Total Complaints
92 filings
FORD F-550 SD · model year
1999 FORD F-550 SD
92 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999FORDF-550 SD carries 92 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 9 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 F-550 SD is power train:clutch assembly with 13 filings, followed by wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (10) and tires (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1999 F-550 SD, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
92
Complaints
0
Crashes
9
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 13 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 10 |
| TIRES | 6 |
| TIRES:VALVE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20180123FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL TANK IS RUSTING. I UNDERSTAND FORD HAD A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW ONE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES AND I AM HAVING TO REPLACE MY FUEL FILTER EVERY 1000 MILES!
Mileage: 47,000
20120320SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-550 SD. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED WHERE THE SHOCKS WERE LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Mileage: 160,000
20101206VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1999 FORD V10, WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN 34Y. CONSUMER HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE RV TO THE DEALER. THEY ADVISED THE CONSUMER OVER A RECALL REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER DISABLED THE CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT THE CONSUMERS CONSENT AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE BECAME AWARE OF PARTS BEING AVAILABLE AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND WENT THERE, WHERE THEY INSTALLED A WIRING HARNESS AND RECORDED THE RECALL HAD BEEN DONE, BUT IT WAS NOT FIXED. THE NEXT DEALERSHIP REMOVED AND REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS, TO NO AVAIL, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED DID NOT FIX THE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM. THEY REMOVED THE LAST HARNESS AND INSTALLED ANOTHER. THE SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATE
20060503FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WE HAVE 4 F550 BUSES THAT HAVE HAD THE GAS TANK REPLACED TWICE ON EACH BUS DO WHAT WE BELIEVE IS COATING FAILURE. WE NOW HAVE AN F450 THAT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME CONDITIONS, WE ARE FORCED TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL. WE TAKE OUR VEHICLES TO FORD MIRAMAR TRUCK CENTER, AND HAVE HAD A FORD FACTOR REPRESENTATIVE LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM ONLY TO TELL US ITS NOT A TANK FAILURE ISSUE. AFTER WHAT WILL NOW BE 9 REPLACED GAS TANKS, I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISSUE HERE THAT MUST BE SERIOUSLY LOOKED INTO. ON A SIDE NOTE, AFTER THE SECOND TANK FAILURE WE CHANGED GAS STATIONS THINKING THE PROBLEM WAS BAD FUEL-NOT THE PROBLEM. *NM
Mileage: 65,000
20060331FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
INTERNAL COATING FAILURE ON FUEL TANKS ON F550 SUPER DUTY FORD TRUCKS.THE FUEL SYSTEM BECOMES CLOGGED WITH RUST AND THE TANK MUST BE CLEANED OR REPLACED.WE HAVE FOUR VEHICLES AND HAVE INCURRED 8 TO 10 FAILURES IN PAST THREE YEARS. WE ARE UNABLE TO GET FORD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WHICH I THINK IS IMPROPER APPLICATION OF THE COATING MATERIAL. *NM
20060321STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING BOX SHAFT HAD BROKEN CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE STEERING SECTOR SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB
Mileage: 99,000
20060321STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5MPH IN A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN FREELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE STEERING BOX SHAFT HAD BROKEN CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE STEERING SECTOR SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 04/06/06
Mileage: 120,000
20060111TIRES
1999 FORD F550 REAR RIGHT DUAL TIRES SHEERED OF THE AXLE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE STUDS BROKE. *JB
20060111WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
1999 FORD F550 REAR RIGHT DUAL TIRES SHEERED OF THE AXLE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE STUDS BROKE. *JB
20051207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MISFIRED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE CROSSED, WHICH SEND THE SPARK TO THE WRONG AREA. THIS WAS CAUSING AIR POLLUTION. THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 1/5/2006 - *NM
Mileage: 35,000
20051207ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MISFIRED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE CROSSED, WHICH SEND THE SPARK TO THE WRONG AREA. THIS WAS CAUSING AIR POLLUTION. THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 1/5/2006 - *NM
Mileage: 35,000
20050128TIRES
TIRE BLOW OUTS AND BULGE IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE. THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THREE DIFFERENT TIRE FAILURES. TWO FAILURES WERE BLOWOUTS WHICH OCCURRED WHILE PULLING A TRAVEL TRAILER, THE THIRD WAS A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL WHICH WAS DETECTED BEFORE THE TIRE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE TIRE APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION WITH NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR DEFECTS. *NM
Mileage: 50,000
20040722ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION STOP SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD MAJOR OIL LEAKS THROUGH THE FUEL SYSTEM. *JB
Mileage: 9,420
20040722POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION STOP SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD MAJOR OIL LEAKS THROUGH THE FUEL SYSTEM. *JB
Mileage: 9,420
20040507SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER HAD EXCESS WERE ON THE PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND LOW GEAR. THE HARD CLUTCH MADE NOISE. THE CLUTCH COMPANY WAS WELL AWARE OF FORD'S PROBLEM AND HAD RE-ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED A NEW PACKAGE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AT THE FUEL FILTER, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON, ENGINE OIL LEAK, AND THE GAS CAP WAS BROKEN. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 26,000
20040507POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER HAD EXCESS WERE ON THE PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND LOW GEAR. THE HARD CLUTCH MADE NOISE. THE CLUTCH COMPANY WAS WELL AWARE OF FORD'S PROBLEM AND HAD RE-ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED A NEW PACKAGE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AT THE FUEL FILTER, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON, ENGINE OIL LEAK, AND THE GAS CAP WAS BROKEN. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 26,000
20040507FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER HAD EXCESS WERE ON THE PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND LOW GEAR. THE HARD CLUTCH MADE NOISE. THE CLUTCH COMPANY WAS WELL AWARE OF FORD'S PROBLEM AND HAD RE-ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED A NEW PACKAGE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AT THE FUEL FILTER, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON, ENGINE OIL LEAK, AND THE GAS CAP WAS BROKEN. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 26,000
20040507SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER HAD EXCESS WERE ON THE PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND LOW GEAR. THE HARD CLUTCH MADE NOISE. THE CLUTCH COMPANY WAS WELL AWARE OF FORD'S PROBLEM AND HAD RE-ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED A NEW PACKAGE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AT THE FUEL FILTER, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON, ENGINE OIL LEAK, AND THE GAS CAP WAS BROKEN. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 26,000
20040507INTERIOR LIGHTING
AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER HAD EXCESS WERE ON THE PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND LOW GEAR. THE HARD CLUTCH MADE NOISE. THE CLUTCH COMPANY WAS WELL AWARE OF FORD'S PROBLEM AND HAD RE-ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED A NEW PACKAGE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AT THE FUEL FILTER, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON, ENGINE OIL LEAK, AND THE GAS CAP WAS BROKEN. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 26,000
20040507ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER HAD EXCESS WERE ON THE PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND LOW GEAR. THE HARD CLUTCH MADE NOISE. THE CLUTCH COMPANY WAS WELL AWARE OF FORD'S PROBLEM AND HAD RE-ENGINEERED AND DESIGNED A NEW PACKAGE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AT THE FUEL FILTER, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON, ENGINE OIL LEAK, AND THE GAS CAP WAS BROKEN. *AK *SC *JB
Mileage: 26,000
Compare 1999FORDF-550 SD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 FORD F-550 SD have?▼
The 1999 FORD F-550 SD has 92 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 9 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 FORD F-550 SD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 FORD F-550 SD is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS and TIRES.
Is the 1999 FORD F-550 SD safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.