NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
28 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 8, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER THE CONTACT REMOVED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST FUEL RECIRCUL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER THE CONTACT REMOVED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST FUEL RECIRCULATION VALVE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10883654
95,000 miles · Apr 22, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450 SD. AFTER WATER WAS ADDED TO THE RADIATOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER LEAKED OUT OF THE HOSE. THE VEHICLE LEAKED RADIATOR FLUID FROM THE HOSE. IN ADDITION, THE EGR COOLER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-450 SD. AFTER WATER WAS ADDED TO THE RADIATOR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER LEAKED OUT OF THE HOSE. THE VEHICLE LEAKED RADIATOR FLUID FROM THE HOSE. IN ADDITION, THE EGR COOLER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EGR COOLER, RADIATOR, AND HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
NHTSA ODI #10860944
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling
2008 FORD F450 CREW CAB. CONSUMER STATES CAR HAD TWO MAJOR MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURBO AND ENGINE BLEW OUT FIVE DAYS APART. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10661752
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling
2008 FORD F-450 BASED TYPE I AMBULANCE. CONTACT ALLEGES THAT IMPROPER MANUFACTURING OF 6.4L POWERSTROKE DIESEL ENGINE CYLINDER NUMBER 8 RESULTED IN REDUCED COMPRESSION AND EXCESSIVE BLOW BY OF COMBUSTION GASES AND PARTICULATE MATTER. REPORTED CONSEQUENCE INCLUDES ENGINE STALL, REDUCED POWER, NO START CONDITION, EXHAUST GAS TEMPE…
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2008 FORD F-450 BASED TYPE I AMBULANCE. CONTACT ALLEGES THAT IMPROPER MANUFACTURING OF 6.4L POWERSTROKE DIESEL ENGINE CYLINDER NUMBER 8 RESULTED IN REDUCED COMPRESSION AND EXCESSIVE BLOW BY OF COMBUSTION GASES AND PARTICULATE MATTER. REPORTED CONSEQUENCE INCLUDES ENGINE STALL, REDUCED POWER, NO START CONDITION, EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE SENSOR CONTAMINATION AND CATASTROPHIC TURBOCHARGER DAMAGE. ENGINE PROBLEMS HAD NEGATIVE IMPACT ON DELIVERY OF AMBULANCE SERVICES.
NHTSA ODI #10637890
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10510087
23,000 miles · Dec 14, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
MOTOR REPLACED AND/OR REBUILT BY DEALER TWICE SINCE PURCHASED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10488838
32,000 miles · Mar 8, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 T…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10450803
37,000 miles · Nov 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
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…
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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. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10434351
20,347 miles · May 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
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.
NHTSA ODI #10401590
37,063 miles · Jan 31, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 WHIC…
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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!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10379684
Official recalls
3Feb 28, 2008
FORD IS RECALLING 87,515 MY 2008 F250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." SOME 40% SPLIT AND CAPTAIN'S CHAIR DRIVER'S SEATS, EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORTS, MAY HAVE IMPROPER WELDS AT THE JOINT OF THE SEAT BACK PIVOT BRACKET AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT SIDE PIVOT BRACKET MAY CRACK OR BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE 40% SPLIT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT EQUIPPED WITH LUMBAR SUPPORT OR, IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT BACK FRAME WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Mar 26, 2007
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES IN THE DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY RESULT FROM EXCESS HYDROCARBONS IN THE EXHAUST.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LACK OF POWER OR ROUGH OPERATION, UNUSUAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, AND POTENTIALLY A VISIBLE FLAME OUT THE TAILPIPE CAN OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Mar 26, 2007
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 6.4L DIESEL ENGINE, INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE OF THE BATTERY POSITIVE (B+) WIRE TO THE RIGHT HAND SPLASH SHIELD BOLT MAY RESULT IN THE BATTERY B+ WIRE CONTACTING THE SPLASH SHIELD BOLT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LONG TERM CONTACT COULD CAUSE WIRE CHAFE, RESULTING IN COPPER WIRE BEING EXPOSED. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE BATTERY B+ WIRE COULD SHORT TO GROUND INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY B+ WIRE LOCATION AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION THE WIRE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