Super Duty Cons: Everything Owners HATE About the Ford Super Duty

Ford owners love their pickups, but no truck is perfect, so here’s a list of the major Super Duty Cons you should know about before buying one. Did these owners miss anything?

Ford has offered medium and heavy-duty trucks for ages, but the Super Duty brand didn’t officially debut until the 1999 model year. Still, Super Duty has remained widely popular ever since, helping make the entire F-Series the best-selling pickup truck in America for almost five decades. It should shock absolutely no one that owners love them. But, when researching a post about the Super Duty’s 5 Best & Worst Features, we asked owners for a full list of the most obvious Super Duty Cons to help understand where Ford could improve its rugged and capable, yet flawed, truck lineup.

The result is this article, where we’ll list the most glaring and annoying Super Duty Cons. Everything is broken down by a few key categories (and lightly edited for clarity and grammar). But the shortest version of the overall sentiment may best be summarized by these two quotes from FTE members —

“You need power windows, A/C, cruise control, backup camera, and Bluetooth, but everything else is unnecessary imo w/ failure potential. I actually prefer a gauge cluster with mechanical pointers.”  — wcbcruzer

I don’t like how Ford is cheaping up the SuperDuty… Sterling axles, single locking hub, taking options away… and then adding them back in option packages you have to pay for, no hardcopy owners manual, substandard items like the rear view mirror, and the old acid flooded battery, missing small items… like the backseat lanyards. — Charlie98

FYI, for the flipside of this editorial coin, check out Super Duty Pros: Everything Owners LOVE About the Ford Super Duty to see what Super Duty owners love most about their Built Ford Tough Trucks. And if you feel you could add to this story, make sure to head over here to THIS discussion thread right here on Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

Engine & Mechanical

While the Super Duty’s engine lineup — two gassers and two diesel options — are quite popular overall, there are a few drivetrain complaints, including —

• The worst part is Ford still using the CP4 HPFP (high-pressure fuel pump, a common failure point)
• Some of the service items… like no dipstick for the transmission (fill hole right next to the HOT catalytic converter… stupid,) and the drain plug for the engine oil is poorly placed
• No transmission dipstick
• No provision for a manual transmission (I know why, I just don’t like it. I think modern automatic transmissions are crap, and I would much rather shift my own)
• Lack of 2WD options in anything but a base model XL
• -10spd transmission – it’s horrible – nuff said..
• Something feels strange when driving, with the position of wheels. It feels like the front wheels are aligned with center of dually wheels. This causes the steering wheel to feel a bit like it’s steering itself through the tracks on the highways.
• The 19.5″ tire size is difficult to replace

Diesel Emissions

In any list of Super Duty Cons, you’re going to find complaints about diesel emissions systems. These systems help reduce Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and the amount of particulate matter being released into the air we all breathe. The downside? They must be maintained vigorously, or they’re prone to catastrophic (and EXPENSIVE) failure. These systems also send carbon and other pollutants back into the engine, which results in carbon buildup and a reduction in oil lubricity.

• EGR, EGR, EGR. This is a moot point because it ain’t going away. Although, [Ford] did the best they could.
• Crank Case Ventilation box (CCV box) is prone to clogging, etc; more maintenance. Another moot point.
• DEF warnings when towing and the tank is still half full!

TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems)

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) warn drivers when a tire is losing air. The Super Duty even offers TPMS for trailers. But it seems some Super Duty owners don’t like the factory settings, which are typically set for heavy loads. And that it’s difficult to adjust to personal needs and varying conditions —

• TPMS set too high from the factory. Not everybody tows all the time.
• Cannot be adjusted without [an aftermarket software suite called] FORSCAN.
• TPMS should be adjustable to allow you to run less pressure when unloaded
• Why oh why, is [TPMS] not configured at the factory? We must cobble together the special sensors, change the computer to display it etc.
• Ford simply does not have an easy way to teach how to modify vehicles. It would be great to have a website where you can choose to add TPMS, and it would show the required parts. So many dealers are clueless.

Gas Tank Limitations

Ford? Are you listening? Many Super Duty owners want the larger 48-gallon fuel tank, but that’s not available on every model —

• Only a 34-gallon fuel tank in short box crew cab
• Small fuel tank (34 gallons/130 liters)
• The 34-gallon tank is a joke
• The 34-gallon fuel tank is terrible for towing cross-country
• 34-gallon gas tank on a SCLB truck. No option. Ridiculous.
• I wish a larger fuel tank was available without having to get a long bed.
• 34-gallon tank on the short bed

Lighting

When it comes to Super Duty Cons, some owners are looking for brighter backup lights.

• Night-time rear lights are horrible
• The rear lights/ backup lights are pathetic.

