The Ford F-650/F-750 Problems: 6 Known Issues (Explained)

The Ford Motor Company has an array of trucks under its belt, including the medium-duty offerings named F-650/F-750.

The F650 and F750 trucks are currently in their eighth generation and boast a sturdy chassis and a standard six-speed transmission, amongst other features.

Despite their popularity as workhorses, the F650/F750 trucks have elicited a few complaints from owners over the years. In this article, we will bring some of the complaints to the fore while investigating likely causes and optimal solutions.

1. Issues With The Clutch Pedal

This clutch pedal problem is associated with models of the F650/F750 with a manual rather than an automatic transmission.

We also found that it is more common with 2001-2003 models and poses a safety risk.

Many of the owners complained that the clutch fails without warning and would sometimes refuse to disengage. While there’s little to no information on the average mileage it occurs, we found an owner who stated that the problem began at about 44,000 miles.

Possible Causes and Solutions

Here are potential causes and solutions to this problem:

Broken Clutch Cables: Clutch cables extend from the pedal all the way to the linkages. This allows you to disengage or re-engage the clutch whenever you need to change gears. However, if the cables are broken, they won’t have enough force, which would effectively collapse the clutch’s workings.
Cylinder Leak: Clutches have a hydraulic component that needs fluid to generate the required pressure for proper functioning. So, if there is a leak, the clutch may have a hard time building adequate pressure for effective performance. Thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot of expertise to detect a leak, as one of its most common signs is a puddle under the truck.
Worn-out Pressure Plates: Pressure plates exist in manual vehicles to fasten the clutch disc to their flywheels, preventing a spin. However, if the plates get damaged or worn, it could lead to an abnormal spin and a clutch rattle.
Bad Repair: If you’ve had a problem with your clutch in the past and it rears its ugly head again, it could be a problem with the previous repair. In fixing clutch problems, it is important to buy the right and fitting replacements or else the components won’t last.

What to Do:

Truth is, clutch issues aren’t much to worry about and they usually just need a few replacements. However, if they come up repeatedly, as is the case with some F650/F750 trucks, you might need to replace the entire transmission.

Hence, we recommend taking the truck to an expert for proper diagnosis and repair.

2. Hard Brake Pedals

We found several complaints online about brake pedals on the Ford F650/F750 being too hard. This makes it difficult to stop the truck and a lot of the drivers who complain about this issue say it makes them feel unsafe.

This issue mostly affects the 2016 and 2017 models of the truck according to data from Carproblemzoo.

Possible Causes and Solutions

Here are some causes of this problem and how to solve them:

Degradation of Brake Fluid

Like most other fluids within a vehicle’s system, brake fluids help with braking efficiency. However, with time, they get degraded or contaminated. This happens because of continual exposure to debris and dirt.

Usual signs of a contaminated brake fluid include a dark color and the fluid becoming strangely thick. If it is not replaced soon enough, the brake could become stiff. Hence, it is advised to replace the brake fluids regularly.

Vacuum Issues

Vehicle brakes have something called a booster system. This system consists of a vacuum that helps in controlling the pedal. It regulates the force exerted when the pedal is in use to make vehicle control much easier.

However, if the booster system or any of its components get damaged, you could lose a significant portion of the vacuum. And without the vacuum, your braking would lack that extra boost and may eventually turn stiff.

Worn Brake Pads

Brake pads play a key role in helping your vehicle slow down by creating the requisite friction on the brake disc. However, they are susceptible to wear and worn brake pads will impede your braking. Signs of a worn brake pad include grinding sounds and a stiff pedal.

Sticky Calipers

Brake calipers are essential components, in that they keep the brake pads in contact with the brake rotors. This means they work hand in hand with brake pads to reduce the vehicle’s speed. However, the calipers may get sticky and when they do, it affects their functionality and may stiffen the pedal.

Defective Master Cylinder

The master cylinder is usually located opposite the pedal, right under the vehicle’s bonnet. It contributes greatly to the brake’s effectiveness and any damage to it could cause your brake to stiffen or lock up.

What to Do:

As we have just seen, there are myriads of reasons the F650/F750 brake pedals become frustratingly hard. To deal with this issue appropriately, we advise reaching out to a Ford expert to diagnose and resolve the issue.

3. Frequent Engine Stalling

There have been reports of the F-650/F-750 trucks stalling abruptly while on the move.

This has been deemed a very worrying issue, so much so that a recall was put out for it in 2014. This involved about 1,673 trucks, all of which are 2014 models of the F-650 and F-750.

