8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$330
Average Mileage:
57,200 miles
Total Complaints:
163 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace the power window regulator (129 reports)
  2. not sure (21 reports)
  3. replace regulator (6 reports)
  4. replaced switch in the door (3 reports)
  5. replace power window regulator (2 reports)
  6. wood wedged in door frame to keep window from falling (2 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #43

Feb 162009

F-150 FX4 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,868 miles

For the past year I have been hearing a popping or clicking type noise coming from my front driver side window, i didn't think anything of it, 2 days ago i got into my truck shut the door, "BAM" the window falls into the door, i hit the window button, nothing but a crackling sound like the window was breaking. I put plastic on the window and took it to the dealer. They said they have never heard of any thing like that and it will be $54.00 to take off the door panel for "DIAGNOSTICS FOR INVESTIGATION ISSUES" , $476.05 later, the regulator assemble was broken and needed repair. I asked for the old part when i picked up the truck, they said " the part has already been disposed of. part # 4L3Z*1823201* REGULATOR ASY. I filed a complaint with https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq. I hope everyone else will do the same, if enough people complain maybe it will get recalled so no one else has to suffer. I wish i would have found this site before i took my truck up there.

- Sean M., St. Ann, MO, US

problem #42

Jan 312009

F-150 Lariat 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Well, we were on the way to see my father-in-law in ccu at hospital....The window on the passenger side fell down..That made us late , so we didn't get in...My husband worked and worked to get it up and when he finally did, we jumped in the truck and took off..Well you know what happened before I say it...Bam!! fell again...He has been trying to talk me into trading it in for the last six months so you know what he is thinking...He has a friend that owns a salvage yard..hopefully we can get it cheap..This is ridiculous....The Lariat is top of the line, or so we thought...Whatever Ford really needs to step up.....

- frankie_nylene, Orange, TX, US

problem #41

Jan 232009

F-150 FX4 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,400 miles

This is ridiculous!! $330 for a window regulator and installation. The part that I really don't understand is, the cable was the only thing bad in the regulator, but I had to replace the whole thing. This F-150 is a 2005 (the newest vehicle I have ever owned) and I have had more problems out of it than any of my older GM vehicles. I will never buy another Ford. Not to mention that it rides like sh*t compared to my brothers 2001 Chevrolet.

- Morgan C., Bremen, AL, US

problem #40

Jan 122009

F-150 XLT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

Well, I figured I would add to the complaint pile on these window regulators. Being primarily a Honda and Toyota owner, I am reminded why I usually only by imports. I love my Truck, but this is now my third failed window regulator. This is truly ridiculous, inclding the repair costs the dealers are asking on these. Well I guess in this economy at least their making money out of the deal.

- Chris H., Turlock, CA, US

problem #39

Jan 112009

F-150 FX4 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

Well I have heard it would happen, and it has. Stopped at the atm and went to put window back up and it started to make a grinding noise. Then over the next day it got worse until I heard a "pop" and the window fell into the door. Waiting to take it to the dealer to see what its going to cost to get fixed. Hopefully it will be covered under the extended warranty I purchased.

- Kurt O., Spring Hill, TN, US

problem #38

Jan 022009

F-150 XLT 5.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,306 miles

Within the last four months (shortly after the 3 Year warranty expiration) three of four power window regulators have failed in my F-150. The dealer indicates that this is one of the most common repair actions for F-150's. This is clearly a well documented and complained about product deficiency that is also a major safety hazard because when the failures occur the window drops into the door panel. My most recent failure was during a serious rain storm with my child sitting at the rear passenger window when it failed and fell into the door panel. Although this Ford defect is widely documented Ford Motor Company is doing nothing for it's customers. The cost for power window regulator replacements in my less than four year old 2005 F-150 (each door has a different part/price each of which was over $300) has already exceeded all of my combined repair costs for my previous F-150 over a ten year period. I have been a die hard Ford product buyer (Pinto, Tempo, Granada, Mercury Marqui, Ranger and Three F-150's) but quality, customer service and loyalty to the customer no longer hold any value to the Ford Motor Company. For the first time in my life I am actually considering trading in my Ford for a Chevy (ughhh) to avoid another window repair that could be applied to a new vehicle payment. One thing is for sure, after dealing with these F-150 window problems, if Ford is not willing to correct their problem and properly support their consumers I will never purchase another Ford product.

