2004 Ford F-450 SD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
48,101 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 33 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 48.5% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 36.4% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 15.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Diesel | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 4 |
| Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Fuel System, Diesel: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 4; Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 9; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Diesel leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10239947 · 2008-08-27 (August 27, 2008)
I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FUEL TANK IN MY 2004 F-450, THE TRUCK WAS LOSING POWER AND DRIVING LIKE A PLUGGED FUEL FILTER AND AFTER CHANGING FUEL FILTERS MANY TIMES I HAD FOUND A "GREY FLAKE LIKE" MATERIALS IN BOTH FILTERS. I DECIDED TO TAKE TRUCK TO FORD DEALER IN LINCOLN, NE TO HAVE LOOKED AT AND FIXED. THEY CALLED BACK TELLING ME THE FUEL TANK LINING WAS BAD IN THE FUEL TANK AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. IT ALSO CAUSED ONE INJECTOR TO GO BAD(HOPEFULLY NOT MORE) AND A "NOZZLE ASSEMBLY". THEY CHARGED ME TO DISPOSE OF THE 25(OR SO)…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,193 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253328 · 2008-12-31 (December 31, 2008)
THIS COMPLAINT STEMS FROM PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH MY 2004 FORD F-450 DIESEL POWERED TRUCK. I PURCHASED THIS 2004 FORD NEW TRUCK IN LATE 2004. AT PRESENT, THE ODOMETER READS APPROXIMATELY 63,000 MILES. I EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER AT VARIOUS INTERVALS WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND POWER IS LIMITED TO A FEW MILES-PER-HOUR. I HAVE RETURNED THE TRUCK TO FORD FOR REPAIR NUMEROUS TIMES AND FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. FORD HAS REPLACED THE TURBO TWO TIMES, THE WIRING HARNESS, THE EGR AND OTHER PARTS IN THE ATTEMPT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10253328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093425 · 2004-10-01 (October 1, 2004)
PURCHASED 2004 FORD F-450 DEISEL TRUCK 5/31/04 - FIRST HAD AT DALE JARRETT FORD IN MONROE, NC IN JULY REGARDING PROBLEM WITH TURBO BUT HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION FOR FIRST VISIT - 8/12/04 DALE JARRETT FORD EXAMINED TRUCK FOR LOSS OF POWER AND PROBLEM WITH TURBO - RESULT: OPERATING TO SPECS ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPT. 8/27/04 EXAMINED BY DALE JARRETT FORD AGAIN FOR LACK OF POWER AND PROBLEM WITH TURBO - RESULT: REPLACED TURBO KIT AND CORE RETURN, TRUCK OPERATING TO SPECS ACCORDING TO SERVICE RECORD 8/31/04 EXAMINED BY HARRELSON FORD, CHARLO…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129223 · 2005-07-18 (July 18, 2005)
DT: THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AT IDLING SPEEDS . THIS SOMETIMES OCCURRED 20 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING. WHEN VEHICLE STALLED ALL POWER WAS LOST, INCLUDING BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. TO VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE ANY CONCERNS, BUT BLAMED THIS ISSUE ON THE FAULTY FUEL INJECTION PROGRAMMING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE CONCERNING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND RECALL REPAIR WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED TWICE WITHOUT SUCCESS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108829 · 2005-01-25 (January 25, 2005)
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY/SOFT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT FEELING HARD AS IT SHOULD AND MAY CAUSE A LOSE OF BRAKING IF THIS CONDITION CONTINUES ON. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CONDITION WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117744 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE ENGINE REVVED, AND DRIVER PUT ONE FOOT ON THE CLUTCH AND THE OTHER ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS USED FOR HAULING WHICH INCREASED ITS DANGER. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *AK THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR 1 YEAR, CONSUMER HAVE DROVE THIS PICKUP THIS WAY. WAS TOLD BY FORD TO DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLEN IT AND DRIVE IT LIKE A NASCAR . CONSUMER FEEL THIS WAS NOT GOOD INFORMAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112477 · 2005-03-03 (March 3, 2005)
2004 F-450 6.0 DIESEL IN SHOP 15 TIMES, HOSES BURN REPLACE AND BURNS AGAIN ,TRUCK SHAKES REAL BAD . OIL LEAKS , RADIATOR HOSES LEAKS ,GLOW PLUGS,BAD INJECTORS ,WIRES RUBS MOTOR SHUTS TRUCK OFF,INSTRUMENT PANEL BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND THEN STAYS ON. LOSES POWER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10225361 · 2008-04-22 (April 22, 2008)
STEERING BRACKET BOTTOMS OUT WHEN TRUCK IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT ALL THE WAY...CAUSING IT TO BREAK STEERING BRACKET THAT IS MADE ONTO FRONT REAR HOUSING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 104,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162020 · 2006-07-10 (July 10, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF WATER. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS BEEN ALSO REPLACED DUE TO A BOLT COMING LOOSE RESULTING IN THE ENGINE BLOWING TWO HEAD GASKETS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162020 at NHTSA ↗