Ford F-450 SD fire or smoke problems

Filed Aug 18, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · 9,707 miles · CA · fire

The contact owned a 2024 Ford F-450 SD. The contact stated that while his fiancée was driving with cruise control set to 57 MPH, there was an abnormally strong smoky odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road and there were flames coming from the engine bay. The driver called 9-1-1. The driver attempted to extinguish the fire with assistance using three fire extinguishers but failed to extinguish the fire. The vehicle became fully engulfed in flames before the Fire Department arrived on the scene. The fire department extinguished the fire; however, the entire vehicle burned, leaving only a fraction of the tailgate intact. Neither a Fire Department nor a Police report was filed. The contact's dog sustained a burn injury; however, the driver was not injured. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was pending the decision of the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided, and the contact was referred to the insurance company for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 9,707.

Filed Jan 30, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · IL · fire

n October 28th, I left Atlanta, Georgia with a load going to Pittsburgh–Philadelphia. On October 29th, 2025, around 12:30 a.m., I was approximately two miles north of Birch River, West Virginia. While driving uphill at a steady speed of about 60–65 mph, I suddenly heard a loud popping sound, as if something had exploded or blown inside the engine. Right after that, the truck immediately lost power, and I pulled over to the shoulder as quickly as I could. As I was stopping, I saw flames coming through the hood directly in front of me, mostly from the driver’s side. I grabbed the fire extinguisher from inside my cab and opened the hood. On the driver’s side of the engine, I saw heavy flames coming out under high pressure. I emptied the entire extinguisher, but the fire did not stop. Then I ran to get my second extinguisher from the trailer and used it completely as well, but the flames kept burning. I noticed that strong flames were also coming from underneath the front driver’s side wheel area.

Filed Sep 15, 2025 · Brakes, Transmission · 78,000 miles · MO · fire

The contact owned a 2021 Ford F-450 Super Duty. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH on an 8 percent decline and pulling a trailer, the vehicle slightly responded upon depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the transmission failed to downshift and was stuck in 10th gear. The contact pumped the brakes; however, the failure persisted. The contact drove into the shoulder of the roadway, and the vehicle was able to stop. The contact noticed smoke, and upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear brakes were on fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence of the contact's friend, where the trailer was detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where it was test-driven, and the contact was informed that no failure was found. The vehicle was taken back to the residence of the contact's friend. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal to start the vehicle, the brake pedal travelled all the way to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and traded for another vehicle. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

Filed May 19, 2025 · Engine · CA · fire

Vehicle was being driven by a driver service to be delivered to the home garage after production was completed at the manufacturer. During transit, the operator reported that the low fuel pressure warning light came on immediately followed by flames in the engine compartment.

Filed Dec 5, 2024 · Electrical · 300 miles · MA · fire

The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-450 SD. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was a popping sound coming from behind the instrument panel. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the instrument panel and through the vents. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, opened all the windows, and inspected the vehicle but found no failure. The contact reentered the vehicle and noticed flames coming from the middle of the instrument panel. The contact extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. Neither the Fire Department nor the Police Department were notified. The vehicle was towed to a dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300.

Filed Jul 16, 2024 · Engine · CA · fire

I was towing my 5th wheel trailer on a highway and up an incline. Almost at the top of the hill a notification appeared on the dash screen stating, "low power mode". As I was on top of a hill, towing a trailer, on a highway, and with no available offramps, I coasted down the hill trying to find a place to pull off of the highway. At the bottom of the hill I heard a loud noise from the engine, noticed smoke in my rearview mirror, and lost all power to the vehicle including power steering. I managed to pull off to the side of the busy highway. I exited the vehicle and removed my kids from the car, moving them up a hill on the side of the highway as it was the safest place I could find. It was at that point I noticed flames coming from the right font front wheel well. I quickly opened my trailer, grabbed my fire extinguisher, and doused the flames. Had I not acted quickly the entire truck, trailer, and hillside would have caught fire. The vehicle is still at the dealership waiting on Ford Motor Company to approve the repairs. The vehicle has approximately 26,000 miles on it and is unmodified.

Filed Mar 24, 2016 · Engine · AL · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 1995 ford f-450 sd. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire independently. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.

Filed Mar 20, 2010 · Brakes, Engine · 13,000 miles · CA · fire · 2 injuries

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.

Filed Mar 2, 2010 · Electrical · 76,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 ford f450. While driving 25 MPH he tried apply the brakes and the vehicle began to slide to the left and he almost hit a few vehicles. The driver stated that his front tires locked up. He contacted the dealer and they said it was due to low voltage. The dealer then replaced his alternator for $500.00. The driver stated that there was also smoke coming from the tires. The failure mileage was 75,000. The current mileage was 76,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Engine, Fuel system · 69,122 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford f-450. While the contact was driving 65 MPH he noticed thick white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe and moments later the vehicle suddenly shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where they replaced the egv valve, computer, and 6 injectors; however, the failure continued to occur. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 69,122. Updated 04/01/10 updated 10/05/10