Ford Super Duty Used Buying Guide: Known Issues

• Ford’s heavy-duty trucks’ known issues tend to arrive with time and mileage. But some come down to faulty parts, including deficient door latches and infotainment technology.
• Don’t forget to make sure your used Ford Super Duty has had all of its recall-related repairs.
• Purchase a drama-free used Super Duty truck at Brighton Ford, where we only sell pre-owned vehicles of the highest caliber.

From freezing door latches to leaky radiators, Ford’s heavy-duty trucks have their fair share of known issues. However, most can be avoided simply by selecting the right model year! Keep reading to find out what to watch out for in a used Ford Super Duty.

Whether doors were freezing shut or flying open, 2017 Super Duty drivers have had a few issues with faulty door latches. A freeze could keep the door from latching properly, allowing it to fly open while the truck was in motion. If the door had been properly latched during the freeze, it could also freeze in place, locking drivers out of (or inside!) their truck. Luckily, Ford eventually issued a recall for this problem, fixing the latches for free.

We’ve replaced more than a few Super Duty radiators in our service department! Although these heavy-duty trucks tend to spring leaks after they’ve been on the road for quite a while, we’ve seen a few busted radiators on trucks that hadn’t seen more than 10,000 miles. On the other hand, we haven’t seen this issue crop up much in later model years. Affected trucks tend to be from around 2003 to 2018!

Ford’s early dip into the infotainment business wasn’t a striking success. The MyFord Touch system is known for freezing and crashing — and thereby keeping drivers from using vital accessories like the windshield defroster. This technology is so demonstrably bad that Ford ended up paying $17 million to settle a class-action lawsuit!

Available for the 2013-2016 Super Duty trucks, the MyFord Touch infotainment system is something used shoppers will want to skip altogether. Luckily, updating your infotainment technology is easy — just ask at Brighton Ford for options!

Before you commit to a used heavy-duty truck, type its VIN into the NHTSA website and make sure it’s up-to-date on recall-related repairs. Safety recalls help drivers deal with known problems for free, thanks to complimentary services from their local Ford dealership. Below, we’ve included a few of the Super Duty’s recent recalls to help you understand just how important they can be!

The 2022-2023 Super Duty trucks were recalled because a front wheel hub extender might not be sufficiently tightened. Without a fix, both the wheel and wheel extender could completely detach from the vehicle, creating a serious road hazard.

Some 2020-2022 Super Duty trucks equipped with the 6.7-liter diesel engine were recalled due to concerns about fuel pump failure. If these trucks are both fueled using biodiesel and left sitting unused for too long, the fuel pump could fail. If it does, drivers will notice a long engine crank while starting, reduced engine power, engine noise, and a check engine light. The problem is easily remedied with a software update that enhances pump cooling and keeps biodiesel deposits from forming inside the fuel pump.