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FaultScore report

2004 Ford F Super Duty problems

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2004 Ford F Super Duty with NHTSA between 2008 and 2015. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 12 of 13 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Ford F Super Duty All 2004 cars
A

FaultScore 18/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford F Super Duty.

How this is worked out

The numbers

23

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

54,687 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

13%

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 28 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 22 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 28
Against the median year of the Ford F Super Duty. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 22
13% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2004 compares with every other Ford F Super Duty

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 2004 Ford F Super Duty

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

Engine & Cooling 6 26.1%

Median failure at 47,343 miles

Electrical System 4 17.4%

Median failure at 127,000 miles

Brakes 3 13.0%

Median failure at 67,000 miles

Other & Unspecified 2 8.7%

Median failure at 32,568 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 8.7%

Median failure at 98,275 miles

Tires 1 4.3%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

Lights 1 4.3%

Median failure at 140,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 4.3%

Median failure at 140,000 miles

Suspension 1 4.3%

Median failure at 49,012 miles

Steering 1 4.3%

Median failure at 49,012 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 4.3%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

When it fails

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

10,000 – 24,999 miles 2 8.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 7 30.4%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 4 17.4%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 3 13.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 7 30.4%

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.

Oct 2008 peak 6 Sep 2015

The most recent complaints

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

at 91,103 miles Bowie, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

DRIVING AT APPROX. 30MPH. APPLIED BRAKES. VERY LITTLE PRESSURE AS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. BOTH FRONT BRAKE LINES FROM ABS PUMP TO LF & RF BRAKE HOSES WERE ROTTED, AS WAS 3RD LINE FROM ABS PUMP TO REAR UNION. ALL 3 REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10778611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,100 miles Blue JAY, CA

ENGINE

ENGINE 6.0L, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CODE P0299, 'UNDERBOOST", CAR OWNED SINCE NEW, ODOMETER NOW HAS 12,100 MLESI FORD DEALERSHIP REPORTING THAT ENGINE TURBO-COMPRESSOR MAY NEED REPLACEMENT

NHTSA complaint #10775379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 114,000 miles IVA, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AS I'M DRIVING, THE HORN WILL SOMETIMES JUST START BLOWING BY ITSELF FOR NO REASON. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AS WHEN I'M DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS, IT'S WILL SCARE ME COMPLETELY AND USUALLY THOSE AROUND ME. I HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL OVER AND BANG ON THE HORN TO GET IT TO QUIT BLOWING. IT SEEMS TO BE IN THE AIRBAG AREA. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10732848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,687 miles Westfield, MA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

HAD 8 BROKEN EXHAUST BOLTS ON THIS 6.8 V10 ONLY 54687 MILES ON THE TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10723303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,687 miles Westfield, MA

ENGINE

HAD 8 BROKEN EXHAUST BOLTS ON THIS 6.8 V10 ONLY 54687 MILES ON THE TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10723303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Geneva, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE TRUCK STALLED WHEN I WAS GOING 70 MPG ON THE INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL IT SAT FOR 3 MINUTES.

NHTSA complaint #10683144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,551 miles Yelm, WA

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

ENGINE,6.0 DIESEL WAS LOOSING WATER. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE SOFT AND HAD STRETCHED. THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT WITH THIS ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. IF IT IS A KNOWN FAULT, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THIS. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN AN ENGINE TO HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AT 104,551 MILES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10670813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,551 miles Yelm, WA

ENGINE

ENGINE,6.0 DIESEL WAS LOOSING WATER. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN AND THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE SOFT AND HAD STRETCHED. THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT WITH THIS ENGINE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. IF IT IS A KNOWN FAULT, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THIS. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN AN ENGINE TO HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AT 104,551 MILES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10670813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles N Stonington, CT

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY DUE TO CORROSION RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL BRAKES AFTER ONLY 9.5 YEARS AND 67000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10608732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Branford, CT

POWER TRAIN

LACK OF POWER OR RUNS ROUGH CONDITION, AND/OR THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH EGR RELATED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (P0401, P0402, P0403, P0404, P0405, OR P0406). ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE).

NHTSA complaint #10573470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Branford, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

LACK OF POWER OR RUNS ROUGH CONDITION, AND/OR THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH EGR RELATED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (P0401, P0402, P0403, P0404, P0405, OR P0406). ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE).

NHTSA complaint #10573470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Branford, CT

ENGINE

LACK OF POWER OR RUNS ROUGH CONDITION, AND/OR THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH EGR RELATED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (P0401, P0402, P0403, P0404, P0405, OR P0406). ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE).

NHTSA complaint #10573470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,012 miles Warren, IN

STEERING

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILED, CROSSED THE CENTER LINE IN THE TOWN .STEPPING ON THE BRAKES ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE; BECAUSE NOW IT PULLED HARDER TO THE LEFT. CRAIN FORD AFTER REPLACE EVERY PART ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT AGAIN THE TRUCK PULLED TO LEFT AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE OF A BENT CALIPER. THERE WAS STEERING JOINT REPLACED,U JOINT, AND WHEEL BEARING THEN AFTER BRAKE PADS AND A CALIPER ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10567758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,012 miles Warren, IN

SUSPENSION

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILED, CROSSED THE CENTER LINE IN THE TOWN .STEPPING ON THE BRAKES ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE; BECAUSE NOW IT PULLED HARDER TO THE LEFT. CRAIN FORD AFTER REPLACE EVERY PART ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT AGAIN THE TRUCK PULLED TO LEFT AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE OF A BENT CALIPER. THERE WAS STEERING JOINT REPLACED,U JOINT, AND WHEEL BEARING THEN AFTER BRAKE PADS AND A CALIPER ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10567758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,012 miles Warren, IN

