10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 76,985 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.
Transmission overdrive failed at 130K miles causing transmission to be replaced.
- Modesto, CA, USA
Takata purchase our 2004 Ford F150 4X2 supercrew from kings Ford. When going to tenn. Pull off to get gas and when leaving the gas station making left hand turn real wheel lock up had to back up to unlock the rear wheel, called kings Ford and was told not to make sharp turns. Returned home with the rear end making banging noises, king Ford repaired on Aug 24 2004 replace the traction lock clutch pack part#4947 2151 miles. After the repair we notice a whining sound coming from the rear end was told to bring the truck back, droped the truck off on Sept 30,2004 and to pick it back up on Oct 2, was told by service rep no work was done. Caller service rep the flowing Monday and was told Ford would not pay for the fix because engineering is currently investigation this condition and for us to call every month. Called Ford many times finely was told to take our truck to Lincoln Mercury garage in fairfield, Ohio had a person that would rebuild the rear axle with 4205A differential carrier. Assemble, Ford did take care of this. After leaving the garage notice a whine in the rear turn around went back to the garage and was told they may have the parts to tight and will need to loosen then up. This has been going on for the last 15 years with still no fix we have now 95800 miles and with another fix for $3000
- Libertytownship, OH, USA
My 2004 F-150 shift cable broke as I attempted to put it in park. This rendered the vehicle unable to be put in park and it rolled backwards. The reason it broke was because of it resting against the bottom of the exhaust manifold where it joins to the wye pipe on the driver side. It burnt the cable causing it to break. The next model year in 2005 this was changed as Ford redesigned and relocated it to exit in a completely spot. The hole that it exits thru in 2004 is plugged off in the 2005 model. It would seem that this was done due to multiple instances of warranty claims and possible lawsuits arrising from this dangerous design.
- Oxford, NJ, USA
Horrible vibration in rear end of truck when leaving from a stop and turning.
- Stronghurst, IL, USA
2004 Ford F-150 stops pulling after 35-40mph. It's like it gets put into neutral. This is really dangerous! this can cause a major accident. And to think that I trusted Ford with my life, my wife's life, and 3 small children's lives is sickening. There is more instances of this same problem than you can count. I don't get it! Ford knows it's a problem but won't fix it. NHTSA won't do an investigation. The U.S. loves to make the working make carry the load! fix the problem Ford or I and others will never buy your garbage again!
- Jacksonville, AR, USA
Truck died, lost all power while driving down the road. This has happened 5 - 6 times through the years starting around 2010. Sometimes driving down freeway sometimes driving slowly into driveway. Battery was checked, it was okay and connected fine. Various other engine problems later include a rattle noise and low RPM. Running hot, chugging along like running out of gas, etc. Having to pull over till it could go again. Currently just a little over 100,000 miles.
- Houston, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the steering shaft locked up several times. In addition, the oem part for the shifter cable was black and now it was plastic with a coated metal. The contact was uncertain if the change of the oem part was structurally sound because the shift cable had to be replaced more than once. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 211,240.
- Spokane, WA, USA
The whole vehicle vibrates and shudders at highway speed with now warning. It now feels as if the rear axle in moving, give an odd sensation when applying the gas pedal or taking your foot off the gas pedal. I am a technician by trade, so I put the truck up on the lift at my shop and have noticed the pinion in the rear differential has significant up and down movement. After researching a bit, it seems the pinion and ring gear gall themselves, I'm not sure if the pinion bearing failed causing this. Or if the ring and pinion failed causing the bearing to fail. At any rate there seems to be a lot of individuals with my experience, a quick search online may provide a scope of the issue.
- West Chester, PA, USA
Takata recall.
- Spokane, WA, USA
With my foot on the brake, I put the truck in reverse to begin backing out of a driveway. I applied a little gas to slowly backup around the turn in the drive. As I was rolling backwards, I had my foot on the brake because I was navigating past other parked vehicles. As I was clearing one of the vehicles, the truck suddenly jolted backwards hitting a tree. So then, with my foot on the brake, I put the truck in drive so that I could pull forward away from the tree. As I began to press on the gas pedal and the truck instantly thrust forward, hitting another tree, stopping the truck & knocking the tree over. It happened with such power that the wheels spun down into the mulch bed before I was able to brake, put the truck into park and remove the keys to turn it off. While the damage on the back bumper was minimal, the damage to the front of the truck was extensive & the insurance company declared the truck a total loss. There was one other time, while on the local highway at a stoplight, with my foot on the brake, that the truck began to thrust forward on its' own. After it first rocked forward, I pressed the brake all the way to the floor which prevented it from actually moving forward any more. Once the light turned green, the truck seemed to return to normal functioning. This incident occurred around the time I was due for a tune-up so I figured it was a fluke and would have been resolved with the tune up.
- Midlothian, VA, USA
Driving along and suddenly the engine reved and the transmission was no engaged. I pulled off the highway and turned the engine off and started again with no problem. Since then, my transmission has quit while driving several times. I did discover if I turned the od odd it would work but has no overdrive. Fortinately, I was able to pull over and not have an accident. This is a dangerous issue and needs to be addressed by Ford with a recall and repair.
- Cleveland, TN, USA
I own a 2004 F-150 with 120,000 miles. When I am stopped and start to turn the rear end makes a horrible shaking noise. I have owned this truck for 40,000 miles and it has always had this broblem. If Ford company slogan is built tough then this types of problems should be recalled. It seems majority of 2004 owners are having the same problem
- Mcdonough, GA, USA
80, 000 miles on the truck, and it now needs its rear differential replaced for the 6th time. On top of that, now the cam phasers are going bad. Can't drive it now again as it may leave me stranded in an intersection again. I drive 7 miles each way to work, and occasionally use the truck for vacations.
- Spotswood, NJ, USA
My truck gets up to about 50 mph then acts like it goes into neutral, no power to the back wheels. I've noticed that more than a few 2004 F-150 owners have the same complaint. Has any investigation been done and if so what were the findings. I live on disability social security and can't afford to have a transmission repaired.I was on a paved road at the time.
- Scurry, TX, USA
Takata recall : truck is slipping in forward gears and the reverse will not move even if U you rev it up it's like it's in neutral. All this happened when I was leaving work to go home
- Dededo, GU, USA
Grinding in rear axle assembly, differential needs rebuild,57K...
- Northville, MI, USA
Unknown. Major popping in rear end while turning. When truck is in park I can roll it back and forth a good 10 inches in both directions.
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Vibration at 45 to 55. When cold strong jerk in rear end area and sometimes on turn to right. Also comes in at times when going to passing gear. It is a differential issue more than a drive shaft issue. All U joints are tight. No imbalance in drive shaft. Have gone to special teflon gear oil... this appears to be design and possible safety issue.
- Powell, TN, USA
112,000 and sent the truck in for a humming noise. The whole rear end needed to be replaced. The truck has had only highway driving with no off roading. Differential oil replaced every year.
- Hollis Center, ME, USA
- Upper Darby, PA, USA