2004 Ford F-150 Problems: Glass / wipers / cameras (1,990 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Ford F-150 is Glass / wipers / cameras (41% of 1,990 owner reports). There are 16 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Glass / wipers / cameras — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-15 1,990 complaints · 16 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Ford F-150?

818 of 1,990 filings named Glass / wipers / cameras (41% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (221 reports).

There are 16 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system, Lights, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2003 has 408 reports on file; this year has 1,990. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2004 Ford F-150

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 16 campaigns on file below.
  2. Glass / wipers / cameras. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Glass / wipers / cameras. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Glass / wipers / cameras 818 complaints · 41.1% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 75
  • Fires 40
  • Injuries 74
  • Deaths 6
All Ford F-150 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) appears in 818 of 1,990 owner complaints (41.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 818 complaints, 41.1% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 6 crash reports 818 · 41.1% Engine (ENGINE): 221 complaints, 11.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 crash reports 12 fire reports 221 · 11.1% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 189 complaints, 9.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 8 crash reports 1 fire reports 189 · 9.5% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 92 complaints, 4.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 2 crash reports 92 · 4.6% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 87 complaints, 4.4% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 crash reports 1 fire reports 87 · 4.4% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 80 complaints, 4.0% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 80 · 4.0% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 73 complaints, 3.7% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 28 crash reports 2 fire reports 73 · 3.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 66 complaints, 3.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 11 fire reports 66 · 3.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 55 complaints, 2.8% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 3 fire reports 55 · 2.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 1,162 complaints, 58.4% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 45 crash reports 19 fire reports 1,162 · 58.4% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 818 41.1% 6 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 221 11.1% 3 crashes · 12 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 189 9.5% 8 crashes · 1 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 92 4.6% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 87 4.4% 3 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 80 4.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 73 3.7% 28 crashes · 2 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 66 3.3% 0 crashes · 11 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 55 2.8% 0 crashes · 3 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 1,162 58.4% 45 crashes · 19 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2003; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2004. 2003-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2004-Q2: 31 owner reports 31 2004-Q3: 37 owner reports 37 2004-Q4: 75 owner reports 75 2005-Q1: 62 owner reports 62 2005-Q2: 35 owner reports 35 2005-Q3: 38 owner reports 38 2005-Q4: 23 owner reports 23 2006-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2006-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2006-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2006-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2007-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2007-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2007-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2007-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2008-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2008-Q2: 25 owner reports 25 2008-Q3: 41 owner reports 41 2008-Q4: 56 owner reports 56 2009-Q1: 66 owner reports 66 2009-Q2: 85 owner reports 85 2009-Q3: 119 owner reports 119 2009-Q4: 70 owner reports 70 2010-Q1: 77 owner reports 77 2010-Q2: 123 owner reports 123 2010-Q3: 170 owner reports 170 2010-Q4: 77 owner reports 77 2011-Q1: 55 owner reports 55 2011-Q2: 65 owner reports 65 2011-Q3: 46 owner reports 46 2011-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2012-Q1: 28 owner reports 28 2012-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2012-Q3: 25 owner reports 25 2012-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2013-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2013-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2013-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2013-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2014-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2014-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2014-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2014-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2015-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2015-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2015-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2015-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2016-Q1: 19 owner reports 19 2016-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2017-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2017-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2018-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Oct 2003 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 04V200000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V200000 Recall campaign 04V443000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V443000 Recall campaign 06E023000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E023000 Recall campaign 06E052000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E052000 Recall campaign 06E056000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E056000 Recall campaign 06E060000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E060000 Recall campaign 06E064000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E064000 Recall campaign 07V336000 ◆ Recall campaign 07V336000 Recall campaign 07E066000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E066000 Recall campaign 07E075000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E075000 Recall campaign 07E080000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E080000 Recall campaign 07E089000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E089000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 11V107000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V107000 Recall campaign 11V385000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V385000 Investigation DP05005 ● Investigation DP05005 Investigation PE08063 ● Investigation PE08063 Investigation EA10001 ● Investigation EA10001 Investigation EA11006 ● Investigation EA11006
  • Campaign 04V200000 was reported 99 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 04V443000 was reported 239 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 06E023000 was reported 521 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 06E052000 was reported 612 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E066000 was reported 1,406 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E075000 was reported 1,071 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E080000 was reported 1,082 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E089000 was reported 1,112 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 1,676 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 11V107000 was reported 2,528 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 11V385000 was reported 2,749 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2003-Q4 Owner reports 3
2004-Q1 Owner reports 15
2004-Q2 Owner reports 31
2004-Q3 Owner reports 37
2004-Q4 Owner reports 75
2005-Q1 Owner reports 62
2005-Q2 Owner reports 35
2005-Q3 Owner reports 38
2005-Q4 Owner reports 23
2006-Q1 Owner reports 21
2006-Q2 Owner reports 21
2006-Q3 Owner reports 10
2006-Q4 Owner reports 14
2007-Q1 Owner reports 16
2007-Q2 Owner reports 18
2007-Q3 Owner reports 17
2007-Q4 Owner reports 18
2008-Q1 Owner reports 21
2008-Q2 Owner reports 25
2008-Q3 Owner reports 41
2008-Q4 Owner reports 56
2009-Q1 Owner reports 66
2009-Q2 Owner reports 85
2009-Q3 Owner reports 119
2009-Q4 Owner reports 70
2010-Q1 Owner reports 77
2010-Q2 Owner reports 123
2010-Q3 Owner reports 170
2010-Q4 Owner reports 77
2011-Q1 Owner reports 55
2011-Q2 Owner reports 65
2011-Q3 Owner reports 46
2011-Q4 Owner reports 30
2012-Q1 Owner reports 28
2012-Q2 Owner reports 16
2012-Q3 Owner reports 25
2012-Q4 Owner reports 11
2013-Q1 Owner reports 14
2013-Q2 Owner reports 12
2013-Q3 Owner reports 16
2013-Q4 Owner reports 8
2014-Q1 Owner reports 16
2014-Q2 Owner reports 21
2014-Q3 Owner reports 16
2014-Q4 Owner reports 10
2015-Q1 Owner reports 12
2015-Q2 Owner reports 13
2015-Q3 Owner reports 8
2015-Q4 Owner reports 10
2016-Q1 Owner reports 19
2016-Q2 Owner reports 6
2016-Q3 Owner reports 8
2016-Q4 Owner reports 11
2017-Q1 Owner reports 10
2017-Q2 Owner reports 12
2017-Q3 Owner reports 10
2017-Q4 Owner reports 6
2018-Q1 Owner reports 6
2018-Q2 Owner reports 14
2018-Q3 Owner reports 6
2018-Q4 Owner reports 5
2019-Q1 Owner reports 4
2019-Q2 Owner reports 4
2019-Q3 Owner reports 6
2019-Q4 Owner reports 5
2020-Q1 Owner reports 5
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 2
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 3
2022-Q2 Owner reports 4
2023-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2023-Q3 Owner reports 5
2024-Q1 Owner reports 2
2024-Q2 Owner reports 3
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 2
2025-Q2 Owner reports 2
2025-Q4 Owner reports 2
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q3 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 04V200000
Recall campaign 1 04V443000
Recall campaign 1 06E023000
Recall campaign 1 06E052000
Recall campaign 1 06E056000
Recall campaign 1 06E060000
Recall campaign 1 06E064000
Recall campaign 1 07V336000
Recall campaign 1 07E066000
Recall campaign 1 07E075000
Recall campaign 1 07E080000
Recall campaign 1 07E089000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 11V107000
Recall campaign 1 11V385000
Defect investigation 1 DP05005
Defect investigation 1 PE08063
Defect investigation 1 EA10001
Defect investigation 1 EA11006
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-15 Open source record

