There’s nothing quite like the Ford Super Duty, a line of heavy-duty trucks that have maintained their towing and hauling supremacy for decades on end. If you’re shopping for a used model, we’re here to help you avoid the Super Duty’s known issues!
Key Takeaways:
- Whether you’re trying to avoid the infamous death wobble or the finicky MyFord Touch infotainment interface, we’re here to help you make the most of your used Ford Super Duty.
- Minimize future headaches with Ford’s warranty options!
- Visit us at Lafayette Ford to test-drive our collection of safe, reliable used heavy-duty trucks.
What Are Some of the Common Issues of the Ford Super Duty?
Although we’ve seen many of the same problems with these heavy-duty trucks, no single issue extends to every model year! You can avoid many of the Super Duty’s known issues simply by choosing an unaffected model year.
Death Wobble
The death wobble can be an issue on any rugged vehicle featuring a solid front axle. But it’s always an indicator that there’s something amiss in your suspension setup. In spite of its name, the death wobble is unlikely to kill you, though it’ll certainly make itself known. Usually, a bump in the road sets off a violent, side-to-side oscillation from one end of the front axle to the other. You’ll feel the tremors all the way up the steering column, when even the steering wheel jumps in your hands. Don’t let the wobble go on — ease off the accelerator and slowly come to a stop, allowing the vibrations to die down.
After some 2017-2019 Super Duty drivers were plagued by the death wobble, Ford offered a free steering damper for affected models. A new damper may help control a shaky steering wheel, but it won’t address whatever is going on with your suspension. Unfortunately, it may take a while to diagnose the real issue, since just about anything suspension-related — a bad alignment, loose bolts, worn bushings, or even low tire pressure — could be behind this shaky situation.
Leaky Radiator
Leaky radiator? This is a common issue for the first three generations of Super Duty trucks (1999-2016), especially when equipped with a diesel engine. We haven’t had to replace as many radiators in later model years, so that’s something to keep in mind as you browse the used lot!
Flying Spark Plugs
The Super Duty’s Triton V8 (available 1999-2007) has been known to eject a few spark plugs. This tends to be a high-mileage issue, because the threads on the aluminum cylinder head wear down to the point where they can no longer maintain their grip on the plug. You’ll notice the problem immediately, because the engine will misfire at all speeds and the check engine light will appear. The next time you get your spark plugs changed, you can get ahead of the problem by asking your friendly mechanic to install Lock-N-Thread aluminum inserts to help hold them in place.
Troublesome MyFord Touch
If you’ve just purchased a used Ford Super Duty featuring the MyFord Touch infotainment system, the first thing you should do is replace it! After years of frozen touchscreens and crashing software, Ford ended up settling a class-action suit for $17 million. Before 2015, the system didn’t even offer physical buttons, leaving drivers unable to use accessories (like the windshield defroster) whenever the system crashed.
Ford’s Super Duty trucks offered the MyFord Touch system during the 2013-2016 model years. When these heavy-duty trucks were redesigned for 2017, they introduced the much more popular SYNC 3 system. Ask your Ford dealer about infotainment upgrades for your Super Duty truck.
What Are the Best Model Years Of the Ford Super Duty?
Recent model years have far fewer customer complaints than older models. This isn’t especially surprising, of course, since less wear and tear generally means less problems! Then again, modern Super Duty trucks are also loaded with features they didn’t have in previous generations, from standard power windows to cutting-edge infotainment. On top of everything else, many late Super Duty models still qualify for Ford’s five-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, which is transferrable to the next buyer.
Where Should I Buy a Used Ford Super Duty?
Shop our used Super Duty trucks for a strong, reliable performance! Because we’ve carefully inspected each of the pre-owned heavy-duty trucks on our lot, you don’t have to worry too much about the common Ford Super Duty problems. If a used vehicle doesn’t meet our high standards in quality, you won’t find it for sale at our dealership. Call or text us to schedule a test-drive in one of our top-notch pre-owned trucks!