Most common 2004 Ford F-150 problems
Share of the 2,029 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-150 complaints by model year
Best F-150 years: 1996, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2018, 2013, 2016, 2012, 2021. Compare all years →
2004 Ford F-150 recalls (5)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
Ford is recalling certain 1997 through 2003 model year Ford f-150, 2004 model year Ford f-150 heritage, 1997 through 1999 model year f-250 less than 8,500 lbs. Gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), and 2002 and 2003 Lincoln blackwood vehicles manufactured from June 20, 1995, through August 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Ford is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 f-150 pick up trucks as well as certain model year 2006 Lincoln mark lt vehicles. If the clockspring jumper wire comes in contact with the driver side frontal air bag lower horn plate, the wire insulation May become chafed, creating a potential for a short circuit.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer to have a new clockspring jumper wire installed that incorporates a protective mesh cover.
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected…
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
On certain trucks equipped with 4.2l, 4.6l and 5.4l gasoline engines, the fuel tank May have a depression at the seam between the top and bottom halves of the tank. If a depression is large enough, fuel May permeate the fuel tank wall resulting in a fuel odor, illumination, of the "service engine soon" indicator light, or a…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall began September 17, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Certain pickup trucks May have a fuel tank with localized depressions in the fuel tank wall at the seam between top and bottom halves of the tank. If a depression is large enough, fuel May permeate the fuel tank wall resulting in a fuel odor, or the "service engine soon" indicator light in the instrument cluster May illuminate.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank on these vehicles. Owner notification began on May 6, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-248-0186.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2004 Ford F-150:
Cng regulator leak
The agency has closed this investigation based on its review of complaint reports, discussions with complainants and field and technical data provided by Ford.the subject vehicles are 1/2 ton pickup trucks and are natural gas vehicles (ngv) that are fueled by gasoline or compressed natural gas.the agency has received reports alleging improper operation of the natural gas fuel pressure regulator allowing release of…
Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion
One or both of the steel straps holding up the fuel tank and attaching it to the truck frame can corrode and fail (break or separate).If one strap fails, the tank may tilt and drop and possibly contact the road surface.If both straps break, the entire tank may drop to the road.If either failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven, contact with the road can abrade the tank and create a hole from which gasoline…
Inadvertent airbag deployment
ODI opened this investigation based on reports of inadvertent airbag deployment.Data provided by Ford indicated that the airbag clockspring jumper wire, which is situated inside the steering wheel assembly, was installed in a manner that would allow it to rub (abrade) against a sharp metal edge on the nearby horn plate.Because the horn plate is electrically grounded the abrasion of an airbag wire on the sharp edge…
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 2004 Ford F-150 owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 862 →
Electrical malfunction with fuses , problems with brake light, engine light and air bag light . Some fuses blown out after brake light fuse popped wipers don't work at all air bog turns on and off every day not sure why
While driving my 2004 Ford f-150 crewcab pickup truck one day, I heard a 'pop' (like a rock hit my window) on the driver side window, and the next day I hear it again. The next night my driver side window fell into my door while out driving and scared me so bad it made me swerve off the road. A police officer saw this and accused me of being intoxicated so I therefore had to go through a field sobriety and breathalizer test. The police officer apologized but it was very nerve racking to go through that. That night I took my door apart to find a jungle of wires in my door that once connected to the tracks that held my window in place. It is not repairable, but replaceable so therefore I am very upset. I have been working on cars since I was fourteen year old, and never have I seen such a horrible idea for a window motor. …
Engine & cooling all 257 →
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shuddered and failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact scanned the vehicle with a scanner and retrieved an unknown camshaft phaser error code. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact observed the spark plug being ejected from the fuel compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 232 →
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated while starting his parked vehicle, he found that the vehicle would not start. The contact self-diagnosed and bypassed the starter solenoid using a screwdriver and started the vehicle. The vehicle slipped out of the park and rolled backward. The contact was backed over by the vehicle and had received injuries to his ribs and stomach. He had lacerations and abrasions to his back and chest. The contact was able to get out from under the vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle which was rolling. The contact jumped into the passenger side and attempted to brake but could not. The contact attempted to push the shift lever into "park" but the gear would not engage. The vehicle rolled and crashed into the rear end of a parked vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the engine began revving: however, the vehicle to accelerate properly. The transmission fault warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was inspected by independent mechanic at the residence, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.
2004 Ford F-150 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl supercharged | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 15 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford F-150 a good car?
Based on 2,029 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 F-150 rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-150 at the same age. It is one of the F-150 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford F-150?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 862 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about power window devices and controls. Next are the engine & cooling (257) and transmission & drivetrain (232).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford F-150 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2004 Ford F-150, the most recent from July 29, 2011 (mounting). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-150?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2013, 2016, 2012 and 2021. See the full Ford F-150 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford F-150 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 38% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.