YearToAvoid

2010 Ford F-450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 F-450 years

The 2010 Ford F-450 shows only 3 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 0, ranking 16th of 16 model years — the lowest complaint volume in the lineup. It has 7 recalls, all tied to aftermarket PTO equipment pressure switches, none marked do-not-drive.

Complaints
3
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2010 Ford F-450 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine2 (67%)
  2. Fuel System1 (33%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (33%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine entering "cleaning exhaust filter" mode, causing skipping at highway speed and near stalling at stops, with gray or blue smoke on acceleration.
  • Owners report diesel fuel entering the engine oil due to open injectors, accompanied by an illuminated check engine light and smoke from the exhaust.
  • Owners report a rear tire losing its tread at highway speed, causing violent shaking and damaging the fender area of the truck.
2010 Ford F-450 complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2010Oct 2012Dec 2023
4 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2010 to Dec 2023; peak Oct 2012 (2).

2010 Ford F-450 recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V498000Aug 13, 2014Other3 vehicles

    Equipment

    PJ's Truck Bodies & Equipment Co., (PJ's) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty chassis modified by PJ's and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

    Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

    Remedy: PJ's has notified owners and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2014. Owners may contact PJ's customer service at 1-866-475-8782.

  2. NHTSA 14V453000Jul 24, 2014Other6 vehicles

    Equipment

    Godwin Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Godwin) is recalling certain model year 2010 Ford F-450; 2011 Ford F-550; 2012 Ford F-350 and 2013 F-350 Super Duty trucks modified by Godwin and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

    Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

    Remedy: Godwin will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Godwin customer service at 1-800-892-0181.

  3. NHTSA 14V360000Jun 23, 2014Other10 vehicles

    Equipment

    Palfleet Truck Equipment Company, LLC (Palfleet) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Ford F-350, F-450, and F-550 super duty vehicles modified by Palfleet and equipped with certain Muncie Power Products PTO Assemblies. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from the PTO pressure switch onto a thermal blanket covering the exhaust.

    Risk: The leaking oil may soak into the thermal blanket covering the exhaust, which when combined with heat from exhaust, may result in an increased risk of fire.

    Remedy: Palfleet will notify owners, and dealers will install a new pressure switch kit that moves the switch away from the exhaust system, free of charge. The recall began on July 29, 2014. Owners may contact Palfleet customer service at 1- 502-376-2458.

See all 7 recalls for the 2010 Ford F-450 →

2010 compared with other F-450 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict037—
2011Good471510—
2012Good401711—

All Ford F-450 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Ford F-450 reliable?
NHTSA lists only 3 complaints for the 2010 F-450, producing a Complaint Index of 0 and the lowest complaint count among the 16 model years tracked.
What problems does the 2010 Ford F-450 have?
Owner complaints center on the Engine (67% share), including exhaust filter cleaning mode issues and diesel fuel mixing with engine oil, plus one Fuel System complaint and one Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaint.
Does the 2010 Ford F-450 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2010 F-450, all related to aftermarket PTO pressure switch assemblies from equipment makers like Godwin, Stahl, and Iowa Mold Tooling. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2010 F-450 compare to other years?
With a Complaint Index of 0, the 2010 F-450 ranks 16th out of 16 years, meaning it has fewer reported problems relative to other model years such as 2020 and 2022, which have Complaint Indexes of 80 and 100.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.