Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
NHTSA campaign 11V352000 · 2011 · reported 07/13/2011
NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2004 Ford F-250 SD Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel — runs 3.0× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
254Complaints
4Recalls
13Crashes
12Fires
14Injured
0Deaths
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 — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel (14.6% of complaints) — was examined in a now-closed NHTSA investigation that closed with a recall campaign (05V270000).
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel complaints here are 3.0× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel | 37 · 14.6% | Investigation closed | DP05005 · EA05003 → recall 05V270000 · PE04070 |
| Electrical System | 33 · 13% | Recalled | Recall 05V270000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 27 · 10.6% | Investigation closed | DP05005 · EA05003 → recall 05V270000 · PE04070 |
| Electrical System:wiring | 21 · 8.3% | Recalled | Recall 05V270000 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 18 · 7.1% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 · 6.7% | 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
Percentages are the share of the 254 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 — 4 campaigns
Wheels:hub
NHTSA campaign 07E106000 · 2007 · reported 12/17/2007
WHEEL SEPARATION CAN 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 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Electrical System:wiring
NHTSA campaign 05V270000 · 2005 · reported 06/10/2005
SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR. 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
“2004 KING RANCH, 6.0 DIESEL, TURBO PROBLEMS, AGAIN. NOW TRUCK SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS, IN PARKING LOT AND AT STOP LIGHT. IF MY FOOT IS…”NHTSA complaint 10201943 — filed 09/05/2007 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
“2004 FORD F250 SD 6.0L . ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS PUT DOESN'T DIE. IN 2005 WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. IN MAY 2007 TOOK TO…”NHTSA complaint 10192336 — filed 06/03/2007 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
“- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY AND STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10182320 — filed 02/12/2007 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford F-250 SD?
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel issues are the most-reported category, cited in 37 of 254 NHTSA complaints (14.6%), followed by electrical system (33), engine and engine cooling (27), electrical system:wiring (21). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2004 Ford F-250 SD have?
254 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 13 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, and 14 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2004 Ford F-250 SD have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 11V352000. 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-250 SD's reported problems?
2 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.