Possible Causes and Solutions

The Ford Motor Co. has identified the stalling problem as an issue with the fleet guard fuel filter. That being said, below are other likely causes of engine stalling on the Ford F-650/F-750:

Issues With Transmission

If you own a manual variant of the Ford F-650/F-750 trucks, hard braking while the clutch is still engaged may trigger engine stalling. The best way to handle this is to disengage the clutch slowly and restart the vehicles.

On automatic trucks, however, the torque converter is the equivalent of a clutch. So, any fault with this component could cause the engine to stall amidst other problems.

Faulty MAF

MAF is the short form of a component known as the Mass AirFlow Sensor. Its job is to relate the mass of air coming into the engine to the engine control unit.

However, if the MAF picks up a fault, it would transmit incorrect information to the engine, which could affect fuel injection and trigger a stall.

Fuel Problems

It doesn’t take a degree in automotive engineering to know that an empty fuel tank could cause a stall. While this may be the case, it could also be a problem with the fuel pump, which moves the fuel to the engine.

A failed fuel pump would stop gas from getting to the engine and consequently cause the vehicle to halt.

Failed Alternator

The alternator is one of the most versatile components in a vehicle. It recharges the battery, keeps electric components running, and helps the spark plugs in the combustion process.

If the alternator fails, the spark plugs would be unable to ignite, leading to a weak performance and sometimes, a stall.

Dead Battery

When the vehicle battery dies, the car will more than likely grind to a halt literally.

What to Do:

Dealing with an engine stall on a medium-duty truck like the Ford F-650/F-750 can be very upsetting. Thankfully, a recall for this problem named the fuel filter as the likely culprit.

However, we recommend checking with an auto expert or your dealership for a proper diagnosis of the problem.

General Pros and Cons

Here are pros and cons of the F-650/F-750 trucks:

Pros

These are some high points of the F-650/F-750 trucks:

Top-Tier Engine

The Ford F-650/F-750 sports a 7.3 L V8 gas engine, which is class-exclusive. This engine churns out no less than 350 hp and 468lbs of torque at 3,900 RPMs.

It also comes with a variable-displacement oil pump, a forged steel crankshaft, and piston cooling jets. These components will help guarantee longevity while regulating temperature under heavy load.

Impressive Power

Trucks like the Ford F-650/F-750 need enough power to get through a workday effectively and in style. FMC understood the assignment and equipped the trucks with a six-speed automatic transmission, the earlier-mentioned V8 engine, and a 6.7L power stroke.

Comfortable Interior

If you are already familiar with the usual seating arrangement in trucks, you’ll find the F-650/F750 super comfortable. It has enough legroom for both drivers and passengers and the seats couldn’t be more plush. Just what you need for a hectic workday.

Hauling Capacity

Instead of the usual towing capacity measurement, the truck is measured in gross vehicle weight rating(GVWR) and gross combined weight rating (GCWR).

The Ford F-650/F-750 has a GCWR of up to 50,000lbs and a GVWR of 37,000lbs. Those are spectacular, class-topping numbers.

Safety Technologies

The Ford F-650/F-750 trucks are also equipped with sophisticated driver-assist technologies to help keep drivers/passengers safe.

Amongst these technologies are Automatic Headlamps, Hill-Start Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane-Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Cons

Here are some issues affecting the F-650/F-750 trucks:

Issues With the Clutch Pedal
Hard Brake Pedals
Frequent Engine Stalling

What Do the Reviews Say?

“While we all know that there are at least three full-sized pickup trucks out there from Ford, Chevy, and Ram. It’s hard not to know as these companies seem to do more advertising than insurance companies for their flagship pickup trucks.

But what we don’t see are enough commercials for trucks that are built for pure work. By comparison, they are bigger, stronger, and can haul literally tons more than their more popular siblings. The Ford F-650/750 is one of those trucks, and when it comes to Medium Duty work trucks, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more capable vehicle than this for your chosen profession.”

Source: AutoTruckReview

“For the end-user, the truck offers a quieter ride than before with its Power Stroke turbodiesel while still offering the same towing and hauling capabilities known to these type medium-duty trucks.”

Source: TopSpeed

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What Is The Resale Value Of Ford F-650/F-750?

Model Year	Mileage	Price
2001 Ford F-650	167,975 miles	$34,500
2006 Ford F-750	114,093 miles	$39,000
2006 Ford F-650	82,865 miles	$42,950
2011 Ford F-650	114,847 miles	$33,900
2017 Ford F-750	12,659 miles	$89,500
2017 Ford F-650	8,606 miles	$59,580
2021 Ford F-650	410 miles	$85,000
2021 Ford F-750	5 miles	$99,780

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ⓘ The information in this article is based on data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall reports, consumer complaints submitted to the NHTSA, reliability ratings from J.D. Power, auto review and rating sites such as Edmunds, specialist forums, etc. We analyzed this data to provide insights into the best and worst years for these vehicle models.