Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Vehicle unexpectantly stalled while traveling 30 MPH causing partial loss of control of steering and braking ability. I was able to pull vehicle to side of road. Failed to restart vehicle initially. After several attempts, vehicle restarted. Was able to drive to dealer one block away with several stalls, restarts. Check engine light was on. Lochen Ford in newburg, wi diagnosed a failed fuel driver module. Replaced at a cost of $350 on 3/29/16. After searching online, this is not an uncommon failure with this vehicle. Failure of part is due to accelerated corrosion of part itself due to poor design and mounting. Modifications have since been made to lessen the chance of failure. This is certainly of concern since stalling of the engine at all speeds is a safety issue. I suspect thousands, if not millions of these popular trucks are affected. …
When I brake the engine sounds like its racing louder and louder and seems like I'm excellerating instead of stopping. Its very hard to stop in time at a stop sign and I can't. I almost it a crossing car.this problem happened several times with myself and also when my husband drove the truck.we took it to a mechanic. The same happened to 2 mechanics at the shop on test drives. They have a theory it is happening because when we take our foot off the gas pedal and put it on the brake to brake we are too close to the gas pedal and are unknowingly pressing both at the same time. I didn't feel like that was happening, but maybe it was bec now when I brake , I place my foot much further from the gas pedal. I've heard this is a common problem in trucks, but I wasn't warned and I don't think this is safe.
I was driving my 2008 Ford f150 when the engine suddenly started severe jerking/missing and loss of power. It continued to get worse while vehicle was under load then eventually the engine stopped working and would not start. I was able to determine the issue was a loss of fuel pressure caused by a defective fuel pump driver located above the spare tire on a steel cross member. This part was severely corroded due to an engineering flaw reported by hundreds of f150 owners prior to this incident. This issue needs to be addressed by NHTSA with Ford and a recall initiated to replace this component with the improved part design now available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-150. While the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but it failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the fuel pump relay housing and cover rusted through, which caused an electrical short that made the fuel pump become inoperable. The vehicle was repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: cas [redacted]. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.
Plastic timing guides are ripped from mounting location by timing chains and drop into the oil system, usually causing loss of oil pressure, contaminated oil, trash-filled motor, and accelerated wear of the timing chains, resulting in engine damage. Usually the guides break off at or before 100,000 miles and the chains need replacing between 120,000 and 200,000 miles, depending on how the truck is driven. Metal replacement guides are available at most shops and online parts stores.prices range between $10 and $40. Occurs in 4.6l and 5.4l v8 engines.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-150. While the contact was stopped at a traffic light, he smelled exhaust fumes inside the cabin of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to causeway Ford Lincoln (located at 375 nj-72, stafford township, nj 08050, [phone]), where it was diagnosed that both exhaust manifolds, gasket, and hardware bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 70,000. Consumer stated he has sold the vehicle.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Ford f-150. The contact stated that there was a strong odor of fuel emitting through the vents. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000. ...updated 03/31/15 the consumer stated the manufacturer refused to offer any assistance due to the vehicle being out of warranty. Updated 10/21/2015
Fuel pump driver corrosion cause truck to stall and not restart lucky I was in safe location or could have been a bad scean Ford should recall this part cause in states that use salt causes this problem does someone have to die before it gets fixed cause new ones have a spacers so they don't rust im sure this has been brought up many times thank you
Engine was running rough on the freeway. When I exited, the engine stopped running. I had to have it towed to the garage. The mechanic diagnosed the problem as the fuel pump driver control unit. He said it is a common problem with the f150 trucks. My opinion is this is a safety problem and the driver module was damaged due to corrosion.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Ford f-150. Since the vehicle was purchased, it has experienced multiple failures. While driving 40 MPH, the charger indicator illuminated, which meant that the turbo charger was failing. When the indicator was illuminated, the vehicle would slow down and prevent the vehicle from accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions, but they found no failures with the turbo charger. After the vehicle was taken to the dealer, the failure recurred and white smoke appeared from the tail pipe again. The vehicle completely failed and would not accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that a sensor failed. The sensor was replaced. Four months later, the contact noticed water leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the radiator failed. The radiator was replaced. …
Fuel System complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2008 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2008 Ford F-150, 7% of the model year's 369 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Ford F-150 fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2008 Ford F-150, though it has 1 recall 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 2008 Ford F-150 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion system 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.