2018 Ford F-550 recalls & complaints

1. Engine

What's wrong, in plain English: Engine problems range from stalling to fire. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causing corrosion and damage.

What could happen: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S45.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 18V894000 (manufacturer code 18S45).
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-866-436-7332.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

2. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. Unruh Fire, Inc. (Unruh Fire) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550-based fire trucks equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

What could happen: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Unruh Fire has notified owners and will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began in May 20, 2019. Owners may contact Unruh Fire customer service at 1-800-856-7080.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V358000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-856-7080.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

3. Equipment

What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. The affected monitors may revert back to the factory default settings which can cause the camera image to be reversed.

What could happen: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Farber will notify owners, and dealers will add a harness relay capacitor module, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188 or ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V414000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-331-3188.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

4. Equipment

What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. LGE Coachworks, Inc. (LGE Coachworks) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ford E-450, F-550, and Freightliner M2-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager back-up camera displays. The displays may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.

What could happen: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: ASA will notify LGE Coachworks owners, and dealers will replace the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400 or LGE Coachworks at 1-800-209-3985.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V398000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-384-4400.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

5. Equipment

What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists (VCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550, 2014 E-350 and E-450, 2015 F-250 and F-450, 2016 E-450, 2017 E-350, F-450 and E-450, 2018 F-350, 2010 E-450, 2005-2006 E-450, 2009 E-450 and Chevrolet C4500-based Type I and Type III ambulances equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The monitors may unexpectedly revert back to the fact…

What could happen: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V401000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-384-4400.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

6. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

What could happen: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Weis Fire & Safety has already notified the owner, and replaced the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Weis Fire & Safety customer service at 1-785-825-9526.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V269000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-785-825-9526.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

7. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

What could happen: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: FES has already notified owners, and replaced the brake lights, free of charge. Owners may contact FES customer service at 1-803-494-6000 or Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V251000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-803-494-6000.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

8. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. Blanchat Mfg., Inc. (Blanchat) is recalling one 2018 B-27 Minuteman vehicle built on a Ford F-550 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

What could happen: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Blanchat has notified the owner, and will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2019. Owners may contact Blanchat customer service at 1-620-896-7145.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V254000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-620-896-7145.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

9. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed.

What could happen: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Taylor Made will notify owners and Whelen will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2019. Owners may contact Taylor Made Ambulances customer service at 1-800-468-1310.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V342000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-468-1310.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

10. Brakes

What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. Excellance, Inc. (Excellance) is recalling certain 2018 Ambulances and Emergency Vehicles built on Ford E-350, E-450, F-650, F-550 4x4, Chevrolet G4500, G4500 Diesel, C3500, G3500, Freightliner M2, International 4300, and Dodge 4500 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, thes…

What could happen: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Excellance has notified owners, instructing them to contact Whelen to have the brake lights replaced, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2019. Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 or Execellance at 1-256-772-9321.

What to do

1. Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2018 F-550.
2. Book a repair at any authorized Ford dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 19V236000.
3. The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
4. Manufacturer hotline: 1-860-718-2331.
5. Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Most complained-about parts: Body / structure (2), Steering (2), Suspension (2), Transmission / drivetrain (1), Engine (1).

Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.