SERVICE BRAKES

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FAILED, CROSSED THE CENTER LINE IN THE TOWN .STEPPING ON THE BRAKES ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE; BECAUSE NOW IT PULLED HARDER TO THE LEFT. CRAIN FORD AFTER REPLACE EVERY PART ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT AGAIN THE TRUCK PULLED TO LEFT AND THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE OF A BENT CALIPER. THERE WAS STEERING JOINT REPLACED,U JOINT, AND WHEEL BEARING THEN AFTER BRAKE PADS AND A CALIPER ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10567758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Raritan, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING TRUCK DOWN ROAD I HEAR THE RADIO SHUT OFF, THEN ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ARE OFF. LOOK AT THE DASH BOARD GAUGES AND THEY ARE GOING NUTS FUEL , BATTERY , TEMP GAUGES, AND SPEED O WOULD PIN BELOW 0 THE TACH GAUGES WOULD PIN AS HIGH AS IT WOULD GO THEN START MOVING UP AND DOWN FAST. . LAST A FEW MINS THEN GO BACK O NORMAL. I PULLED THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS DARK OUT AND ALL THE OUT SIDE LIGHT WERE OFF WITH EVERYTHING ABOVE AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN OR NOW IF THEY ARE DOWN THE WOULDNT GO UP.

NHTSA complaint #10558523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Raritan, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DRIVING TRUCK DOWN ROAD I HEAR THE RADIO SHUT OFF, THEN ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ARE OFF. LOOK AT THE DASH BOARD GAUGES AND THEY ARE GOING NUTS FUEL , BATTERY , TEMP GAUGES, AND SPEED O WOULD PIN BELOW 0 THE TACH GAUGES WOULD PIN AS HIGH AS IT WOULD GO THEN START MOVING UP AND DOWN FAST. . LAST A FEW MINS THEN GO BACK O NORMAL. I PULLED THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS DARK OUT AND ALL THE OUT SIDE LIGHT WERE OFF WITH EVERYTHING ABOVE AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN OR NOW IF THEY ARE DOWN THE WOULDNT GO UP.

NHTSA complaint #10558523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Raritan, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVING TRUCK DOWN ROAD I HEAR THE RADIO SHUT OFF, THEN ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ARE OFF. LOOK AT THE DASH BOARD GAUGES AND THEY ARE GOING NUTS FUEL , BATTERY , TEMP GAUGES, AND SPEED O WOULD PIN BELOW 0 THE TACH GAUGES WOULD PIN AS HIGH AS IT WOULD GO THEN START MOVING UP AND DOWN FAST. . LAST A FEW MINS THEN GO BACK O NORMAL. I PULLED THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WAS DARK OUT AND ALL THE OUT SIDE LIGHT WERE OFF WITH EVERYTHING ABOVE AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN OR NOW IF THEY ARE DOWN THE WOULDNT GO UP.

NHTSA complaint #10558523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,958 miles Chesterfield, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE TOWING A 13000 POUND FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WITH MY TRUCK (2004 F250 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE) THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AS A RESULT. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER TO SHOULDER LANE. AFTER COLLECTING MY BREATH I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT STARTED, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE RAN VERY ERRATIC,RPM VARIED WHILE SITTING AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT. I STOPPED AGAIN. STARTED AGAIN AND NURSED IT HOME. CHECKED THE CODE READER WHEN I GOT HOME AND FOUND THE CODE TO BE P2285, INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE SENSOR LOW VOLTAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10532457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Shelby, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

EGR COOLER AND OIL COOLER FAILED IN A INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT . LOOKED PROBLEM UP ON INTERNET AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF THE SAME DEFECTS WITH OTHER F-250 DIESEL ENGINES. FORD MUST RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I SPOKE WITH MY DEALERSHIP KEETER FORD SHELBY, NC AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE REPLACE OVER ONE THOUSAND THEM SELVES ON THE F-250 DIESEL ENGINES AND AGREED THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON ALL 2004 F-250 DIESELS.

NHTSA complaint #10434858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 92,000 miles Shelby, NC

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

EGR COOLER AND OIL COOLER FAILED IN A INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT . LOOKED PROBLEM UP ON INTERNET AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF THE SAME DEFECTS WITH OTHER F-250 DIESEL ENGINES. FORD MUST RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I SPOKE WITH MY DEALERSHIP KEETER FORD SHELBY, NC AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE REPLACE OVER ONE THOUSAND THEM SELVES ON THE F-250 DIESEL ENGINES AND AGREED THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON ALL 2004 F-250 DIESELS.

NHTSA complaint #10434858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Placerville, CA

TIRES

GENERAL AMERITRAC TR LT23585R16 TREAD SEPARATION ON TIRES MADE 3304 YEAR MONTH. I HAVE HAD 3 FAILURES ON THE LAST MONTH...

NHTSA complaint #10277368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,450 miles Manassas, VA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAD MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DROP DOWN INSIDE MY DOOR WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS A FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE F-150'S. I HAVE WRITTEN EVERYONE AT FORD AND CAN NOT GET ANY RESPONSES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHAT IF IT DROPPED WHILE ON THE ROAD AT SPEED AND IN BAD WEATHER AND THE FORD FOLKS SAY IT IS A COMMON ISSUE THEY ALL ARE JUNK AND THEY STOCK EXTRAS BECAUSE THEY FIX SO MANY.

NHTSA complaint #10246738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.