Safety Recalls (16)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system, Lights, and Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 04V200000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 04V443000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 06E023000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 06E052000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABRY LEE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER FULL CREDIT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLAMP. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JUNE 14, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABRY LEE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT 1-866-467-2279.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 06E056000

    Safety recall 06E056000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 06E060000

    Safety recall 06E060000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
    Remedy:
    AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 06E064000

    Safety recall 06E064000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Recall campaign 07E066000

    Safety recall 07E066000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Recall campaign 07E075000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Recall campaign 07E080000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CRASHES AND DEATHS AND INJURIES BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY.
    Remedy:
    SONAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 14, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT SONAR AT 866-558-4264.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Recall campaign 07E089000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC CRASHES AND DEATHS AND INJURIES BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY.
    Remedy:
    SPYDER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT SPYDER AT 866-558-4264.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Recall campaign 07V336000

    Safety recall 07V336000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Recall campaign 09E012000

    Safety recall 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  14. Recall campaign 09E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  15. Recall campaign 11V107000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  16. Recall campaign 11V385000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-14
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 1,990 complaints · page 1 of 80
2026-09-16Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11764667
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Vehicle was in an accident with major front and damage and none of the airbags deployed
2026-07-09Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11749297
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the seatbelt pretensioners for all seats failed, and the frontal airbags for the driver seat and front passenger seat were inoperable. The seatbelt warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with faulty seatbelt pretensioners. A dealer was contacted and informed that parts were unavailable for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,800.
2026-01-09Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11710026
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Rear-end. The rear drivers side tire fell off while driving on a side street. With no noise or wobble or evidence of a problem. 2 days earlier my family and I were going 70 on an express way. Upon shops inspection the bearing was no longer working but wheel kept rolling, it egged out the housing of the axle shaft and heated up that point of axle and snapped the shaft at that spot. The picture will show this point.
2025-12-21Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11706348
CrashFireInjuryDeath
There is a recall on this vehicle
2025-10-01SEAT BELTS
NHTSA ODI 11690826
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My Teenage daughter was in a car accident and the airbags did not deploy and her seatbelt did not lock , and smashed into her steering wheel.
2025-06-24Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11668789
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Electrical malfunction with fuses , problems with brake light, engine light and air bag light . Some fuses blown out after brake light fuse popped wipers don't work at all air bog turns on and off every day not sure why
2025-05-07Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11659523
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The vehicle rolled and killed the occupant because the roof caved in. The shoulder portion of the seat belt did not hold the occupant (only the lap portion) and the occupant was partially ejected out of the rear of the cab. The vehicle was inspected and purchased by State Farm insurance since the vehicle was totaled. The 2000's Ford F-150s have roofs that are too weak to support the weight of the vehicle, thereby putting the occupants in danger of injury or death. This is well documented. There were no warnings.
2025-03-10Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11647392
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shuddered and failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact scanned the vehicle with a scanner and retrieved an unknown camshaft phaser error code. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
2025-01-20Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11637109
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Frame on 2004 new body style ford f-150 rusted to the point no longer safe to drive according to 2 licensed repair shops. There is no recall on vin number [XXX] However I have been told there are other recalls on frame rust on this same model from 2004-2008. Please know I bought this truck brand new and only have operated on roadway no off roading. This is my primary vehicle. Please advice what can be done. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2024-12-11Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11630177
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.

Ford F-150 Years With the Most NHTSA Complaints

Frequently asked questions

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

Owners named Glass / wipers / cameras most often — 818 of 1,990 reports (41%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Ford F-150?

NHTSA lists 16 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system, Lights, and Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2004 Ford F-150?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-14 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-14. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources