Most common 1999 Ford F-450 SD problems
Share of the 66 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-450 SD complaints by model year
Best F-450 SD years: 2018, 2020, 2014. Years to avoid: 2022, 2021, 2008, 1999, 2000. Compare all years →
1999 Ford F-450 SD recalls (9)
Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 Mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
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.
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.
Vehicle speed control
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2006. Owners May contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05V017 and 05V388)
Parking brake › Conventional › Mechanical › Linkage and cable
On certain pickup trucks equipped with manual transmissions, failure of the front parking brake cable input button could result in failure of the parking brake system to hold the vehicle stationary.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front parking brake cable and the controller and verify the performance of the parking brake system. Owner notification began April 5, 2002.
Tires › Valve
Vehicle description: trucks equipped with commercial truck tires that have steel cords in the tire sidewall. The valve stems May have been torn or damaged during assembly and could leak causing sidewall damage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the valve stems for leakage, and will replace both the valve stem and the tire if leakage is present. Owner notification began March 28, 2001.
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from May 29, 1996 through March 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.
Show 3 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: light duty trucks. The cast tow hooks changes the crash pulse of the vehicle in frontal barrier impacts and the air bag sensor was not calibrated to this new crash pulse which May cause the air bags to deploy in lower speed impacts than design intent.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cast tow hooks with forged hooks.
Power train › Manual transmission
Vehicle description: medium duty trucks built on a 165" wheel base, 4x2 chassis-cabs equipped with a 6.81 engine, 5 speed manual transmission and optional 5.38:1 rear axle ratio. The two-piece drive shaft can be damaged if the vehicle is driven at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the drive shaft on these vehicles.
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Vehicle description: medium duty trucks and chassis-cabs. One or more of the four rivets on the lower steering shaft flex coupling May not have been crimped during the sub-assembly process.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lower steering shaft rivets and replace any shafts with uncrimped rivets.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1999 Ford F-450 SD:
Parking brake failure
On May 11, 1998, Ford motor company filed a defect information report concerning parking brake failure on certain 1999 f-350 super duty vehicles built at the kentucky truck plant from January 26, 1998 through April 24, 1998; recall 98v-101.the reduction in parking brake effectiveness May occur on some of these vehicles, and is caused by the rust preventative coating the surface of the parking brake lining material…
Engine stalling
In a December 3, 2007 letter, Ford advised NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall to replace the cam position sensor (cps) in approximately 1.2 million subject vehicles to address reports of engine stalling.a new design cps with improved performance and durability will be installed as a remedy.owner notifications will begin in December 2007.
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Rapid tire deflation
This investigation was opened on certain Ford pickup trucks and vans to evaluate the effects of a valve stem ejection (with rapid air loss) and a slow leaking valve stem on vehicle handing.during the investigation, odi evaluated over 1,100 complaints and warranty claims, conducted vehicle dynamic testing on a subject vehicle with the failure mode replicated, interviewed owners, and examined complaint vehicles in the…
Sector shaft fractures
This ea was opened based on a response received from Ford motor company to an information request (ir) submitted during sq00-018.Ford stated in an internal service message that it had changed the steering gear sector shafts and pitman arms installed 1999 model year f-series super duty vehicles on March 22, 1999.Ford stated that these design changes were implemented to make improvements in vehicle steering and…
What 1999 Ford F-450 SD owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
6 speed manual transmission replaced under waranty at 29,600 miles the first time. Failed, and would cost more to rebuild so it was replaced again at 88,260 miles at my exspense totalling $3,632.00. Ford would not make any after warranty assitance. Have heard this transmission is weak. Can u help me to get Ford to reimberce for the cost of this second transmission??
The clutch assembly [ powertrain component] failure is the direct result of excess heat build up from a stated "inherent component slippage" which results in a butterfly effect failure as described by meegan for service manager... Upon my inspection of the components it is evident that excessively high heat occurred as shown by the discoloration of the pressure plate assembly... The butterfly effect failure occurs when the heat causes distortion of the pressure plate resulting in the loss of applied pressure from the pressure plate directed to the driven plate and the fly wheel which in turn results in the loss of power transmission to the drive axles.... …
Brakes
When engaging emergency parking brake it failed to hold vehicle, causing vehicle to roll freely backwards. Consumer noted problem was due to a cable which snapped allowing vehicle to roll backwards. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer has made some adjustments to emergency parking brake cable, problem still occurred.
NHTSA recall 02-v-068-000/manufacturer's recall 02-s34; vehicle has manual transmission that requires parking brake to be engaged when parked. While disengaging parking brake, the whole assembly broke, not allowing vehicle to stay stable. Vehicle was not part of the recall issued. Consumer stated that the recall repair parts were the same parts as what failed to begin with, consumer has 2 of these vehicles, only one was included in the recall, however both parking brakes failed. Electrical system failures are causing problems with the air conditioner and flashers.
Wheels & tires
While driving and without warning, the right rear outside Firestone tire experienced tread separation. Size#lt22575r16. Ph. An indent report was enclosed. The company stated the tire had been operated for long period of time with insufficient air pressure to carry the load and the tire failure was not a result of a defect in the materials or workmanship.
1999 Ford f-350 dually 1 ton 4x4 aluminum wheels have cracked right front and left rear spare tire carrier cable broke....spare fell off on highway and lost. Both of the above failures could have resulted in very serious accidents.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Ford F-450 SD a good car?
Based on 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 F-450 SD rates avoid: 11.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-450 SD at the same age. It is one of the F-450 SD years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Ford F-450 SD?
The transmission & drivetrain — 15 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about clutch assembly. Next are the brakes (13) and wheels & tires (10).
How many recalls does the 1999 Ford F-450 SD have?
There are 9 recalls for the 1999 Ford F-450 SD, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-450 SD?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2020 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2021, 2008, 1999 and 2000. See the full Ford F-450 SD years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford F-450 SD problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 76,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.