Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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).
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. …
I was driving down the road when my window on my Ford f150 lariat came crashing down two weeks ago( my child was sitting next to the window she is 6 mths old) & it distracted me long enough to look back @ the road & there was a car stopped to make a sudden turn & I couldn't slow down fast enough & I hit them in the rear. All 4 of us went to hospital with minor injuries. It was my fault the cop said but I told him about the window & he didn't give me a ticket thankfully. Its still @ the body shop being fixed the problem was the window regulator & it is being replaced but the body shop manager says these go out way to much this is the 3rd one replaced on this truck, so I looked online & couldn't believe how many people have this problem I think you should research this & put a recall on them & make Ford fix them for free this is definitely caused from Ford trying to cut corners & save $ …
In mid November 2019, I was entering my vehicle and noticed the rear center glass window completely shattered the moment I open the truck door for no reason. No indication of an object striking or anything. The vehicle was completely stationary in my driveway. The temperature had dropped down past 20 degrees the day this happened. I replaced the entire rear window and then,not even a week later, the rear right side of the window is completely shattering and is about to break....the same problem again! Now, I go out today, 12/12/19 to my passenger side door window completely shattered for no apparent reason! In all 3 instances, the temperature dropped below 35 degrees. I have no idea what's going on and it's driving me insane trying to figure out why the windows are randomly shattering when the temperature drops. …
I was driving and went to roll down my driver side window on the way home from work and the whole window just dropped into my door never to be seen again. To my luck, it began to rain.....badly. As if getting wet wasn't enough, every time a vehicle would pass me going the other direction at an intersection I would get splashed with nasty road water in my face!!! It sprayed me so bad once when a vehicle passed me that I hit the curb and could have easily had a horrible accident or worse, killed someone on a curb!!! This cost me over $300 to have the whole motor assembly replaced in the door and sounds like it is all too common due to a poorly designed plastic tab that breaks. What will it take for a recall on this? Some poor persons' child getting hit at a bus stop during a rain storm? Can't wait for it to happen again.
I was in the neighborhood, 3 houses away, when an oncoming car came. I swerved my passenger side mirror then struck a mailbox. The passenger window was down. In the process, on impact, the glass from the mirror exploded. When the mirror exploded, only then, the shattered glass flew into the window cutting a vane in my right arm. I bleed profusely for 20 min. I managed to slow down the bleeding but eventually went to medical center then to the hospital. Glass flew into and fragments of glass penetrated the seats in the vehicle and clothing on the body.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford f-150. While driving 40 MPH, a loud pop sound emitted from the vehicle. The contact noticed that the rear driver side window opened independently. In addition, while the vehicle was parked, the front and rear passenger side windows experienced the same failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the window kit failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford f-150. While driving at approximately 40 MPH in the rain, water poured into the rear window of the cab of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician replaced the gasket around the rear window and the lamp assembly. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000. Updated 11/19/15
2004 Ford f-150 crew cab lariat. Driving in rainstorm, the power window regulator fails and the window comes crashing down. This is the 3rd of 4 windows that has fell down for no reason in a 18 mo. Period. The shock and surprise has caused me to lose control and run into a fence. Had this been on a freeway it could be worse.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford f-150. While driving 30 MPH, the sun roof exploded into pieces. There were no injuries. A dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 247,000.
Window & Wiper complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2004 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 862 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2004 Ford F-150, 42% of the model year's 2,029 complaints. The component named most often is power window devices and controls (615 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford F-150 window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof 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 window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.