168 complaints reported

2004 Ford F-150 Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
168
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2024

The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the engine began revving: however, the vehicle to accelerate properly. The transmission fault warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was inspected by independent mechanic at the residence, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2024
Jun 2022 Crash Injury

The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated while starting his parked vehicle, he found that the vehicle would not start. The contact self-diagnosed and bypassed the starter solenoid using a screwdriver and started the vehicle. The vehicle slipped out of the park and rolled backward. The contact was backed over by the vehicle and had received injuries to his ribs and stomach. He had lacerations and abrasions to his back and chest. The contact was able to get out from under the vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle which was rolling. The contact jumped into the passenger side and attempted to brake but could not. The contact attempted to push the shift lever into "park" but the gear would not engage. The vehicle rolled and crashed into the rear end of a parked vehicle. The contact's vehicle had damage to the rear bumper and the rear end of the other vehicle had the bumper and trunk crumpled. The police were not called and the contact did not seek medical attention. The contact was able to start the vehicle and drove it to his residence. The contact then examined the undercarriage and determined that the transmission linkage cable had been resting on the doughnut of the exhaust system. The contact stated that the outer cable shell had melted and the metal cable was exposed. The contact diagnosed that the exposed cable had contributed to the vehicle slipping out of gear. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2022
Sep 2019

TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE FAILED AT 130K MILES CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2019
Apr 2019

TAKATA PURCHASE OUR 2004 FORD F150 4X2 SUPERCREW FROM KINGS FORD. WHEN GOING TO TENN. PULL OFF TO GET GAS AND WHEN LEAVING THE GAS STATION MAKING LEFT HAND TURN REAL WHEEL LOCK UP HAD TO BACK UP TO UNLOCK THE REAR WHEEL, CALLED KINGS FORD AND WAS TOLD NOT TO MAKE SHARP TURNS. RETURNED HOME WITH THE REAR END MAKING BANGING NOISES, KING FORD REPAIRED ON AUG 24 2004 REPLACE THE TRACTION LOCK CLUTCH PACK PART#4947 2151 MILES. AFTER THE REPAIR WE NOTICE A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END WAS TOLD TO BRING THE TRUCK BACK, DROPED THE TRUCK OFF ON SEPT 30,2004 AND TO PICK IT BACK UP ON OCT 2, WAS TOLD BY SERVICE REP NO WORK WAS DONE. CALLER SERVICE REP THE FLOWING MONDAY AND WAS TOLD FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE FIX BECAUSE ENGINEERING IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATION THIS CONDITION AND FOR US TO CALL EVERY MONTH. CALLED FORD MANY TIMES FINELY WAS TOLD TO TAKE OUR TRUCK TO LINCOLN MERCURY GARAGE IN FAIRFIELD, OHIO HAD A PERSON THAT WOULD REBUILD THE REAR AXLE WITH 4205A DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER. ASSEMBLE, FORD DID TAKE CARE OF THIS. AFTER LEAVING THE GARAGE NOTICE A WHINE IN THE REAR TURN AROUND WENT BACK TO THE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THEY MAY HAVE THE PARTS TO TIGHT AND WILL NEED TO LOOSEN THEN UP. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS WITH STILL NO FIX WE HAVE NOW 95800 MILES AND WITH ANOTHER FIX FOR $3000.00

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2004
Jun 2018

MY 2004 F-150 SHIFT CABLE BROKE AS I ATTEMPTED TO PUT IT IN PARK. THIS RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO BE PUT IN PARK AND IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE REASON IT BROKE WAS BECAUSE OF IT RESTING AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHERE IT JOINS TO THE WYE PIPE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT BURNT THE CABLE CAUSING IT TO BREAK. THE NEXT MODEL YEAR IN 2005 THIS WAS CHANGED AS FORD REDESIGNED AND RELOCATED IT TO EXIT IN A COMPLETELY SPOT. THE HOLE THAT IT EXITS THRU IN 2004 IS PLUGGED OFF IN THE 2005 MODEL. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS WAS DONE DUE TO MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF WARRANTY CLAIMS AND POSSIBLE LAWSUITS ARRISING FROM THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2018
May 2018

