Your vehicle report

2004 Ford F-150

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
2,029
Received Oct 2003 to Sep 2026
Official recalls listed
5
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Power window regulator fails and window drops713 complaints · 35% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks150 complaints · 7.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed132 complaints · 6.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #11V385000Ford 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 registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle.
  • Recall #11V107000Ford 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. If this occurs the air bag warning lamp may illuminate indicating that service is required.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 75 crashes, 40 fires, 74 people injured, 6 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

5 more problems

Brakes

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

1 more problem

Body, doors & glass

1 more problem

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2004 Ford F-150
455
Show as a table
YearComplaints
20033
2004169
2005164
200669
200770
2008143
2009345
2010455
2011199
201280
201351
201464
201543
201644
201738
201831
201919
202010
20211
20227
20239
20246
20256
2026 (to Oct 2026)3
Total2,029

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Power window regulator fails and window drops71335%–
Ford F-150 transmission unexpectedly downshifts or jerks1507.4%–
Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed1326.5%–
Glass shatters or cracks without impact1195.9%–
Spark plugs blow out of cylinder head854.2%–
Frame rusts and corrodes through512.5%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes371.8%20.8×
Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps371.8%–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early351.7%–
Tires blow out or tread separates341.7%–
Rear door latch fails to open or close321.6%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring311.5%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking281.4%–
Engine knocking from rod or main bearings271.3%–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving221.1%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving211.0%–
Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline180.9%–NHTSA recall #04V200000, #04V443000
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines180.9%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips150.7%–
Coil springs break and puncture tires140.7%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #11V385000July 29, 20111,100,000 vehicles affected

    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 registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle.

    As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps may fail allowing the fuel lines to separate from the tank, or in some cases, causing the tank to contact the ground. Either scenario may result in a fuel leak presenting a fire hazard.

    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. Early in this campaign, if replacement straps are not available, dealers may install a cable support under the strap as an interim repair or a steel reinforcement over the existing strap as a permanent repair. Any repairs will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2011. Owners may contact Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 11S21

  • NHTSA recall #11V107000February 23, 20111,325,000 vehicles affected

    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. If this occurs the air bag warning lamp may illuminate indicating that service is required.

    The driver side frontal air bag could inadvertently deploy increasing the risk of injury or loss of vehicle control if occurring while in motion.

    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. Repairs will be performed free of charge. This safety recall began on some vehicles in march 2011. The recall campaign on the expanded population is expected to begin on or about may 9, 2011. Owners may contact the Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

  • NHTSA recall #07V336000August 3, 20073,600,000 vehicles affected

    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.

    This could result in an underhood fire.

    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 as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.

  • NHTSA recall #04V443000September 13, 20041,689 vehicles affected

    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 fuel leak.

    Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall began september 17, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

  • NHTSA recall #04V200000April 26, 2004371 vehicles affected

    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.

    If left uncorrected, a fuel leak could eventually develop.

    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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2004 Ford F-150.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN