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FaultScore report

2008 Ford E-150 problems

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2008 Ford E-150 with NHTSA between 2009 and 2019. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 21 of 23 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Ford E-150 All 2008 cars
A

FaultScore 22/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford E-150.

How this is worked out

The numbers

12

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

71,292 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

10%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 12 vs 50 Severity 43 vs 50 Early failure 17 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 12
Against the median year of the Ford E-150. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 43
8.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 17
10% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2008 compares with every other Ford E-150

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2008 Ford E-150

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 4 33.3%

Median failure at 77,662 miles

Tires 2 16.7%

Median failure at 63,129 miles

Child Seats 1 8.3%
Seat Belts 1 8.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 8.3%

Median failure at 98,452 miles

Suspension 1 8.3%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

Brakes 1 8.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 36,500 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 8.3%

Median failure at 53,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 20.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 3 30.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 5 50.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Nov 2009 peak 2 May 2019

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 36,500 miles Hilton Head Island, SC Fire

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO PARK THE CAR THE WAS A LOUD RIFLE SHOT SOUND, FLASH AND VEHICLE JOLT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AND THE BREAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DURING REPAIR THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER CRUSE CONTROL CANCELLING SWITCH. THE SWITCH BLEW APART AND IGNITED THE ATOMIZED BREAK FLUID THAT WAS EXPELLED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. FORTUNATELY THE EXPLODING BREAK FLUID SELF EXTINGUISHED AVOIDING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. SINCE THE TRIGGERING OF THIS EVENT WAS THE ACT OF APPLYING THE BRAKES IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE EVENT TOTALLY DISABLED THE FRONT BRAKES AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE BRAKE FLUID MIST WOULD HAVE LIKELY IGNITED FURTHER BACK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER THE CHASSIS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS OF FORD PRODUCTS OVER A 20+ YEAR PERIOD FOR THIS SWITCH COMPONENT CAUSING BOTH FIRES AND DEATHS BUT THIS VEHICLE'S S/N WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR GETTING NOTIFIED. LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE DIDN'T DO THEIR "HOMEWORK" ON THIS ONE, I AM NOT SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE REPAIR BILL FOR THE REPLACEMENT WORK AND THE GENTLEMAN SHOWED ME THE BLOWN OUT SHELL OF THE SWITCH. I PICKED UP ONE OF THE PARTS FROM OUR PARKING SLAB. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD BY EMAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10809800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Schertz, TX

SEAT BELTS

AIR BAG CODE 33 FLASHING ON DASH . FORD STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE TO BE REPLACED AT $ 527.00 . IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BY THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER ? PLEASE HELP .

NHTSA complaint #11210035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Linden Hurst, NY

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGHLY AS IF IT WERE BEING DRIVEN OVER ROCKY TERRAIN. IN ADDITION, THE AIR PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA complaint #11195891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Plantation, FL

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S TIRES, SIZE: LT225/75R16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALLS AND TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13T012000 (TIRES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA complaint #10983143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,500 miles Oliver Springs, TN

ENGINE

BURNT CAM FROM LACK OF OILING. DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR, SAID NEW ENGINE ONLY OPTION. FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR NEW ENGINE. WARRANTY STATED DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY GOOD FOR 60,000 MILES OR FIVE YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10819834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,500 miles Hilton Head Island, SC Fire

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO PARK THE CAR THE WAS A LOUD RIFLE SHOT SOUND, FLASH AND VEHICLE JOLT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AND THE BREAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DURING REPAIR THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER CRUSE CONTROL CANCELLING SWITCH. THE SWITCH BLEW APART AND IGNITED THE ATOMIZED BREAK FLUID THAT WAS EXPELLED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. FORTUNATELY THE EXPLODING BREAK FLUID SELF EXTINGUISHED AVOIDING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. SINCE THE TRIGGERING OF THIS EVENT WAS THE ACT OF APPLYING THE BRAKES IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE EVENT TOTALLY DISABLED THE FRONT BRAKES AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE BRAKE FLUID MIST WOULD HAVE LIKELY IGNITED FURTHER BACK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER THE CHASSIS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS OF FORD PRODUCTS OVER A 20+ YEAR PERIOD FOR THIS SWITCH COMPONENT CAUSING BOTH FIRES AND DEATHS BUT THIS VEHICLE'S S/N WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR GETTING NOTIFIED. LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE DIDN'T DO THEIR "HOMEWORK" ON THIS ONE, I AM NOT SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE REPAIR BILL FOR THE REPLACEMENT WORK AND THE GENTLEMAN SHOWED ME THE BLOWN OUT SHELL OF THE SWITCH. I PICKED UP ONE OF THE PARTS FROM OUR PARKING SLAB. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD BY EMAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10809800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles East Moline, IL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA complaint #10684176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Cathedral City, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WELDING HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE PIPES TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA complaint #10586607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,325 miles Haverhill, MA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ECONOLINE VAN E150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED OVER 2,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,325.

NHTSA complaint #10572791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 76,259 miles Arizona, AZ

TIRES

I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 5 TIRES WITHIN 2 YEARS OF MY VEHICLE PURCHASE. THE NEW TIRES ARE NOW JUST OVER 2 1/2 YEARS OLD. ONE BLEW OUT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE GOING 35 MILES/HOUR. THE 2ND TIRE REPLACED WAS ALSO SEPARATING AND CAUSING THE VAN TO VIBRATE JUST AS THE FIRST ONE SO I TOOK IT IN 6 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST BLOWOUT. LEAVING THE TIRE STORE MY VAN IS STILL VIBRATING AND NOW I NOTICE THE 3RD TIRE IS BUCKLING ON THE OUTSIDE WALL. THE 4TH TIRE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY MAJOR ISSUE YET. THE 5TH IS MY SPARE-NEVER USED. DISCOUNT SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE 2 FRONT TIRES UNTIL THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE REAR TIRES, WITHOUT COST TO ME. THESE TIRES ARE FROM THE SAME LOT #S. THEY SHOULD ALL BE REPLACED BEFORE ACCIDENTS, OR WORSE, OCCURS. ALL TIRES WERE MICHELIN LTX M/S LT225/75 R16.

NHTSA complaint #10515924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,452 miles Nashville, TN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150 VAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,452 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 101,600. UPDATED 04/25/12 *BF UPDATED 06/07/12

NHTSA complaint #10454354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,452 miles Nashville, TN

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150 VAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,452 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 101,600. UPDATED 04/25/12 *BF UPDATED 06/07/12

NHTSA complaint #10454354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raynham, MA

CHILD SEAT

MY AGENCY OPERATES 7D VEHICLES THAT TRANSPORT YOUNG CHILDREN. THE SEATS IN WHICH WE MUST PLACE REAR-FACING INFANT CAR SEATS DO NOT ALLOW US TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CAR SEAT. THERE IS ONE TETHER INSTALLED ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT AND 2 INSTALLED WHERE THE CUSHIONS MEET. THE STRAP THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CLIP TO THE TETHER ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS TOO SHORT FOR REAR FACING CAR SEATS. THE CAR SEAT CAN BE SECURED USING THE SIDE TETHERS, BUT THE INABILITY TO SECURE TO THE REAR TETHER RESULTS IN THE CAR SEAT MOVING FORWARD & BACKWARD. IF THERE WERE A FRONT-ON COLLISION, THE INFANT'S HEAD WOULD THRUST FORWARD. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE DESIGN OR THE CAR SEAT. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=ECONOVAN E150).

NHTSA complaint #10293038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.