P.S. Sign me up for that class action law suit.

- Tino C., Gautier, MS, US

problem #37

Jan 022009

F-150 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

This is the rear right side window. Two months ago it was the drivers window. Two down two more to go. Save your receipts and hope for a recall.

- joiner, Lewisville, TX, US

problem #36

Nov 192008

F-150 Crew Cab 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,493 miles

My driver side window came off the railing system in the window regulator and cracked back in 2007, right before my warranty was running out, so I got lucky. I just came back from a 15 month deployment from Iraq, and there goes again same problem, at a really inconvenient and to top it off the warranty ran out. It has become very unreliable, cause I don't know when its going to happen again! what if it happens when I go to the Airport to park my car for the weekend!. Anyways I took the regulator off myself following the instructions from http://www.fordf150.net/articles/idx.php/0/019/article/How-To-Repair-the-Power-Window-Regulator--Motor.html

Found out the cable system has come off the plastic wheel system and one of the plastic pieces had been broken off. I put the railing system back together with the cable in the pulley, but without that piece it will come off again. So I will try to go to the junk yard and find that same piece, if not I will try to get the railing system without the motor.

Update from May 26, 2009: Here we go again!. I cannot believe there is no recall on this Regulators. I was coming home from Missouri, and there just happened to be a really bad storm that day, all the way down interstate 44. Then the temperature dropped, started snowing a little bit. When I got to OKC, I noticed my rear right window was half way down. I thought.. man, why is the window down? Did I push the wrong button at the toll both. Oh well I must of. I proceeded to raise the window. It did go up, but then bam, you could hear it. The regulator busted, entangled or whatever. I have gotten quite proficient with this windows, since I had to replaced, My Driver side window and regulator, My Driver side Regulator, now My Rear Right regulator. Luckily I had some green tape. (100 Mile per hour tape.) And taped the hell out of the window, luckily this one did go all the way up. My passenger window, when the regulator broke, the window got stuck 3/4 of the way. What an inconvenience from hell!. If you own a Ford, Have a jack, like everyone else, Emergency kit, if you prefer. But you must also have spare window regulator. Matter of fact I am thinking of going ahead and buying my left rear window regulator, since its the only one that hasn't come down yet. Anyways, maybe I can get ASE certification on Window regulators and get a job at Ford. I will always stay busy.

- robnsiyah, Lawton, OK, US

problem #35

Nov 222008

F-150 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

Yep, same problem here. Something snapped and the passenger window slid down. I hear the driver side popping every once in a while too, so I'm sure it is doomed for failure soon as well.

I am also about 30 days outside the warranty so I guess Ford has these cheap-ass regulators timed perfectly to last through the warranty but not a year, or even a month more. What a joke. A really not-funny, expensive, pain-in-the-ass joke. The hell if I'm going to give them the pleasure of charging me out the ass to fix it. I'm going to give it the old college try and if that doesn't work, I'll take it somewhere else. Last Ford for me.

- T R., Sacramento, CA, US

problem #34

Sep 022008

F-150 XLT 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,158 miles

Dozens of other people have reported this same problem. I'm rolling up the passenger side window and BANG! I hear a loud pop and the window falls inside the door. This is the 1st time this has happened, but I am about to fill out a SECOND report because this just happened on the DRIVERS Side window as well! 2 broken regulators in less than 2 months! Holy Crappy FORD products. I have bought 7 Fords in a row, but I can promise you I will not be buying anymore unless Ford does a recall on this cheap plastic part.

