3.8

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,307 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Ford F-150:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #61

Sep 232014

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • 33,000 miles
I took my truck in for state inspection and was told that both front coil springs were broken. They explained that the coating applied to the springs actually caused rust and made them fail. I consider this to be a manufacturing and safety defect but was informed by the dealer and Ford that they would not consider any help toward the $400 bill to replace them. I don't feel that a consumer should have to pay for a structural design flaw that could have caused an accident. Internet research shows this to be a common problem.

- Middletown, PA, USA

problem #60

Aug 012014

F-150 8-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Front coil springs both broke in same place.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #59

Oct 152004

F-150 8-cyl

  • 100 miles
Im sure of the exact date originally bought my truck in 2004 brand new with 60 miles on it I had it less than a week and they replaced the tires and told me it was because they were egg shaped. And this is why it shook or vibrated at 55/70 mph it went away for awhile. Then I kept routine oil and tire rotations and balancing on it but the vibration kept coming back. The rear brakes were replace on the truck with less than 30,000 miles cost me a fortune which are supposed to last until 150,000. The shocks, struts, brakes, and rotors and bearings were all replaces twice now first for vibration in 2007/2008 spent thousands didn't work replaced tires and rims went away for about six month then came back again every time we rotate the tires the vibration goes away for like a day or two then comes back in 2010 I had to replace the rear brake and emergency brake and bearings and seals for a second time because they locked up in 2011 I have replaced the brakes, shocks, rotors and struts, because of vibration guess what didn't work now were looking at tires and rims again and Ford tells me that my rear seals and bearings need replaced for leakage and the possible shaking is my drive shaft I bought a 30,000 truck that I have put 10,000 grand in just estimating oh and they just fixed the recall for the airbag harness and tell me the airbag light is flashing but it isn't covered in the recall and it wasn't flashing when I dropped it off. I have two Ford I have a Ford escape I bought at the same dealer in 2005 that they kept a revolving door for in service because of all its problems and everyone tells me it should have been replaced I will never buy another Ford again now I know why people joke about the fix or repair daily.

- Mosinee, WI, USA

problem #58

Jun 282013

F-150 8-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
We have always taken our truck to the Ford dealer for regular service. Took it to a 3rd party mechanic to have brakes done and they showed us that both front coil springs were broken, completely severed and had been that way for quite a while evident by rust and corrosion at breaking point. After reading the other complaints on here this seems to be a common defect in this make and model and year. I am doing separate complaints regarding the spark plugs and exhaust manifold issues.

- Dover, DE, USA

problem #57

Apr 122014

F-150

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F150. The contact stated that both front suspension springs were broken. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 93,000.

- Fort Recovery, OH, USA

problem #56

Feb 032014

F-150

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, the technician discovered that both front coil springs were fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 90,000.

- Menomonee Falls, WI, USA

problem #55

Jan 012009

F-150 8-cyl

  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that there was a recurring failure of the hub and calipers as well as the front and rear axle sporadically becoming fractured. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 46,000 and the current mileage was 79,000.

- North Versailles , PA, USA

problem #54

Oct 052013

F-150 8-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
On preparing to change the brake pads, I noticed the front left coil spring has snapped. After checking on line and my local Ford dealership, it seems this is not uncommon on 2004 Ford F150 vehicles, and it indicates that Ford is not prepared to assist customers, even though they realize this is a manufacturing defect. Photograph available if needed. The Ford dealership advises they need to replace both front road springs at a cost of $575, but the shock absorbers might need replacing also which would be additional monies. A broken road spring on the front can severely effect the handling and safety of the driver and others on the road, and I believe Ford should do something about it.

- Budd Lake, NJ, USA

problem #53

Nov 042004

F-150

  • 4,000 miles
Vehicle's back window leak noted within 60 days after purchase, resealed by dealer X2-still leaks. Within a period of one year after purchase, three of the four window gear boxes were replaced due to failure. I've noted several complaints about these issues, met other owners who have had these issues fixed under warranty, yet we were required to pay for repair. At highway speeds, 65mph, the vehicle begins to shimmy, vibrate and becomes difficult to maintain control of steering. Vibration makes ride unpleasant and noisy.

- Clovis, CA, USA

problem #52

Jul 292013

F-150

  • 60,000 miles
Brought truck in for service due to hit pulling to the right and seemed to be sitting low. When the dealership removed front wheels it was discovered the both front coil springs had been broken. Both springs were broken diagonal at the base where it sits in the strut. Was told that the springs needed to be replaced in order for a proper alignment to be completed. Further research online shows that this is a very common issue in the Ford F-150. Truck has never been taken off road or driven hard. Truck is taken well care of.

