Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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. …
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.
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. …
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. …
My 2004 Ford f150 was parked in my driveway in park with the engine running and ac on max. I left it running while I unloaded the back seat of several items. I then closed the doors and proceeded to unload 4 cases of water from the bed of the truck. I made 5 trips from the truck to the house and when I returned and put the tailgate back up my truck took off towards my house and impacted the brick wall of the gararge (approx 20 to 25 foot distance). I tried to run from the back and open the door and apply the brake but the truck hit the house as I got the door open. The shifter was still in park. I applyed the brake and put it in reverse and moved it back to reveal the damage. My wife and I tested this afterwards to attempt to duplicate this without being able to reproduce it. My house and the truck are damaged and I feel that this has the potential to really hurt someone. …
Officially logging a well known problem with the 2004 f150 driveline. It has done this to the point of transmission replacement due to wear on the shaft. The driveshaft is not serviceable at all and was never lubed from the factory causing binding on the slip yokes which in turn causes swing bearing wear, u joint failure and to the point of transmission stub shaft wear ultimately causing failure. There seriously needs to be accountability for these due to the severity and liability. We owned the truck new and have driven with this problem until now. I hope to see a recall soon as tsbs are no help to the customer and most dealers do not even know that these parts are unserviceable. As a life long customer, thumbs down on Ford to allow this to go on.
The engine blew a spark plug out my grandfather bought this truck new it never had them removed before it did not come lose it blew threads and all out do your god dam job make Ford fix this before someone gets killed from a fire over this when the plug pops out it blows fuel out on the coil pack with it with it shooting lighting bolts if I had been a person with no mechanical knowledge it would have got bad I popped the hood and flames were popping out around the coil pack that is beating the crap out of the fuel rail if I had drove the truck or had been on the freeway that fuel rail would have been busted then a fire ball I can send u picks or make a video of the coil pack smacking the fuel rail.
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.
Transmission complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 232 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Ford F-150, 11% of the model year's 2,029 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (66 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford F-150 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2004 Ford F-150, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford F-150 transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 42% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.