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 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 — runs 2.8× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
153Complaints
7Recalls
8Crashes
4Fires
5Injured
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 (15% of complaints) — was examined in a now-closed NHTSA investigation that did not result in a recall.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints here are 2.8× the median for that category across the 2583 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 category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 23 · 15% | Investigation closed | DP05005 · PE04070 |
| Electrical System | 23 · 15% | No official action | — |
| Engine | 19 · 12.4% | Investigation closed | DP05005 · PE04070 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 · 8.5% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel | 11 · 7.2% | Investigation closed | DP05005 · PE04070 |
| Electrical System:wiring | 11 · 7.2% | 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 153 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 — 7 campaigns
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
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
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
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006
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
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
Tires
NHTSA campaign 04V229000 · 2004 · reported 05/17/2004
IF A TIRE WAS OPERATED IN AN OVER-LOADED OR OVER-INFLATED CONDITION, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH CAN CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. 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
“ENGINE ACCELERATES SPORADICALLY ON ITS OWN. ENGINE OCCASIONALLY DIES AT STOP LIGHTS. MUST KEEP BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY PUSHED AT STOP AS ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE…”NHTSA complaint 10618762 — filed 08/04/2014 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“HAD MISS FIRES IN ENGINE THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER SHOWN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED MISSING CHECK…”NHTSA complaint 10455899 — filed 04/20/2012 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
“2004 FORD F250. CONSUMER STATES FAULTY ICP SENSOR OR FAULTY EGR VALVE *TGW THE REVERSE PLANET GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE EGR VALVE…”NHTSA complaint 10411072 — filed 07/06/2011 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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?
Engine and engine cooling issues are the most-reported category, cited in 23 of 153 NHTSA complaints (15%), followed by electrical system (23), engine (19), vehicle speed control (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2004 Ford F-250 have?
153 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 8 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, and 5 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2004 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
Yes — 7 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'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.
