This page covers 6 recalls and 12 owner complaints for the 2011 Ford F-550.
Engine complaints dominate what owners report for the 2011 F-550. The most common pattern is engine failure or shutdown, owners describe stalling at speed with warning lights appearing on the instrument panel, hard no-start conditions that sometimes resolve after the vehicle sits for a few hours, and in at least one case a loud knock traced to an internal failure requiring full engine replacement. A separate pattern involves fuel system issues, where owners report internal fuel tank liner material detaching and contaminating the fuel supply, which they connect to downstream engine damage. A handful of owners also report severe vibration at highway speeds that persists despite front-end, driveshaft, and wheel work.
12
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
By System
The 2011 Ford F-550 has 6 recalls, the most serious being multiple fire risks tied to oil leaking from power take-off (PTO) pressure switches onto exhaust-adjacent thermal blankets on certain modified trucks.
Three separate recalls cover this same PTO oil leak and fire risk, each filed by a different upfitter that modified F-550 chassis with PTO assemblies. On CNG-converted transit bus variants, a separate recall covers brackets that secure the compressed natural gas fuel tank to the frame; if those brackets break, the tank can separate from the vehicle entirely, raising the risk of a crash or fire. Rounding out the list, certain ambulance-package vehicles with 6.7L diesel engines have two related recalls: the engine can trigger a "stop safety now" warning, reduce torque by 70 percent over roughly 45 seconds, and eventually stall when speed drops below about 3 mph. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue, which is why it appears under more than one filing.
At a glance
What can fail
The exhaust gas temperature sensor may fail, triggering a warning and reducing engine power by 70 percent over 45 seconds. The engine could shut down and be difficult to restart, potentially delaying emergency medical response.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control module with updated software to correct the sensor fault detection.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The PTO pressure switch may leak oil onto the thermal blanket covering the exhaust system.
What the fix does
Install a new pressure switch kit that relocates the switch away from the exhaust system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Oil can leak from the PTO pressure switch onto the thermal blanket covering the exhaust system.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that relocates the switch away from the exhaust system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The PTO assembly pressure switch may develop an oil leak over time.
What the fix does
A new pressure switch kit will be installed that relocates the switch away from the exhaust system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brackets that hold the passenger-side CNG fuel tank in place may break, potentially causing the tank to become unsecured.
What the fix does
The brackets have been reinforced or replaced to securely hold the fuel tank in place. This repair has already been completed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The exhaust gas temperature sensor may fail, triggering a warning message and chimes. The engine then loses power and stalls when slowing below 5 km/h, potentially stopping the ambulance during patient transport.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the exhaust gas temperature sensor located after the diesel particulate filter.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
