2014 FORD F-550 SD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2014 Thor Outlaw Motorhome built on a 2014 Ford F-550 Super Duty chassis. The contact stated she noticed that the front cap was separating from the structure. The contact took the motorhome to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the front cap to be replaced. The motorhome was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,656.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD F-550 CRANE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE OVERNIGHT UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED BFI JOB NUMBER: 304652019, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,242. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD F-550. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, IT CAUGHT FIRE OVERNIGHT UNDER THE HOOD. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,012.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A WINDING COUNTRY ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY NOTICE LARGE VOLUME SMOKE COMING FROM TRUCK. IT WAS A SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE, FITTING SIMPLY CAME APART, SPEWING TRANSMISSION FLUID ON HOT EXHAUST AND UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, NEARLY CAUSING A FIRE AND DISABLING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ON SIDE OF ROADWAY UNABLE TO MOVE TO SAFETY. FLUID ON ROADWAY COULD CAUSE UPCOMING VEHICLES (TRYING TO AVOID DISABLED VEHICLE) BEING UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY, ESPECIALLY MOTORCYCLES, PART IS POORLY DESIGNED/ENGINEERED AND WOULD/SHOULD NEVER FAIL UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. PART IS NOT A NORMALLY SERVICED OR "WEAR" TYPE PART. NO WARNING OF POTENTIAL OR EMINENT FAILURE. I AM 66 YEARS OLD, BEEN IN TOWING/SERVICE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 35+ YEARS AND CANNOT RECALL SEEING A PART FAIL SUCH AS THIS. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD VERY REAL, IF AMBIENT TEMP AND WORK LOAD ON UNIT HAD BEEN HIGHER IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, OIL SPRAY ON HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, OH YES, SEEN THAT. BEING A MECHANIC I WAS ABLE TO EFFECT A TEMPORARY REPAIR, REPLACED FLUID AND DROVE IT AWAY. I HAVE FAILED PART TO SUPPLY IF REQUESTED. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST IS LABEL OF REPLACEMENT PART, SECOND PICTURE OF NEW PART AND BROKEN PART, THEN ANOTHER VIEW OF SAME. I TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE SHOWING THE CORROSION THAT FORMED IN THE CRACK OF FITTING THAT FORCED IT TO SPLIT APART, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE NORMALLY WHITE CORRODED ALUMINUM HAD TRANS OIL SPRAYED ONTO IT. THERE IS ALSO A PICTURE OF THE LOCATION ON TRUCK FROM UNDERNEATH RADIATOR AREA, SHOWING MY TEMPORARY REPAIR, THE BLUE HOSE AREA IS WHERE FITTING WAS LOCATED. THE OTHER LINE IS THERE WITH THE SAME TYPE FITTING UNDER THE GRAY PLASTIC RETAINER, READY TO BREAK AT ANY MOMENT.*JB

FORD HAS INSTALLED SIX FUEL TANKS IN THIS TRUCK. ALL HAVE CRACKED DUE DO FAULTY FACTORY INSTALLATION. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTO'S IF YOU WANT THEM. FORD KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT WON'T FIX IT.