Engine lost power on highway Engine light came on Towed to dealership and they told us the engine was bad, camshaft is gone and cylinder bad. Truck has 86,000 miles on engine; we do not allow it to be idle, and all maintenance and oil changes were performed. Note: Ford Rep did give us 50% of replacement, not sure how they come out with a engine tell you it's better than out going engine "more durable" and it last 86,000 miles. By giving us 50% they are telling me it will only last 160,000 miles when maintained which is a joke.
Ford F-550 SD loss of power problems
48 of the 466 owner complaints about the Ford F-550 SD describe sudden loss of power, most of them for the 2005 model year.
- owner complaints
- 48
- worst model year
- 2005
- typical repair cost reported
- $3,500
- typical mileage
- 59,000
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
My f-550 super duty diesel dump truck lost power on the highway because of a known fuel injector pump defect. The pump exploded into metal pieces that clogged all fuel lines leading to a loss of power on a highway putting everybody at risk of a collision. This fuel injector problem is known to ford and is subject to class action lawsuits. The dealer confirms that this is the problem. Apparently for the last decade, this pump has been known to fail because it was designed for European diesel not American diesel which because of the low sulfur content makes the pump cavitate because of lack of lubrication and explode. There was no indication of failure prior to the incident.
I have more files and receipts Vehicle Information: •Make: Ford •Model: F-550 Super Duty •Year: 2020 Issue Summary: After a recall service (22E04) for powertrain and transmission software updates, the vehicle experienced a complete power failure within 40 miles, leading to a stall and loss of control, resulting in the vehicle veering into a ditch. Incident Details: •Recall Service Date: ] •Mileage at Service: 63,993 •Incident Mileage: ~64,030 miles •Description: Post-recall, multiple warning lights activated, including powertrain malfunction and traction control off. The vehicle stalled, became unresponsive, and veered off the road. After multiple attempts coming after multiple attempts to call the dealership and corporate with no answer, forced to leave a bad survey and then someone contacted Follow-Up Actions: The dealership attributed the issue to a missing 10-amp fuse. However, prior warnings from the FordPass app indicated powertrain malfunctions since October 2024. A subsequent recall notice (24S78/24V957) in January 2025 highlighted potential high-pressure fuel pump issues leading to power loss. After multiple attempts coming after multiple attempts to call the dealership and corporate with no answer was forced to leave a bad survey and then someone they’ve let me leave the dealership twice now saying that there was nothing wrong with my truck and then to find out that there’s a recall a couple weeks later Safety Concerns: The unexpected power loss and control failure pose significant safety risks. The recurrence of issues post-recall raises concerns about the effectiveness of the initial repair and overall vehicle safety. Requested Action: I urge the federal safety agency to investigate this matter to ensure driver safety and hold the manufacturer accountable for providing a reliable remedy.
While driving down the road at approximately 45 mph, under normal conditions, with no warning indicators the low fuel pressure light came on. When the driver stopped the vehicle he lost all power and observed smoke emanating from the underside and hood of the vehicle. Prior to him exiting the vehicle he observed flames shooting out from under the console towards his feet. Upon exiting the vehicle I saw flames under the hood of the vehicle and utilized his supplied fire extinguisher to attempt to put the fire out. This was futile and to our benefit he had a pressure washer and 119 gallons of water that he was able to put into action to subdue the fire. Noting that the drivers side front fender melted off and a hole melted in the drivers side hood from the fire. The entire engine compartment was burned as well as melted components and plastic in the passenger compartment of the vehicle from the fire.
The contact owns a 2007 Ford F-550. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the vehicle inadvertently stalled and lost power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the roadway and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred the same day while pulling to a parking lot. The contact contacted the manufacturer of the battery control circuit who instructed the contact to do a jumper wire to bypass the vehicle issue. The contact stated that the issue was resolved. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact contacted the manufacturer to advise that the recall repair for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V265000 (Electrical System) was not completed effectively however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the dealer needed to verify the information. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact they could not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 45,720.
Tl* the contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2016 ford f-550. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss power and shuddered while the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to (ford & lincoln of smithtown 440 east jericho turnpike, st james, ny 11780, (631) 265-2340) where it was determined that the fuel tank delamination was defective and confirmed that the fuel tank and fuel lines needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no further assistance was taken. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
While driving the truck down the interstate the reduced engine power light will illuminate and the truck will begin to lose speed and the engine will die, resulting in difficult steering and braking. The ford dealer has indicated this issue is being caused by water contamination in the fuel, although the water in fuel light has never been on and the dealership not been able to provide any conclusive evidence of water contamination.
Vehicle shut down completely during normal highway driving at approximately 65 MPH. Lost engine power and all interior power, including ignition power.
While driving the vehicle on the expressway in michigan, it suddenly began losing power. After frequently stopping and restarting the engine, the truck stopped completely. When the dealership investigated the cause, they found specks of paint in the diesel fuel. When the factory installed gas tank was dropped, it was discovered that the coating inside the fuel tank was flaking off and had plugged the fuel filters, contaminated the fuel as well as damaging 3 inverters.. When investigating if others have same complaint, we found many others have had the same problem. Luckily we were not pulling our rv.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford f-550. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speed, the vehicle started to lose power and the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the engine was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000. ...updated 06-12-15 *bf the consumer stated the dealership bought the truck back. The issue was resolved. Updated 06/30/15
Related recalls
Engine
- What is wrong
- 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 and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block heater cable's splice connector may have been damaged.
- Risk
- A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S11.
Recall number 19V278000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
- What is wrong
- On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
- Risk
- In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on december 29, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.
Recall number 07V553000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford F-550 SD loss of power
Which Ford F-550 SD years have sudden loss of power problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2005 (8 complaints), 2002 (6 complaints) and 2004 (6 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix sudden loss of power on the Ford F-550 SD?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $3,500 (median of 10 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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