This right here is exactly the same for me on the dislikes! I ended up putting on the Putco lightbar that has the backup light on it to help but even that does not light it up well enough for me. As soon as I have the chance, I am tossing on two Rigid flush mount lights in flood that come on when in reverse or when zone lighting kicks in. — pkarhoff

Towing

The Ford Super Duty is a legendary tow vehicle, but there were a couple of complaints about some smaller features —

• No sleeve for the Class 5 hitch for a typical 2″ drawbar
• The latest [trailer camera] is a true embarrassment for Ford. The one I got came with wing nuts to install on the back of the camper. Horrible job designing this setup. And, with it installed, it’s now considered an “installed” electrical part; thus, not returnable.

Body & Exterior

Super Duty owners also generally like the way their trucks look. But some folks had a few suggestions —

• Electric tailgate with no real pull handle to open it if there is an issue
• Lariat Headlights and Taillights are horrible
• Fewer color options on lower trim levels. The XL, for example, gets white, dirty white (avalanche,) silver, grey, black, and red. Whoopee.
• Not enough options on lower trim levels. I can’t get the off-road package with a 2WD, I can’t get dual-zone climate control unless I option up, I can’t get a 7.3L gas in a F-250 XL 2WD, etc.
• At the Lariat price point, the rear doors should have keyless entry

I don’t care for the aluminum body. It flexes very easily. I’m in and out of my bed all day long, leaning over the bed to get stuff out of the back. I’m trying to be careful not to lean into the body panels as much as I did on my 2009… I can feel it cave. Same with the hood… the hood actually ripples when I drive it through the car wash, and the blowers are on the hood. I simply don’t think it’s as robust as steel. — Charlie98

Interior & Ammenities

All the technology features (yes, I know I had this as a pro too. I think the technology can be neat and useful but if it breaks out of warranty, it’s way too expensive to fix) — Charlie98

A high point on our list of positives, but over here in the Super Duty Cons list, all the new technology isn’t beloved by every owner —

• Technology features are expensive when they break or are stolen
• The intrusive nature of Telemetrics as well as the onboard camera/microphone
• “Nanny” sending Ford information
• Monitoring of driving habits with no easy way to opt out
• Digital gauges and excessive electronic features
• Too many electronics, too many modules.
• No aux port for an MP3 player (not everyone uses Bluetooth)
• No paper owner’s manual (who wants to sit in their truck & try to navigate on a small screen
• No paper owner’s manual (bought one online through Helm already)
• Sync is terrible… laggy, buggy, intrusive.
• Audio screen ALWAYS ask to connect my cell, which is NOT paired to the truck; just go to the main audio screen I was last at
• Headlight switch that ALWAYS goes back to auto with every start cycle
• Headlight switch buried under the dash
• Only a key fob on Lariat and above instead of an actual key to start the truck
• There is no great solution to mounting a phone or other screens. One vendor has a rack that bolts into the center of dash, but that leads to devices hanging over the dash and blocking screens. Several vendors have clever solutions, but Ford could likely design something that aftermarket folks could utilize.
• I wish the cameras were a little better quality. They are good, but still on the grainy side
• Abysmal quality of some of the exterior cameras.
• I really wish Ford would change the rearview mirror to another digital screen so we could display the back-of-trailer camera on it while in tow mode.
• Wish I could control which camera is displayed when. Ex: When I hitch up the 5th wheel, I put it in reverse. I choose/want the bed camera. I then put it in drive to better align with the trailer, then put in reverse again, I must manually choose bed camera again.
• Wish I could choose which camera is displayed on each of the split screens. ie. each screen needs options.
• All the chimes and alerts (seatbelt chime, rear-seat occupancy, etc); need to turn these off asap.
• No seat release latch for the rear passenger seat
• No middle anchor for child car seat

Ford fans might be thinking of creative ways to improve the Super Duty experience, but at the end of the day, they’re passionate owners who can put aside a few compromises because the overall experience is a positive one —

Overall the cons are not huge deals to me, just minor annoyances really. Except possibly if the electronics start to go on the fritz out of warranty. I have had my truck since October 2nd 2024 and I love driving it every day. – 5MeanFords

Michael S. Palmer

Michael S. Palmer began his career assisting and developing content for Academy Award-winning and studio-based film and television producers. He has been a professional writer since 2008, when he joined the Writers Guild of America West (WGAw). As a journalist and Content Editor/Manager, he has covered numerous emerging imaging, theatrical exhibition, home entertainment, and automotive technologies. He currently spends his days creating original content at the Internet Brands Automotive Group for some of the world's largest online automotive communities, including Ford Truck Enthusiasts, CorvetteForum, ClubLexus, AudiWorld, and LS1Tech. He recently teamed with Chevrolet Performance, Holley, Magnaflow, Eaton, Wilwood, Michelin, Chemical Guys, and Summit Racing to build his first project car. Installing an LS3 E-ROD Connect & Cruise system into a 1992 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon made his eight-passenger wagon faster than a C5 Corvette to 60mph and 50 state emissions legal. His wife and daughter are very patient.