What breaks most · 2011 to 2020 model years
FORD F-450 problems by year
Owners have filed 115 safety complaints with NHTSA about the FORD F-450 across model years 2011 to 2020. Three years stand out: 2020 for fuel system, diesel complaints, 2017 for body and structure complaints and 2019 for steering complaints. The quietest years are 2014, 2013 and 2015.
- Years to check closely: 2020, 2017, 2019
- Fewest complaints: 2014, 2013, 2015
- Complaints on file
- 1152011 to 2020, all trims
- Worst year
- 202024 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 57 fires · 6 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 55kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 21Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0 | 2 | Engine (3) | |
| 14 | 0 | 4 | Engine (5) | |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | Wheels (1) | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | Air bags (1) | |
| 6 | 0 | 2 | Engine (4) | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | Engine (1) | |
| 20 | 2 | 4 | Body and structure (9) | |
| 10 | 0 | 3 | Engine (3) | |
| 19 | 0 | 4 | Steering (8) | |
| 24 | 2 | 1 | Fuel System, Diesel (7) |
What fails on the 2020 FORD F-450
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Diesel | 29% |
7 | 0 | — |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 21% |
5 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Unknown or other | 17% |
4 | 0 | — |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 13% |
3 | 0 | Shop all electrical system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 8% |
2 | 0 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 8% |
2 | 0 | Shop all engine parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Tires | 4% |
1 | 0 | — |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 4% |
1 | 0 | Shop all suspension parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
On two separate occasions, while towing a 5th wheel trailer, the tailgate opened by itself, coming in contact with the 5th wheel while turning. There was no warning or indication that the tailgate had opened. The tailgate was not opened by a person or by a bumping the keyfob -- it opened completely on its own.
-
My truck wobbles out of control when I drive it above 40mph. It shakes uncontrollably. Nothing is wrong with it according to mechanics. I believe it's realated to the death wobble, many reports I have seen on tv regarding this matter on Ford trucks.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which FORD F-450 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2020, 2017, 2019 carry the most filings on the FORD F-450. The 2020 alone has 24 complaints, led by fuel system, diesel.
What is the most common FORD F-450 problem?
On the 2020 model year, the most-reported component is fuel system, diesel with 7 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do FORD F-450 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all FORD F-450 complaints that include mileage is about 55,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.