10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 109,465 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Blew the spark plug clean out of motor leaving no threads while sitting at a stop light
- Mt Vernon, MO, USA
I purchased my 2004 F150 with 10,000 miles on the engine in December of 2004. I now have 130,000 miles on the engine and im told the engine is junk. I changed the oil religiously every 3000 miles and I even had the spark plugs taken out and the engine completely cleaned internally. I love this truck and am finding it hard to beleive that at 130,000 miles its junk. The cams are not getting oil and its causing the engine to rattle and make loud noises, when I drive the truck on the highway at 65 or 70 miles an hour it runs great but as soon as I slow down on the ramp, the noise and rattle start. The engine check light came on. The mechanic says I need a new engine. The warning was cam retarded. The rest of the truck is in great condition. The interior looks almost new. I kept my truck clean inside and outside. I even kept my floors scrubed and clean. I just had to sell my house because of my health and now my only vehicle went to hell. Is anyone paying attention to these complaints and trying to fix them. I'm told this engine is noted for this problem. Really!!! 130,000 miles on a pickup truck is nothing. Why are these engines that were put in these trucks breaking down and nothing is being done about it? after this experience with buying a new vehicle, I know I'll never purchase a new vehicle again. Especially not a Ford. I believe that the Ford company is aware of this problem, but isn't concerned with the consumers problem, because nothing is being done to help the consumer fix the problem. I the consumer am shocked that I have to junk my vehicle with the low mileage. I'm told $8000 for a new engine. Wow!!! not possible for me to even consider. Please please look into this problem and help the consumer with a resolution. I don't want to junk my truck!
- Lena, WI, USA
Tring to pass smog but truck has misfire witch caused motor to shake spewing gas at 76 in oakland ca thank god my roomate spotted it as we're leaving pump or we could have blown up or worse after a struggle we were able to get the truck out of gear and push it out of the pump area.
- Oakland, CA, USA
Ford F-150 2004 engine freeze after warning light. Sputtered and choked and locked up and would not drive down the hwy.
- Blair,, NE, USA
The #3 spark plug has blown free of the cylinder head. This is the 2nd plug that has blown free in 1 1/2 years for this truck. The last was either the #7 or #8 plug. Both happened on deceleration while at highway speed.
- Concord, NC, USA
Most recently, (not including rear end replaced, reverse band on trans replaced, blown spark plug out of engine block) my truck has started to stall out for no reason that I can fathom,1st time was at 65 mph on a major highway, now more recently at lower speeds, coming to a stop at stop signs lights ect, turning street corners at lower speeds, or coming to a stop in my driveway. I see many complaints of this same problem in forums with no cause or repair that seems to be a root cause. Please help !
- Woodbine, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. While driving at approximately 24 mph, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal with extreme force and the vehicle started to make an extremely loud abnormal knocking noise. The vehicle was parked at the contact's residence where it was diagnosed by an independent mechanic that the cam phaser seized and the engine needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
- Sanford, FL, USA
Takada recall, the cam phaser started making loud noise while driving and now my motor is blown, almost every truck the same year make and model of mine has the same problem.
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
I recently purchased this vehicle and now I am having the spark plugs replaced. 3 out of the 8 broke in the engine. This defect has affected numerous other owners. The repair costs are extremely high for a normal simple repair. This sounds like a design defect and a recall should be initiated.
- Lakeland, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the motor in the three valve engine failed because the cam tower collapsed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 72,300.
- Huntingburg, IN, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. While driving at various speeds and attempting to slow down between 15-20 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plugs and timing chain failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.
- Cheyenne, WY, USA
Took truck to get tune up but was told I couldn't get warranty to help pay for service badly needed and due to that I lost work and was almost homeless but ended up getting help from my mother for tires that took 5 days and was a big headake at wallmart but that's another thing.its a long story but I'm doing my best to have a decent running truck that I can rely on to keep jobs.I just want it fixed so I had to become a mechanic just to find out there is a recall on theses motercraft 515 spark plugs and would like help to get copinsation and have repairs that is needs attion asap.long story short I love my Ford truck and learned a lot along the way please help.
- Oakland, CA, USA
Had owned the truck for about 2 months before the engine started knocking, staling, and would just completely shake so bad the truck would shut off like it was outta gas! had the cam shafts replaced, fixed the problem for about 15 days, then knocking started up again..long story short- engine ended up blowing up! $5000 later for a remanufactured engine with corrected parts that should of been corrected in the first place by Ford! selling faulty parts that could not only harm my family while driving but others on the roadways as well... Ford needs to own up and correct their mistakes! I will never purchase a Ford vehicle again!
- Warrenton, MO, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. While driving at an unknown speed, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the cam shaft phaser was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 162,000.
