Most common 2008 Ford F-450 SD problems
Share of the 68 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 →
2008 Ford F-450 SD recalls (3)
Seats
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…
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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
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.
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.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery
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.
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.
What 2008 Ford F-450 SD owners say
Engine & cooling all 39 →
Have had acceleration issues with this Ford f-450 since April of 2010, the first time the driver was able to stop the vehicle without incident but the engine blew up when he put it in neutral to stop the vehicle. It was at the Ford dealership for 6 weeks, I retrieved the vehicle, while on the way home the engine failed again, it was towed back to the dealership. 1 week later I retrieved the vehicle again, 2 days after that the accelerator stuck once again while hauling a trailer loaded with a rental trencher. This time the result was a traffic accident that sent one of my employees to the hospital and caused major property damage, the vehicle was towed back to the dealership and has been there ever since. They have replaced the short block, injectors, and other various engine components.
I was making a left hand turn afyer stoping at a traffic light and loss power. The engine light came on and the turbo pressure gauge dropped. I took the truck into the dealer and the dealer told me that a manafold bolt had broken which caused a bad exhuast leak. Repair cost was $3500. I drove the truck less than 50 miles over the next two days and the problem happened again with loss of power and engine light on. I took the truck back the dealer and was informed that the high pressure fuel pump had exploded and sent metal debris through out the fuel system. I was then told the repair cost were going to $7500 ($6000 for parts and $1500 for labor). This is a bad Ford engineering design problem and should be paid for by Ford as well as a recall on all models using the same hpfp assembly.
Fuel & propulsion system
We are original owners.truck only used to haul drinking water. That is why the mileage is low. In March we smelled gasoline in drive but we have several cars and couldn't pinpoint problem or see gas on ground. We had filled up the truck and thought maybe some gas had spilled. After that we had several incidences of driving down road 40-60 MPH and truck slowed to 20mph. It stalled and came toa complete stop on a few occasions. We were able to restart it. Local shop ran diagnostic check and nothing was evident. Took it to Ford dealer today and mechanic says the gas tank has imploded due to crack and dirt got in and fuel pump is clogged. We have never had any incidence of damage to our vehicle and no incident that would cause the fuel tank to split. …
Have had acceleration issues with this Ford f-450 since April of 2010, the first time the driver was able to stop the vehicle without incident but the engine blew up when he put it in neutral to stop the vehicle. It was at the Ford dealership for 6 weeks, I retrieved the vehicle, while on the way home the engine failed again, it was towed back to the dealership. 1 week later I retrieved the vehicle again, 2 days after that the accelerator stuck once again while hauling a trailer loaded with a rental trencher. This time the result was a traffic accident that sent one of my employees to the hospital and caused major property damage, the vehicle was towed back to the dealership and has been there ever since. They have replaced the short block, injectors, and other various engine components.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-450. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the transfer case exploded, and the front windshield shattered. No injuries were sustained; however, several other vehicles sustained cosmetic damage. No warning light was illuminated. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to an independent mechanic for a diagnostic test. The contact was informed that the transfer case, drive shaft assembly, fuel injection pump, fuel lines, and transmission wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 164,176.
I was making a left hand turn afyer stoping at a traffic light and loss power. The engine light came on and the turbo pressure gauge dropped. I took the truck into the dealer and the dealer told me that a manafold bolt had broken which caused a bad exhuast leak. Repair cost was $3500. I drove the truck less than 50 miles over the next two days and the problem happened again with loss of power and engine light on. I took the truck back the dealer and was informed that the high pressure fuel pump had exploded and sent metal debris through out the fuel system. I was then told the repair cost were going to $7500 ($6000 for parts and $1500 for labor). This is a bad Ford engineering design problem and should be paid for by Ford as well as a recall on all models using the same hpfp assembly.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Ford F-450 SD a good car?
Based on 68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 F-450 SD rates avoid: 12.4× 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 2008 Ford F-450 SD?
The engine & cooling — 39 complaints, 57% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › diesel. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (19) and transmission & drivetrain (11).
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford F-450 SD have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2008 Ford F-450 SD, the most recent from February 28, 2008 (seats). 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 2008 Ford F-450 SD problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 34,000 miles; 63% 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.