children were stranded on the side of the highway, in the middle of the desert, in 100 degree temperatures, miles from the nearest town for 6 hours waiting for a tow trucks. At this point, we now consider the vehicle unreliable and dangerous to my family and the public. I refuse to put myself, family, and the public in imminent danger. We feel the only feasible option to insure the safety of all is; this vehicle needs to be permanently removed from the highways. We expect ford to replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price of the vehicle to us.
While driving the truck just shut down! This is the 3rd time. Truck only has 26,900 miles.
2008 ford f450 oil leak, bought new in 4/08 and truck has been in the shop now 6 times for an oil leak. The leak has been around the front cover, rear main seal, and cam sensor. I left the truck with the dealer for 2 weeks and when I brought it home it leaked as soon as I parked it in driveway. The truck now has 36,514 miles, luckily a 100k mile extended warranty was purchased but the cost for the downtime of the vehicle is far outweighing it's value and now either must be replaced or sold due to the amount of time it will spend in the shop having a chronic oil leak repaired.
Have had acceleration issues with this ford f-450 since april of 2010, the first time the driver was able to stop the vehicle without incident but the engine blew up when he put it in neutral to stop the vehicle. It was at the ford dealership for 6 weeks, I retrieved the vehicle, while on the way home the engine failed again, it was towed back to the dealership. 1 week later I retrieved the vehicle again, 2 days after that the accelerator stuck once again while hauling a trailer loaded with a rental trencher. This time the result was a traffic accident that sent one of my employees to the hospital and caused major property damage, the vehicle was towed back to the dealership and has been there ever since. They have replaced the short block, injectors, and other various engine components.
Injectors turbo exhaust and alot more problems, been towed 6 times been to the dealer over 30 times went through lemon law didn't qualify vehicle to heavy.
Driving as normal on fwy heard a loud noise thought I got a flat. Stopped vehicle on shoulder, braking was difficult and white smoke was around the car. I got out and did not see any flat tires but I saw smoke between the cab and bed of the truck. I ran back to the driver door and saw a small fire on the floor next to the 4x4 shifter for the transfer case. I immediately grabbed my 3 year old daughter from her car seat as the cab filled with smoke and ran approximately 300 feet away and told my daughter to stay. I jumped into the back of the truck grabbed a large fire extinguisher and discharged it into the hole in the floorboard next to the transfer case it went out and immediately came started up again. I then called 911. Some people stopped and helped me remove a few possessions from the truck bed. Within 3 minutes the truck fire flashed and we all stood back and video taped the vehicle burn to the ground. The witnesses said what appeared to be something metal came off of my truck struck their car and the reason they pulled over is because they thought they had a flat but when they looked back they saw fire underneath my truck and ran to help. The fd arrived they shot foam on the fire but it continued to go out then start back it took them approximately 30 min to extinguish. I am very mechanical and believe mechanical failure in the exhaust canninsters that collect then burn hydro carbon particles before they are released into the cat converter, sent excessive heat to the transmission then the transfer case(directly below the fuel lines), thus melting the fuel lines which dripped on the red hot transfer case and started the fire. The vehicle was in the shop previously under a ford recall for shooting flames out of the tail pipes so I assume they must have restricted the flames which kept the more heat inside the vehicle exhaust system and is seriously dangerous! My daughter and I would have been killed if the air bags had deployed or an accident.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford f450sd. The contact stated as he was driving at 40-65mph the engine goes into a safe mode and cuts off. He stated that when parts such as the egr valve and fuel pump fail the engine goes into a safe mode and the vehicle shuts down. The contact had to pull over to the side of the road, restart the engine and then drive slowly to the dealer. The dealer has already replace the fuel pump but the egr valve is on back order due to a high demand of this failure. The failure mileage was 46,000.
Our ford f450 pickup has been in the dealership for repair for shutting down while driving over five times. Three of the episodes occurred while driving on the freeway and with no warning the vehicle shut-down causing loss of power brakes and steering. The last incident occurred on 11/5/09.
Ford refuses to repair warranty vehicle, fuel tank leaks, air conditioner not working, ford refuse to repair radiator recall - customer satisfaction program 08b06 and ford refuses to fix engine problem. At time of the engine problem occurred loss of power shaking knocking sound white smoke from tail pipe. Loss of oil and antifreeze. Maybe egr cooler, injector or turbo problem? Ford shifts the blame on to the customer and will not honor warranty.
Ltr on behalf of constituent re 2008 ford f450 truck defective engine. *nj the consumer stated from july 12, 2008 to november 28, 2008 she experienced three failed engines. There was an unusual amount of heat in the engine compartment, enough to melt the wiring and cause smoke to come into the cab of the truck. On each occasion, that the engine failed, there was excessive looseness in the steering. On one occasion, the consumers son was driving the truck and all of a sudden, oil began blowing all over the windshield. The fuel pump also failed which was causing the steering and starter to lock up.
F-450 sd continually overheated and stranded two personnel in remote area during extreme summer heat conditions in central louisiana.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford f-450. The contact stated that the vehicle has an oil leak. The manufacturer refuses to repair the vehicle under warranty. The contact is concerned because the vehicle could catch fire. The current and failure mileages were 500.
Engine blew at 18,900 miles.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford f-450 sd. While the contact was changing the oil in the vehicle, he noticed that there were two more quarts of oil than what should have been in the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the excess oil was normal and the issue could not be serviced. The current mileage was 14,300 and failure mileage was 11,113.update 09/10/08 *cw fuel injector were leking diesel oil onto the crankcase. Update 09/19/08.
Truck with about 18,000 miles by original owner failed on 22 june 2008; new motor required after lengthy contacts between dealer and ford motor company; as of july 28, 2008, truck is still in shop and fmc not cooperative.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford f-450 sd. While driving 68 MPH, the contact drove over a bump in the road and the vehicle shut off and the steering wheel locked. The same failures occurred the previous day. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer, but the failures still persists. The current and failure mileages were 43,520.
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 ford f-450. The contact has owned the vehicle for seven months and has replaced the radiator seven times due to an oil leak. The turbos failed and the exhaust system cracked in half. The vehicle fails to accelerate. The contact took the vehicle to two different dealers. One stated that a new engine was needed, but the other disagreed. The vehicle is currently parked and unable to be driven. The contact filed a complaint with his consumer protection agency regarding the lemon law. He also called the manufacturer, but they refused to touch the vehicle. The failure mileage was 45,675.
Engine suddenly races up causing vehicle to lurch.
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