HORRIBLE VIBRATION IN REAR END OF TRUCK WHEN LEAVING FROM A STOP AND TURNING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2018
Jan 2018

2004 FORD F-150 STOPS PULLING AFTER 35-40MPH. IT'S LIKE IT GETS PUT INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS! THIS CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. AND TO THINK THAT I TRUSTED FORD WITH MY LIFE, MY WIFE'S LIFE, AND 3 SMALL CHILDREN'S LIVES IS SICKENING. THERE IS MORE INSTANCES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM THAN YOU CAN COUNT. I DON'T GET IT! FORD KNOWS IT'S A PROBLEM BUT WON'T FIX IT. NHTSA WON'T DO AN INVESTIGATION. THE U.S. LOVES TO MAKE THE WORKING MAKE CARRY THE LOAD! FIX THE PROBLEM FORD OR I AND OTHERS WILL NEVER BUY YOUR GARBAGE AGAIN!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2018
May 2017

THE WHOLE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH NOW WARNING. IT NOW FEELS AS IF THE REAR AXLE IN MOVING, GIVE AN ODD SENSATION WHEN APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL OR TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. I AM A TECHNICIAN BY TRADE, SO I PUT THE TRUCK UP ON THE LIFT AT MY SHOP AND HAVE NOTICED THE PINION IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS SIGNIFICANT UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT. AFTER RESEARCHING A BIT, IT SEEMS THE PINION AND RING GEAR GALL THEMSELVES, I'M NOT SURE IF THE PINION BEARING FAILED CAUSING THIS. OR IF THE RING AND PINION FAILED CAUSING THE BEARING TO FAIL. AT ANY RATE THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MY EXPERIENCE, A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE MAY PROVIDE A SCOPE OF THE ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2017
Apr 2017

I OWN A 2004 F-150 WITH 120,000 MILES. WHEN I AM STOPPED AND START TO TURN THE REAR END MAKES A HORRIBLE SHAKING NOISE. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 40,000 MILES AND IT HAS ALWAYS HAD THIS BROBLEM. IF FORDS COMPANY SLOGAN IS BUILT TOUGH THEN THIS TYPES OF PROBLEMS SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT SEEMS MAJORITY OF 2004 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2014
Mar 2017

DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO ENGAGED. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND STARTED AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, MY TRANSMISSION HAS QUIT WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES. I DID DISCOVER IF I TURNED THE OD ODD IT WOULD WORK BUT HAS NO OVERDRIVE. FORTINATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH A RECALL AND REPAIR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2017
Jan 2017

80, 000 MILES ON THE TRUCK, AND IT NOW NEEDS ITS REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED FOR THE 6TH TIME. ON TOP OF THAT , NOW THE CAM PHASERS ARE GOING BAD. CAN'T DRIVE IT NOW AGAIN AS IT MAY LEAVE ME STRANDED IN AN INTERSECTION AGAIN. I DRIVE 7 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK, AND OCCASIONALLY USE THE TRUCK FOR VACATIONS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2017
Nov 2016

112,000 AND SENT THE TRUCK IN FOR A HUMMING NOISE . THE WHOLE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK HAS HAD ONLY HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH NO OFF ROADING. DIFFERENTIAL OIL REPLACED EVERY YEAR.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2016
Oct 2016

TAKATA RECALL : TRUCK IS SLIPPING IN FORWARD GEARS AND THE REVERSE WILL NOT MOVE EVEN IF U YOU REV IT UP IT'S LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. ALL THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK TO GO HOME

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2016
Sep 2016

GRINDING IN REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS REBUILD,57K...

