2004 Ford F-150 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2004 Ford F-150, 5% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 108,588 miles. The words owners use most often: “spark plug” (18% of reports).
- 92engine complaints
- 108,588median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Spark plug: mentioned in 17 of 92 complaints (18%)
- Cam phaser: mentioned in 8 of 92 complaints (9%)
- Noise engine: mentioned in 7 of 92 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2004 Ford F-150 at $2,100, and half of them between $1,300 and $2,900.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 82 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 92 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford F-150 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-150 | 2 | 17% | — |
| 2025 F-150 | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2024 F-150 | 12 | 6% | 14,000 |
| 2023 F-150 | 27 | 7% | 8,000 |
| 2022 F-150 | 38 | 6% | 11,300 |
| 2021 F-150 | 83 | 8% | 19,448 |
| 2020 F-150 | 129 | 18% | 46,341 |
| 2019 F-150 | 321 | 24% | 60,500 |
| 2018 F-150 | 508 | 22% | 59,500 |
| 2017 F-150 | 313 | 22% | 61,000 |
| 2016 F-150 | 317 | 15% | 51,000 |
| 2015 F-150 | 264 | 15% | 62,450 |
| 2014 F-150 | 179 | 12% | 73,000 |
| 2013 F-150 | 548 | 18% | 55,500 |
| 2012 F-150 | 483 | 27% | 24,000 |
| 2011 F-150 | 482 | 22% | 53,000 |
| 2010 F-150 | 107 | 13% | 80,000 |
| 2009 F-150 | 42 | 13% | 100,000 |
| 2008 F-150 | 53 | 14% | 105,000 |
| 2007 F-150 | 105 | 22% | 99,616 |
| 2006 F-150 | 74 | 13% | 99,495 |
| 2005 F-150 | 117 | 11% | 116,500 |
| 2004 F-150 | 92 | 5% | 108,588 |
| 2003 F-150 | 28 | 7% | 138,183 |
| 2002 F-150 | 66 | 8% | 138,000 |
| 2001 F-150 | 44 | 4% | 154,500 |
| 2000 F-150 | 23 | 2% | 137,500 |
| 1999 F-150 | 27 | 3% | 160,000 |
| 1998 F-150 | 14 | 1% | 122,778 |
| 1997 F-150 | 15 | 1% | 132,000 |
| 1996 F-150 | 3 | 1% | 131,000 |
| 1995 F-150 | 2 | 0% | 160,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2004 Ford F-150. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact observed the spark plug being ejected from the fuel compartment. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to…
Truck stalls in traffic. Also when hitting the brake. it stalls in reverse. it stalls while idling. Worst truck ever!! Severe safety issue ð
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Ford F-150s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 92 owner complaints about engine for the 2004 Ford F-150 (5% of the 2,029 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Ford F-150 engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 108,588 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2004 Ford F-150?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,100 (half paid between $1,300 and $2,900), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2004 Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “spark plug”, in 17 of 92 complaints, followed by “cam phaser” (8).
Other 2004 Ford F-150 problems
See all 2004 Ford F-150 problems or engine problems across all F-150 years.