CarModelProblems.com

2004 Ford F-150 Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls — runs 7.8× the fleet median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.
2,028Complaints
16Recalls
74Crashes
40Fires
74Injured
6Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls (30.3% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.

Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls complaints here are 7.8× the median for that category across the 409 model-years tracked on this site.

None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls615 · 30.3%No official action
Visibility205 · 10.1%No official action
Engine And Engine Cooling109 · 5.4%Investigation closedDP05005
Engine92 · 4.5%Investigation closedDP05005
Power Train88 · 4.3%No official action
Electrical System87 · 4.3%No official action

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

VISIBILITY205 · 10.1%
ENGINE92 · 4.5%
POWER TRAIN88 · 4.3%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM87 · 4.3%
SUSPENSION81 · 4%
Unspecified / other81 · 4%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION66 · 3.3%
STRUCTURE:BODY58 · 2.9%

Percentages are the share of the 2,028 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 16 campaigns

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

NHTSA campaign 11V107000 · 2011 · reported 02/23/2011

THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL IF OCCURRING WHILE IN MOTION. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

NHTSA campaign 11V385000 · 2011 · reported 07/29/2011

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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E060000 · 2006 · reported 06/29/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline

NHTSA campaign 06E056000 · 2006 · reported 06/13/2006

FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 07E080000 · 2007 · reported 09/25/2007

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CRASHES AND DEATHS AND INJURIES BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E064000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Equipment:electrical

NHTSA campaign 07E066000 · 2007 · reported 08/28/2007

IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Vehicle Speed Control

NHTSA campaign 07V336000 · 2007 · reported 08/03/2007

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 06E052000 · 2006 · reported 06/12/2006

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 07E089000 · 2007 · reported 10/25/2007

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CRASHES AND DEATHS AND INJURIES BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 07E075000 · 2007 · reported 09/14/2007

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

NHTSA campaign 04V200000 · 2004 · reported 04/26/2004

IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, A FUEL LEAK COULD EVENTUALLY DEVELOP. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

NHTSA campaign 04V443000 · 2004 · reported 09/13/2004

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“A LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED…”NHTSA complaint 10094549 — filed 11/17/2004 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
“THE COMPUTER PROCESSOR WILL NOT RETAIN ANY INFORMATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND IT REMAINED THERE…”NHTSA complaint 10095442 — filed 11/09/2004 · FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
“FIRST APPLACTION OF BRAKES AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVE WAY THAT IS STOPPING AT THE RED LIGHT AT (RT)#30-& MAIN RD,BRAKE LINES AT ABS CONTROL…”NHTSA complaint 10095677 — filed 10/13/2004 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

10320127081201464532016534020182215202018202214720241332026

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford F-150?

Visibility:power window devices and controls issues are the most-reported category, cited in 615 of 2,028 NHTSA complaints (30.3%), followed by visibility (205), engine and engine cooling (109), engine (92). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 2004 Ford F-150 have?

2,028 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 74 involved a crash, 40 involved a fire, and 74 reported injuries. 6 deaths were reported.

Does the 2004 Ford F-150 have any recalls?

Yes — 16 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 11V107000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 2004 Ford F-150's reported problems?

0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.