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2013 Ford F-550 SD problems

The most common problem on the 2013 Ford F-550 SD is engine and cooling. It has fewer complaints than a typical F-550 SD model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
2
Recalls
9
Service bulletins
163
Worst area
Engine

The worst 2013 Ford F-550 SD problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    1
  • Tires
    1
  • Transmission
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    1
  • Tires
    1
  • Transmission
    1

Recalls 9

Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)Reported March 25, 2015 · 6,322 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks manufactured February 22, 2010, to January 30, 2015, and equipped with ambulance or fire engine preparation packages. The affected vehicles may detect an incorrect Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensor (EGT) fault indicating that the vehicle is too hot, causing the engine management system to shut down the engine and prevent its immediate restart.
Risk
Engine shut down and a subsequent cool down period may delay medical treatment or assistance to those needing it, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S09.

Recall number 15V175000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 23, 2014 · 10 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Palfleet will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 29, 2014. Owners may contact Palfleet customer service at 1- 502‑376‑2458.

Recall number 14V360000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 18, 2014 · 42 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Dual-Tech, Inc. (Dual-Tech) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-550 Super Duty trucks modified by Dual-Tech, equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Dual-Tech will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2014. Owners may contact Dual-Tech customer service at 1‑800‑852‑0345.

Recall number 14V336000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 13, 2014 · 10 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Manning Equipment Inc. LLC (Manning) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Manning and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Manning will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. This action is the same as the service campaign action. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Manning at 1‑800‑876‑8768.

Recall number 14V326000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 13, 2014 · 21 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners and dealers to inspect the Muncie PTO pressure switch to determine if it is from the range of defective switches and if required, remove the pressure switch assembly and put a plug in the port where the PTO switch had been installed. This switch was never being utilized. This will be done free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-July 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1‑800‑247‑5958.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. at 1‑800‑247‑5958.

Recall number 14V328000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 12, 2014 · 10 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Stahl is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Ford F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles modified by Stahl and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Stahl will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. Owners may contact Stahl customer service at 1‑800‑277‑8245, or Muncie at 1‑800‑367‑7867.

Recall number 14V327000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 10, 2014 · 16 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Utility Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Utility Truck) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 UTLI41A, 2011 UTLN41, and 2012 UTLN46 aerial trucks manufactured December 2010 to September 2013 equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies installed on 2010-2013 Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Utility Truck will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Utility Truck customer service at 1‑254‑857‑8813.

Recall number 14V379000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 10, 2014 · 4 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Somerset Welding & Steel, doing business as J&J Truck equipment (J&J), is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis with 6.8L gasoline engines modified by J&J to be equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Somerset will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began August 2014. Owner's may contact Somerset customer service at 1‑800‑777‑2671.

Recall number 14V382000 · Recall details

EquipmentReported June 4, 2014 · 19 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Tactical Vehicle Outfitters (Tactical) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ford F-350 and F-550 vehicles modified by Tactical and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.
Risk
The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.
Remedy
Tactical will notify owners, and dealers will install a new PTO pressure switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2014. Owners may contact Tactical customer service at 1‑405‑603‑6700.

Recall number 14V307000 · Recall details

See all 9 recalls for the 2013 Ford F-550 SD

Defect investigations

Vehicle Commanded Engine ShutdownOpened January 13, 2015, closed March 15, 2016

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this RQ to investigate allegations that the scope and remedy of safety recall 13V‑535 were inadequate. Recall 13V‑535 was limited to a relatively small population of Ambulance Package vehicles and ODI received complaints of pickup trucks and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles being affected by the same defect. Ford manufactured approximately 555,985 subject vehicles between February 22, 2010 and January 30, 2015 that may be affected by defective EGT sensors and Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software calibration. The subject vehicles are equipped with four (4) EGT sensors to monitor engine operating conditions. An EGT sensor fault may produce false exhaust over-temperature signals. If these signals are produced, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) implements a Failure Management Effects Mode (FMEM) and the driver receives a Stop Safely Now (SSN) system warning on the instrument cluster message center. The FMEM triggers a 70% reduction in available engine power over a period of no more than 45 seconds, during which it may not be possible to accelerate or maintain vehicle speed. The PCM then commands the engine to shut down when vehicle speed reaches approximately 1 mph. There is no immediate restart capability. Depending on the PCM software calibration, ignition key position and ambient temperature conditions, the engine may not restart until the end of a 10-60 minute cool down period.Ford and its component supplier(s) made numerous changes to the PCM software calibration and the design, material and manufacture of the EGT sensors over the period of subject vehicle production. This continuous product improvement affected vehicle performance regarding the alleged defect. Ford acknowledges the defect condition in the subject vehicles but argues that an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety is limited to Ambulance Package and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles where commanded shutdown could impact emergency response and patient care. Ford also argues that the defect trend is in decline. Ford also initiated a new safety recall (15V‑175) to address the 13V‑535 remedy concerns in the Ambulance Package vehicles and Fire Engine Prep Package vehicles. The 15V‑175 remedy reprograms the PCM with a new software calibration that stops a single EGT sensor fault to cause the vehicle to enter the FMEM shutdown mode.Ford also initiated an EPA emissions recall (14E03) for all subject vehicles that reprograms the PCM with the software calibration employed in safety recall 15V‑175. Finally, Ford initiated a Customer Satisfaction Program (15M01) providing extended warranty coverage of 8 years or 80,000 miles for the the EGT sensors on certain MY2011-2012 subject vehicles.Due to the EPA emissions recall, that had a 66.6% completion rate in Ford's December 2015 progress report to the EPA, the defect trend is in decline. ODI is not aware of any crashes, deaths or injuries related to the alleged defect.ODI believes the alleged defect poses a safety risk but notes that the EPA emissions recall is addressing the safety problem.Compelling issuance of a duplicate recall would not represent a wise use of agency resources.Accordingly, this Recall Query is closed.This action is not a finding that no defect exists and the federal safety agency will take further action if such action is warranted.

RQ14005

Technical service bulletins for the 2013 Ford F-550 SD 163

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 163 bulletins for the 2013 Ford F-550 SD

What 2013 Ford F-550 SD owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 9, 2015 · Tires · 19,980 miles · AZ

Complete tread separation of driver front tire less than 3 years old and less than 20,000 miles on I-10 near wilcox, az. Enroute to as mutual aid search and rescue call normal traffic traveling approx. 70 MPH.

Filed Jul 4, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 65,000 miles · OK

Turbo will over boost to 31 psi and the engine will go in to a fail safe mode reducing power to 5 miles an hour without warning. Causing you to have to pull to the side of the road and turn off the engine and restart to clear the fail safe mode. This has happen to me over 12 times. Ford has replaced the turbo twice under warranty. The problem seems fixed for the first 30 - 40 thousand miles. Then the same problem recurs. The biggest headache with this problem is it take weeks and some times months for ford to diagnose. Do to the fact that when this happens no engine light comes on and no fault code is stored. Ford will not warranty the part out until they get a fault code. The only time the truck will throw a fault code is when this problem happens twice on the same day. Most of the time it only happens once a day. I find this problem to be a major safety issue. Do to the fact that it happens without warning and you can't always make it to the side of the road under reduced power. Be it heavy traffic or no shoulder to pull off on. There has been 2 times that I had to stop in the middle of my lane and shut the truck off and restart it before I could regain full power.

Compare the 2013 Ford F-550 SD

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Questions about the 2013 Ford F-550 SD

Is the 2013 Ford F-550 SD reliable?

Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2013 Ford F-550 SD, fewer than a typical F-550 SD model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Ford F-550 SD?

Engine and cooling, with 1 complaint. Next is tires (1).

How many recalls does the 2013 Ford F-550 SD have?

9 recalls, covering power train and equipment.

What year does the Ford F-550 SD have bad engine?

The Ford F-550 SD model years with the most engine complaints are 2004 (17 complaints), 2008 (14 complaints) and 1999 (10 complaints).

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