2004 Ford F-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,028 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,748 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls is the most frequently named component, appearing in 615 of 2,028 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 203 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 114 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 106 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 46 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 44 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 37 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 615 |
| Visibility | 205 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 109 |
| Engine | 92 |
| Power Train | 88 |
| Electrical System | 87 |
| Suspension | 81 |
| Unknown Or Other | 81 |
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 615; Visibility: 205; Engine And Engine Cooling: 109; Engine: 92; Power Train: 88; Electrical System: 87; Suspension: 81; Unknown Or Other: 81
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 357 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 313 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 450 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 315 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 239 |
| 150,000 and above | 74 |
Under 25,000: 357; 25,000 to 49,999: 313; 50,000 to 74,999: 450; 75,000 to 99,999: 315; 100,000 to 149,999: 239; 150,000 and above: 74
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (450). 280 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 169 |
| 2005 | 164 |
| 2006 | 69 |
| 2007 | 70 |
| 2008 | 143 |
| 2009 | 345 |
| 2010 | 455 |
| 2011 | 199 |
| 2012 | 80 |
| 2013 | 51 |
| 2014 | 64 |
| 2015 | 43 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 38 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2003: 3; 2004: 169; 2005: 164; 2006: 69; 2007: 70; 2008: 143; 2009: 345; 2010: 455; 2011: 199; 2012: 80; 2013: 51; 2014: 64; 2015: 43; 2016: 44; 2017: 38; 2018: 31; 2019: 19; 2020: 10; 2021: 1; 2022: 7; 2023: 9; 2024: 6; 2025: 6; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 203 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 114 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 106 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10066150 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
STOPPED AT A "RED" TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I INSTINCTIVELY PRESSED FARTHER ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND THEN THE ENGINE REVVED TOO HIGH WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE THROTTLE DELAY IN "DRIVE BY WIRE" SYSTEM IS TOO PRONOUNCED AND COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, EITHER IN THE MANNER THAT HAPPENED TO ME, OR IF I WERE TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC THINKING I HAD ENOUGH TIME BUT REALLY DIDN'T BECAUSE OF THE THROTTLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066586 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH,THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES,THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO PICK UP SPEED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND CALLED A TOWED TRUCK TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACING. *MR *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 435 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055295 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED A THIN METAL COOLING COIL ON THE FRONT FRAME MEMBER, WHICH WAS 13 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. THIS COIL COULD BE DAMAGED IF THE TRUCK GOES THROW A PUDDLE,WHICH WOULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056910 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
VERY NOTICEABLE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT 65 MPH & VERY BAD STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY WHEN BUMPS ARE ENCOUNTERED DURING EVERY DAY DRIVING. THE TIRES FEEL LIKE THEY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD & FEEL VERY UNSTABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044545 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC SOMETIMES TRANSMISSION SLIPS. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER, AND COULD RESULT IN A REAR END OR FRONTAL COLLISION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054445 · 2004-01-19 (January 19, 2004)
"NEW 2004" F-150 WITH 4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION POINTED UPHILL ON GRADES GREATER THAN 20 DEGREE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS ( AS IF IN NEUTRAL) . TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD VEHICLE IN PLACE! SAME RESULTS IN D2,D1, AND REVERSE. SEEN BY DEALER AND CONFIRMED TO BE "NORMAL" CONDITION. BUT NO WHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IS THIS CONDITION STATED. TESTED 4 OTHER VEHICLES, SAME CONDITION RESULTED. IF THIS IS IN FACT "NORMAL" IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL TO WARN CONSUMERS! *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088210 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
DRIVELINE/TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND CLUNKS WHEN ACCELERATING ON 2004 F150 4X4. REQUENCY: INTERMITTENT ROUGHT INTO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND BOTH SAID COULD NOT DUPLICATE THEREFORE COULD NOT FIX. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE: IF HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING INTO MERGE TRAFFIC OR INTERSECTION COULD CAUSE LOSS OF POWER TO VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088236 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
2004 FORD F150 XLT 4WD SUPERCAB(BRAKES CONSTANTLY SQUEALING)CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL EVEN BRAKING.I NEVER HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. 'VE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE BACK TO FORD DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF 4 MONTHS.CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ARE SCUFFING THE BRAKE PADS AND DEGLAZING THE ROTORS.IT'S FINE FOR A MONTH AND THE SQUEALING IS BACK AS WELL AS A DEPOSIT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE WHEEL.I'VE ALSO HAD TWO INCIDENTS CONCERNING THE ELECTRONIC ACCELRATOR(FORD CALLS THIS DRIVE BY WIRE AS IT IS DIGITALLY CONTROLLED ACCELERATION)THE TROUBLE LIGHT DISPLAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089691 · 2004-09-16 (September 16, 2004)
THE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE GAUGE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER FILLING THE TANK, THE GAUGE READ EMPTY. *AK THE BRAKE LIGHT WIRING WAS INOPERATIVE, ALIGNMENT WAS OUT, THE VEHICLE HAD STUCK IN PARK, THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR WAS INOPERATIVE, THE SPEEDOMETER READ WRONG, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE OUT. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100641 · 2004-11-28 (November 28, 2004)
PURCHASED 2004 FORD F-150 SUPERCAB 4X2 AT HUB CITY FORD INC IN CRESTVIEW, FLORIDA ON NOVEMBER 15, 2004. AFTER HEAVY RAINS THE PICKUP CAB FLOODED, COVERING THE REAR SEAT BACK, BENCH, AND CARPETING IN LARGE PUDDLES. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL ROD, STEERING COLUMN, AND ALL BARE METAL WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. *AK TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS "NORMAL" AND WOULD BE PAINTED, AND DETAILED TO CLEAN THE CARPETS. WAS ALSO INFORMED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS A FAULTY SEAL AROUND THE TOP CA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095442 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)
THE COMPUTER PROCESSOR WILL NOT RETAIN ANY INFORMATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT REMAINED THERE FOR 21 DAYS WHILE THIS PROBLEM WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AND THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WHILE IN MOTION. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095442 at NHTSA ↗