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2006
Aug 2016

UNKNOWN. MAJOR POPPING IN REAR END WHILE TURNING. WHEN TRUCK IS IN PARK I CAN ROLL IT BACK AND FORTH A GOOD 10 INCHES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
Jan 2016

MY TRUCK GETS UP TO ABOUT 50 MPH THEN ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL , NO POWER TO THE BACK WHEELS. I'VE NOTICED THAT MORE THAN A FEW 2004 F-150 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. HAS ANY INVESTIGATION BEEN DONE AND IF SO WHAT WERE THE FINDINGS. I LIVE ON DISABILITY SOCIAL SECURITY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPAIRED.I WAS ON A PAVED ROAD AT THE TIME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2016
Jan 2016

VIBRATION AT 45 TO 55. WHEN COLD STRONG JERK IN REAR END AREA AND SOMETIMES ON TURN TO RIGHT. ALSO COMES IN AT TIMES WHEN GOING TO PASSING GEAR. IT IS A DIFFERENTIAL ISSUE MORE THAN A DRIVE SHAFT ISSUE. ALL U JOINTS ARE TIGHT. NO IMBALANCE IN DRIVE SHAFT. HAVE GONE TO SPECIAL TEFLON GEAR OIL... THIS APPEARS TO BE DESIGN AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2015
Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-150. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DRIVE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET BACK INSIDE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER BECAME DISCONNECTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2015
Dec 2015

OFFICIALLY LOGGING A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 F150 DRIVELINE. IT HAS DONE THIS TO THE POINT OF TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT DUE TO WEAR ON THE SHAFT. THE DRIVESHAFT IS NOT SERVICEABLE AT ALL AND WAS NEVER LUBED FROM THE FACTORY CAUSING BINDING ON THE SLIP YOKES WHICH IN TURN CAUSES SWING BEARING WEAR, U JOINT FAILURE AND TO THE POINT OF TRANSMISSION STUB SHAFT WEAR ULTIMATELY CAUSING FAILURE. THERE SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE DUE TO THE SEVERITY AND LIABILITY. WE OWNED THE TRUCK NEW AND HAVE DRIVEN WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. I HOPE TO SEE A RECALL SOON AS TSBS ARE NO HELP TO THE CUSTOMER AND MOST DEALERS DO NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THESE PARTS ARE UNSERVICEABLE. AS A LIFE LONG CUSTOMER, THUMBS DOWN ON FORD TO ALLOW THIS TO GO ON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2007
Mar 2015

TRUCK REAR END SHAKES VIOLENTLY UPON ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED OR FROM A STAND STILL. I HAD THE REAR END SERVICED AND HAD THE FLUID FLUSHED, BUT IT ONLY CORRECTED THE ISSUE FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. AS TIME GOES ON, THIS ISSUE ONLY WORSENS. FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PACK(S) IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, BUT NOT A RECALL. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE FEEL UNSAFE AND MAKES ACCELERATION UNEASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING INTO MOVING TRAFFIC. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2012
Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2015
Dec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AS THE TRANSMISSION FAULT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2011
Jul 2014

HEARD AN EXHAUST LEAK AND THOUGHT IS WAS A MUFFLER. MECHANIC LOOKED AT PROBLEM AND ALERTED ME TO THE FACT THE DRIVER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS RUSTED AND WARPED. THERE IS ALSO SOME DAMAGED BOLTS BEING RUSTED OR BROKEN OFF. TRUCK IS A FORD F150 HERITAGE 2004, WITH 23,531 MILES. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR DUE TO OUT OF TIME WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2014
Jun 2014

MALFUNCTIONING DIFFERENTIAL- WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, (ESPECIALLY FROM A TURN) VIBRATIONS OCCUR AND POSSES A RISK OF A POTENTIAL FAILURE WHEN PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2014
May 2014

THIS IS A RECURRENCE, PAID FOR IT THE 1ST TIME. AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES AND COMING TO A STOP THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CHATTERS REALLY BAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS FINISHED CORNERING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD F-150, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Ford F-150 has 168 Power Train complaints on file. 7 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.