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-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford f-250 SD. After parking the vehicle and attempting to exit, the vehicle began to roll backwards. The contact was able to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, and applied the emergency brake. It was later discovered that the emergency brake would no longer function. On another occasion, the contact parked, turned off the engine, and exited the vehicle. Upon returning to the vehicle, it was discovered that it had rolled approximately 30 feet from the original parked position. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 124,000.
Dt: consumer had has recall work done on 2004 Ford f250 super duty. The first recall was in April on the turbo bracket. Dealership put the bracket on the turbo charger on the top of the engine. Dealership did not tighten the hose back, and all the oil leaked out. The second recall was on the rear planetary that was mandatory recall. The dealer tried to fix this, but the owner was not satisfied with the repair work. He said that the vehicle vibrated to badly. The next recall was the fuel control module, the dealer repaired the vehicle, and currently the truck was dying in the middle of the road after it warmed up. Consumer talked to the dealership where he originally bought the truck, and they could not work on the truck because consumer had work done somewhere else. Consumer talked to a regional manager, who said that the truck was operating normally. …
We purchased a 2004 f250 turbo diesel from mike brown Ford on May 29, 2004 and the nightmare began. The first problem the dealership wired the keyless entry incorrectly and had to replace the wiring harness. After that the truck began to have problems with surging,and dying in the middle of the road.. The truck has been in the shop numerous times, they have replaced the computer 9 times, exchanged the EGR values twice, they have slipped the torque converter, and all types of reprogrammed on the various components on this vehicle.. To date the truck runs extremely bad. My wife drives this vehicle, and is extremely scared of this truck, do to the fact that it surges and loses vacuum and shoves her into intersections at red lights or any other times she applies the brakes. The various Ford dealerships are no help they constantly reprogram and release the vehicle . …
While driving on a 2 lane country road, I went to shift (change gears) my truck, and the clutch pedal fell off. I was able to get it into neutral, and coasted to a stop on the shoulder of the road. Upon investigating the cause, I found the pivot pin that the clutch pedal rotates on was missing the retainer and bushing from the right side of the pin, so the pin had moved to the left until the pedal became unattached. After removing the fuse panel from the dash board, and using a hammer handle to reach in and leverage the pedal pin back in place, I was able to drive home. I am an automotive supplier engineer, and do most of my own mechanical repairs on my own vehicles. I have not yet tried to purchase the replacement parts from a Ford dealer, but the auto parts store does not have them. My truck is a 2004 Ford f250 super duty 4x4, 4 dr, diesel.
2004 Ford f250 6.0 diesel. Started shuddering a bit while going from park, drive to reverse. I found transmission fluid on my garage floor, took the truck to the dealer for repair. 4000 dollars to fix a hole in the transmission caused by identical circumstances involving Ford recall 05b27. The mechanic pulled the "oasis" report and found no recall for my vehicle based on the "VIN". I have contacted Ford with no satisfaction. I was advised to pay for the repair and maybe there will be a recall at a future date, at which point I would be reimbursed. Again, this defect is exactly the same as described in recall 05b27. There is no difference in what happened to my vehicle and what Ford tried to stem with the recall. It is an admitted engineering defect which should give cause for an expanded recall.
Bought 2004 f-250 diesel 4 door lariet in May. We have had nothing but trouble. First it was taken in four times for a rattle had to replace door latch. Next the transmission was slipping was put on computer and was told nothing they could do until it totally broke down. Then the truck would die and I would loose steering and brakes had to replace electrical harness. The best one is the odor coming out the vents. Has been to 3 different shops in texas still not fixed.odor has got so strong that my child has to take migraine pills if she is in the truck more than 30 min. I lend up having headaches,sleepy,sore throat and vomiting. Was told not to run the A/C but to run on max A/C no help from Ford company. Please help us. Will it take someone to die before they do something about it.
I own a 2004 Ford f250 diesel crew cab 4x4. We have the lariet package along with the camper and off road packages. Current miles are 3600. Ehaven't towed anything behind this new truck yet. On Sunday aug. 1,2004, my wife was driving and noticed that the transmission would not shift into overdrive.the tow/haul light on the dash was flashing. I took the truck to mike davidson Ford the next morning aug. 2,2004. They dropped the pan off the transmission and found metal shavings along with a bad sensor. The truck is still in the shop. I wanted to know if other new Ford trucks equiped the same way were having simular problems. The dealership said this was a rare condition for this type vehicle.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford f 250 SD. While driving 45 MPH he heard a loud noise in the rear of the vehicle. After removing the rear tires he found that the brake lining was off of the brake shoe and broke into several pieces. The emergency brake cable caused the failure when it broke. The driver side window was off track and failed to close after it was opened. The transmission made noise while driving at various speeds. The dealer repaired the valve body sensor and the valve train; however, the failure continued to occur. The failure mileage was 12,000 miles and the current mileage was 36,000.
The consumer purchased a truck from Ford because of a rear child safety restraint. It was a misrepresentation of what they wanted to fit an infant child into. The consumer was unable to place the child in the truck. The consumer purchased the truck because of their newborn child. The manufacturer said that the owner's manual stated one could not place a rear-facing seat in this truck. Other problems consisted of: ABS light illuminated becasue the dealer wired the plow to it, the four wheel drive did not engage, and the transmission was slipping and did not shift properly.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 65 MPH, a vibration was felt from the steering wheel along with the front and rear of the vehicle. The service dealer and manufacturer replaced the entire front end, all axles, rotors, ring and pinion and wheel hubs, but the vibration continued. The manufacturer had an engineer test the vehicle and found the vibration to be within operating standards. The fuel light illuminated, the center console squeaked, the lower ball joints were replaced. Updated 11/21/06.
Transmission complaints in other F-250 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Ford F-250 SD?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Ford F-250 SD, 8% of the model year's 254 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford F-250 SD transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2004 Ford F-250 SD, though it has 2 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-250 SD transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 12,000 miles, and 65% before 25,000 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.