- Jim C., Houston, TX, US

problem #33

Nov 122008

F-150 Lariat 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

I thought this was unique...then I read the news. I pulled into the parking lot and rolled down the driver window to get the parking stub. When I tried to roll the window up, BANG! Window wouldn't move and I don't want to leave the truck open while I am out on business. I have one hour and 40 minutes to flight time and if I miss this flight it is a five hour delay until the next open seat. It also means a missed business schedule, change of flight fees, potentially a late hotel fee, etc.

The dealer really came through. Joe Sartain Ford in Decatur, Al. I drove right to the dealer and left the truck. They had a car waiting to take me back to the airport. Made it with 5 mins to spare before they closed the check in!

- Robert G., Huntsville, AL, US

problem #32

Oct 262008

F-150 FX4 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,287 miles

About five minutes into my Commute home.... BANG! That same $417.36 dollar pain in the, well you know. Yes I know exactly how much it costs because this is my FOURTH window regulator. $184.71 for the window regulator and a ridiculous $229.76 for technicians labor. It took about forty minutes to fix the problem.. $229.76 for forty minutes, I'm in the wrong business! The people here at Ford Country in the Valley Auto Mall in Las Vegas say that this is a common problem with these trucks, and they blame the hot desert sun.... well apparently not because it sounds like people across the whole country are experiencing the same problem. Don't get me wrong, I love my Super Crew, but those faulty window regulators are killing me. The last three window regulators in eight months C'mon.

- kona808, Henderson, NV, US

problem #31

Oct 252008

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

Loud pop. It scared my wife and kids to the point where the youngest one craped his pants... ha. He does not want to ride in "daddy's big truck" anymore....The window pops and drops like a rock. I was surprised when i looked in side the door panel and the window had not busted. At one point I thought we were being shot at. This is something that needs to be recalled. I guess someone is going to have to have a wreck before ford steps up to the plate. Wont see me in another ford after this one.

- Kevin J., Columbus, GA, US

problem #30

Oct 192008

F-150 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

So I got off work, got in my truck shut the door and the Drivers side window fell down.I tapped the up button and heard what I thought was broken glass.I took it to the mechanic down the street and of course he said it was the motor / regulator.$300.00 bucks parts and labor it cost me.Ford part was $240.00 at the local dealership brand new $60.00 for labor.We both searched at local junk yards and parts store to try and get a better price but no one had the right one.Getting desperate(because I was worried about rain ) I spent the damn money to get it fixed.Now I have a scratch in the glass where it fell so I guess Ill be replacing that when I can.

- josephz, Mechanicsville, VA, US

problem #29

Sep 112008

F-150 Xlt 4x4 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,980 miles

What a piece of crap. C'mon Ford...admit you made a mistake when you decided to install these cheap plastic clips on your "Built Ford Tough" Window Regulators. Yugo probably didn't even install anything this cheap. I was 10 days out of warranty when this window regulator (This Is The 3rd One) went out. The window just dropped down inside the door again. It wasn't even being wound up or down. I called Ford expecting some compassion since this is the third one and my truck is only ten days out of warranty, but all I got was go to my dealer and see what they can do for me. I went to the dealer and it will cost approximately $400.00 to fix. The part is one third that price and the rest is labor. Ford lists it as 2.5 hours to replace when I was told it only takes 30 minutes. Getting gouged by Ford is not my idea of good customer service. This will definitely be the last Ford I ever buy. It is amazing that Ford can afford to do this with the economy in the shape that it is in!

- nebacadnezzar, Phoenix, AZ, US

problem #28

Oct 022008

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,500 miles

Was sitting idle in a parking lot when suddenly I heard a loud POP at the drivers door. When I started to roll my window down it just dropped down all the way. Tried rolling it up and it sounded like broken glass! I googled "repair power window on a Ford 2005 F150" and low and behold I found "complaints.com" and was shocked to see all of the complaints on this very subject! Ford is making a killing off owners by using cheap, breakable parts and by NOT recalling this YET! This should be recalled. I have no money right now to replace the regulator, so I am at the mercy of the gods in hopes that someone doesn't steal my truck or that it doesn't rain, since with this part broken the window won't stay up.

After calling our local Ford dealer, the service department says, yes, this is a very common problem and they keep PLENTY of the regulators in stock! But if you want to pay over a hundred bucks just for the part, go ahead and buy from Ford. Otherwise, go to NAPA or someone else. I have already disassembled the door to find the cable all chewed up, and fortunately the window is intact. Gotta buy a new regulator on payday and until then, I have pillows inside the door frame to hold the window up.

EVERYONE should start writing complaint letters to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm and file a complaint. Then write Ford.com. With as many complaints as I've read, it's amazing this isn't on the recall list YET!

- Susie B., Cedar Hill, TX, US

problem #27

Oct 142008

F-150 XLT 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

Had the same window regulator problem everyone else is having. This is the second one, first it was the driver side front window now the passenger side. The 1st time it was under warranty but this time my warranty just ran out in June 08. What a bunch of crap, last ford I will ever buy!!!!!

- George H., Henderson, NV, US

problem #26

Sep 282007

F-150 Xlt 4x4 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,777 miles

In September of 2007 I had a problem with the cheap plastic clips breaking on the power window regulator. I took it to the dealership where the Service Manager explained to me that they were having a few problems with the window regulators on the '04 & '05 F-150's. I knew that there was nothing wrong with the regulator, it was just the cheap plastic clips that hold it in place. Unfortunately, you can't replace the clips, you have to replace the whole window regulator. Well, this was covered by my standard warranty, but I had expressed concern about it happening again and had wanted them all replaced. Of course the dealership wouldn't replace them until I experience a problem...More to come!!!

- topdogcbr, Mesa, AZ, US

problem #25

Sep 012008

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,777 miles

Here we go on week 8 with no driver's side window. Is this how Ford treats their loyal customers? I truly hope the employees at Ford Motor Company are not wondering why their sales are down 35%! I guarantee it is not just due to the economy. Toyota sales only dropped 9%.

I had my passenger side window drop down inside my door while the truck was parked in the driveway. I originally thought it was busted out until I could not find any glass. I took it to my dealership where they explained to me that it was a faulty window regulator. The service manager told me that they were experiencing a few problems with the window regulators in the F-150's. At that time I told him I wanted them all replaced while my truck was still under warranty. I was told that they could not do that because I had not experienced any other problems. Exactly 24 days after my warranty expired the driver's side window dropped down inside the door. You guessed it...the dealership will not replace the faulty window regulator at no charge because the truck is out of warranty by just 24 days. I have written everyone at Ford and can not get any responses.

Ford Customer Relationship Center automated e-mail response says that I will get a response in 2 days. I have written Ford once a week for a total of 10 times in 2 months and only ever received 1 response 6 weeks ago and it did nothing to help me with how Ford was going to handle the problem with their faulty window regulators. Ford needs to step up to the plate and fix all the faulty window regulators in the F-150's!!! Built Ford Tough...My Ass!!!

Everyone experiencing this problem with the faulty window regulators needs to write the www.FHTSA.gov and they will conduct their own investigation. This needs to be made a safety issue. Also report it to www.crcfmc.com In the only e-mail reply I received from Ford I was told that Ford was unaware of any problem.

- monolith racing, Harrisburg, PA, US

problem #24

May 142008

F-150 Triton 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles

I never thought I would have any type of problems with my truck, at least not mechanical, but the other day my damn driver's side window fell down. Turned out it was the motor and I tried to fix myself but couldn't so I took it to a repair guy and said it was going to cost me $210. Up to this day I can't go through the drive thru or atm...

- richy1700, McAllen, TX, US

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