- Williamstown, VT, USA
Driving 70mph, highway 41N-Wisconsin, just North of oshkosh, legal speed limit, 35 degree weather, nearing end of a 90 mile trip with wife and granddaughter, early evening, when I heard a noise/thud, then had dash engine warning lights and alarms go off as well as severe vibrating and noises under the hood with loss of power. Managed to get my 4X4 truck out of center lane and into emergency lane without being hit. Tried restarting engine a couple of times, which it did, but I shut it down immediately both times because of severe vibration and noise. After arranging for emergency road service and a police officer to protect my backside from traffic approaching from the rear, the truck was towed to my Ford dealership of 12 years. I had purchased my truck there new and did all my maintenance there, except maybe a couple of oil changes when I have been out of state. There the truck was diagnosed to have cam phaser failure and needed a 5,000+ engine replacement @ 130,000 miles. Unbelievable. I've had the cracked windshield, the rear seal issues, the various electronic failures and yes, the Ford spark plug issue with broken plugs during a maintenance change. I still loved my truck until it nearly caused my family and I serious injury or death, or possibly some other undeserving soul. I'm not replacing the engine and am trying to extract whatever remaining value exists. The dealership has been indifferent to the situation and has done little. So yes, I'm livid about the money and the loss of it, but am also livid and concerned as to who has to be hurt or worse yet killed before something is done. There are literally 100S/1000S of cam phaser complaints for the Triton 5..4L that I have read through as well as having talked to a few mechanics since the incident. Thank you Ford for taking my money and jeopardizing my family's safety. I am no longer a Ford customer!
- Neenah, WI, USA
MY TRUCK FELT LIKE IT WAS DRIVING REALLY WELL, I WAS DRIVING FROM A TO B WHICH WAS ABOUT 6 MILES. IM ALMOST HOME & I STOP AT A LIGHT, WHEN IT TURNED GREEN I ACCELERATED &WHEN I DID I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND&SO I PULLED OVER& I COULDN'T PIN POINT EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, JUST IT WAS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IM GUESSING MAYBE THE 3RD OR 4TH SPARK PLUG. I CHECKED MY OIL I WAS MAYBE 1QUART LOW. SO HOPING THAT WAS IT, I BOUGHT A QUART&SOME OIL REPAIR TO GO IN WITH IT. THE GUY AT AUTOZONE THOUGHT THE SAME. AS U COULD GUESS THAT DIDN'T WORK.IT SOUND ALMOST LIKE A LAWN MOWER.WHICH IS BAFFLING CUZ THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO PRIOR NOISE.I'M LOST.I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT SPITING SPARK PLUGS&A LOT OF THE SAME STUFF HAPPENING IN THESE TRUCKS.I'M WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL" IF NOT WHY? IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS FROM OVER 1000 PEOPLE SAYING THE EXACT SAMETHING, WHY HUNT FORD DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT"I USE THIS TRUCK TO TAKE MY71 YEAR OLD VIETNAM VETERAN GRANDPA TO HIS DR APPOINTMENTS&USE IT FOR WORK.FROM WHAT I'M READING NO ONE IS GONNA HELP BUT I HAVE TO TRY.PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANY ADVICE OR HOPEFULLY DO THE RIGHT THING & HELP ME WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM.MY# IS [XXX].THANKS. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Lancaster, CA, USA
Within a few weeks of purchasing my vehicle in February after pulling into a parking lot the check engine light came on. I also noticed it was making a ticking noise like a diesel engine but it's not a diesel. I went to get the codes and found it was a retarded variable valve timing issue code P0022. I looked online and went to multiple shops and mechanics to figure out the problem. After paying to replace the vct solenoids it was apparent that that was not the issue causing the timing problem. For weeks I noticed the truck shaking and at one point it actually stalled as I was pulling out of a parking lot into a busy road and it stalled as I was going into the road which caused the on coming traffic to slow and stop to avoid hitting me in the middle of the road. After spending weeks in the dealership service shop and a large sum of money they found they needed to replace the engine entirely. I have witnessed this issue happening to many many others online and in person who have the same year range with the 5.4L 3 valve Triton engines. This is absolutely unacceptable for so many vehicle to have the same issue especially when it has under 100,000 miles. It is not only very poor quality for such a large price but also a safety hazard to the owner and others around these vehicles.
- Boise, ID, USA
Truck starts making a loud ticking noise coming from engine, I have always gotten oil changes and have no clue what this is but it has lowered power also. It is still making the ticking/rattling noise and its loud. Carried to Ford dealership and was told it would cost $2000 or more. Told this is normal. I don't think a gasoline engine should sound like a diesel. This seems to be a manufacturer issue and Ford needs to take responsibility for the problem.
- Nakina, NC, USA
Engine started to idle rough and loose acceleration while driving up hill. Stalled a couple times while stopped and idling. The engine would lag while accelerating from a stop. I took the truck to a local Ford dealer and for the first 3 times, they couldn't find a problem. Upon the fourth time at the dealer, they said it was the cam phaser and that the engine needs replaced, at 72,000 miles. When asked about this being Ford's problem, they stated that "it hasn't affected 1 million vehicles, so no, not their problem". this was a very critical safety issue, as I would loose accelerating power while driving.
- Nampa, ID, USA
- Chapel Hill, NC, USA