- Roslindale, MA, USA

problem #51

Apr 022013

F-150 8-cyl

  • 50,938 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being service for regular maintenance, the dealer diagnosed that the rear axle needed to be replaced due to a design flaw. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 50,938.

- Gladstone , MO, USA

problem #50

Dec 302006

F-150 8-cyl

  • 21,715 miles
Driving on the interstate @ 55mph the truck has a vibration -begins to shake- returned to dealer no problem found, this story goes on and on I have replaced out of my pocket rotors, calibers two whole set of tires and still to this day is still will shake @ and around 52 mph to 57 mph nobody will help me find the problem now it is out of warranty Ford doesn't care.

- Delaware, OH, USA

problem #49

May 012012

F-150

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. While driving approximately 42 mph, the contact noticed the front end of the vehicle began to shake abnormally. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the front coil springs were fractured. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

- Sullivan, MO, USA

problem #48

Dec 012011

F-150

  • 24,500 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was having unrelated repairs performed by an authorized dealer, when the dealer stated that the front end could not be aligned properly because the ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 24,500. The VIN was not available.

- Lehigh, FL, USA

problem #47

Jan 312012

F-150 8-cyl

  • 94,120 miles
While my truck was being serviced, it was brought to my attention that I had a broken front passenger side coil spring. Their was a 2 inch piece of coil spring hanging on by the plastic covering of the spring. The piece was corroded, which tells me that it had been broken for some time. I have noticed online that this is not a uncommon occurrence.

- Prospect, ME, USA

problem #46

Jun 102008

F-150 8-cyl

  • 35,000 miles
I'm driving my truck when all of a sudden it will start vibrating horribly, like driving over a washboard type of road. The only way to get it to stop is to pull over to the side of the highway, put it in park, wait, and then try to resume driving. But this does not always work. You sometimes have to stop and change to park, or reverse, a couple of times, before driving again so that the vibration goes away. I have complained about this before, and I see hundreds of complaints for the same issue on "Ford owner websites", and everybody is pissed. Nobody can get an answer from Ford service as to what is wrong. Many people have replaced many different things (I.e. transmission, clutch pads, bearings, U-joints, emergency brake cable or pads), all to no avail. They have wasted their time and money, and Ford refuses to live up to this awful and very dangerous problem. Apparently, Ford knows this is a big problem with 2004 F-150 trucks, especially, but will not acknowledge it. Someone wrote on the web that Ford knows they had a retooling problem with these trucks, and let the trucks go out for sale anyway. I am now having this problem more often, and I am afraid to drive it. I do not have any money to fix my truck, since our economy is so bad and have been unemployed for years. Make Ford take ownership of this recall problem!

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #45

Jul 202011

F-150 8-cyl

  • 35,564 miles
During acceleration there is a severe vibration and shaking. It also happens when driving down the road. The shaking is so bad that you almost lose control of the vehicle.

- Bridgewater, NJ, USA

problem #44

May 302011

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
2004 Ford F150 supercrew starts shaking horribly at highway speeds when pulling a travel trailer. It doesn't matter if you slow down, speed up, or take out of gear the only way to make it quit is to come to a complete stop. This has happened 3 times to me so far and it feels as if all the wheels are about to fall off. I called my dealer and they said that they haven't heard of this problem, but if you do a search on it there is a lot of people concerned of this dangerous issue. Luckily I haven't been on an interstate with my travel trailer because I would believe that this could cause me to possibly lose control at those kind of speeds.

- Tell City, IN, USA

problem #43

Oct 172010

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,650 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F150. During routine maintenance the mechanic noticed that the left lower control A-frame was cracked. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where they confirmed that the lower control arm was cracked and they could not tell if it was only cracked on the side. They informed her that she would be responsible for the repair since there was no warranty or related recall. The manufacturer was notified and informed her there was nothing they could do since the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was 23,650. Updated 02/09/11 the consumer stated Ford finally agreed to help pay for the repairs. Updated 05/06/11

- Corficana, TX, USA

problem #42

Oct 182004

F-150

  • 10,863 miles
I have a 2004 Ford F150 that has had a terrible vibration and shaking problem to the point that the windshield wipers jump up and down everytime I have said anything to the dealership they say they dont what it is and they haven't heard of anything like this and even the last time I told them it was like something was seizing up we went online and started investigating the problem and found that all kinds of people are having the same problem and alot of them seem to think it is in the emergency brake system there is two metal parts that rust together and wont let it work is there anything I can do about this to get Ford to replace it even though it is 5 yrs old because this is very dangerous last winter I was driving in snow and the back end slid around on me and this was caused by the brake trying to seize up.

- Church Hill, TN, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »