The 2004 Ford F-350 has 3 safety recalls and 159 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (71 complaints).
Problem: FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 THROUGH 2007 MODEL YEAR F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS SHIPPED WITH A SUBCOMPONENT (SLIDER) THAT MAY EXPERIENCE DEFORMATION. A MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WITH A DEFORMED SLIDER MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TURN SIGNAL, TAIL LIGHTS, HAZARD WARNING SIGNAL FLASHERS AND/OR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TO ACTIVATE.
Risk: NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA recall 07E066000 · Aug 28, 2007 · 175 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN CEQUENT 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS SOLD BY DISTRIBUTORS IN TOW PACKAGES FOR AFTERMARKET SALES TO TOW 5TH WHEEL RV TRAVEL TRAILERS. DUE TO INCORRECT WIRING OF THE HARNESS, THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY.
Risk: IF THE TRAILER LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
Fix: ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE TOW PACKAGES ARE STILL AT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL AND HAVE NOT BEEN SOLD TO ANY CONSUMERS.
Tires
NHTSA recall 04V229000 · May 17, 2004 · 6,415 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN LARIAT AND KING RANCH MODEL PICKUP TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." SOME TRUCKS WERE INADVERTENTLY EQUIPPED WITH AN INCORRECT LOAD RANGE TIRE. THIS WOULD RESULT IN INCORRECT TIRE LOAD RATINGS FOR THE STATED VEHICLE AXLE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING. ALSO, THE TIRE MAY BE INFLATED ABOVE THE DOT LISTED INFLATION PRESSURE.
Risk: IF A TIRE WAS OPERATED IN AN OVER-LOADED OR OVER-INFLATED CONDITION, THE TIRE MAY RUPTURE RESULTING IN A RAPID AIR LOSS, WHICH CAN CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ANY INCORRECT LOAD RANGE TIRES. ADDITIONALLY, IF ANY TIRE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE BE CHECKED WITHIN 500 MILES AFTER ANY TIRE REPLACEMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT. FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Diesel; Engine
71
1
4
5
31,000 mi
Electrical system Wiring; Wiring › Interior/under dash
20
1
1
4
41,971 mi
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Torque converter
18
1
1
2
10,500 mi
Engine
16
0
1
0
163,596 mi
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal; Cruise control
13
2
0
0
19,850 mi
Tires Tread/belt; Sidewall
12
1
0
0
46,275 mi
Fuel system, diesel Storage › Tank assembly
11
0
0
0
67,096 mi
Steering Column locking › Anti-theft device
9
4
0
4
67,096 mi
Fuel system, gasoline Fuel injection system › Injectors; Fuel injection system
9
0
0
1
94,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
8
0
0
0
8,251 mi
Structure Body; Frame and members › Underbody shields
6
1
0
2
63,000 mi
Suspension Rear; Front › Springs › Air suspension system
4
0
0
0
47,500 mi
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 18, 2025 · 190,019 milesElectrical system The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 76 MPH with his wife in the front passenger seat, the vehicle shuddered uncontrollably and stalled. The contact and his wife were concerned for their safety. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The contact stated that as an independent mechanic, he used a code reader to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes for the fuel control module wiring harness failure. The contact related to the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V270000 (Electrical System).…
Apr 14, 2022Engine While driving at 40-50 MPH the vehicle will lose power and then then stalls while moving leading to loss of power. The loss power of affects the power steering posing a direct threat for an auto collision due to the difficult in steering the moving vehicle into an emergency lane. Avoided several accidents with this truck. Once it is stalled it can take numerous times to restart the vehicle. This issue seems to occur more on slopes going up hill. This does not seem to occur as often going downhill or on areas with no incline. Currently vehicle has 126,931.8 miles on it. Regularly serviced and otherwise running fine.
Sep 24, 2021Tires The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-350 equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Discover AT3, Tire size: 265/75/R16, DOT Number: UPWM1M11718M16L. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the rear driverâs side tire had a sidewall blowout. The contact stated that all four tires had sidewall blowouts months apart. The tire blowouts had damaged the rims. The contact replaced the front driverâs, passengerâs, and rear driverâs side tire with the spare after each blowout. The dealer was made aware of the failure and replaced the rear passengerâs side tire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the rear driverâs side rim, rear driverâs and front passengerâs side tire…
Sep 18, 2020 · 170,000 milesEngine MY TRUCK HAS MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE BOUGHT IT AND THREE DAYS LATER THE EGR WENT OUT THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW I GOT A BLOWN MOTOR
Sep 13, 2020 · 332,000 milesFuel system, gasoline TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE FUEL FILTER WAS COVERED WITH SILVER DEBRIS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 332,000.
Jun 11, 2019 · 220,000 milesPower train TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE. CASA FORD (5815 MONTANA AVE, EL PASO, TX 79925) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000.
Mar 1, 2019 · 200,000 milesEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. ALSO, WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE RPMS REMAINED VERY HIGH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ICP SENSOR AND INJECTOR CONTROL SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Feb 14, 2019 · 268,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryService brakes TAKATA INFLATORS; MY VEHICLE STARTED ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS INTERMITTENT ONES THAT COST ME SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS NEVER FIXING THE PROBLEM THIS IS WERE IT ALL BEGAN,,.MY VEHICLE DIED GOING UP FAIRLY STEEP HILL TO GRAVE YARD, IT IMMEDIATELY ROLLED BACK SHOVING A FAMILY MEMBERS VEHICLE DOWN HILL A WAYS UNTIL THEY TURNED AWAY FROM THE CLIFF EDGE LEAVING ME ALL ALONE.UNTIL GOING THROUGH A RUN OFF DITCH STOPPING OVER IT INTO 2 TREES. I HAD NO STEERING NO BRAKES AND THANK GOD THE TREES WERE THERE TO STOP MY TRUCK IF NOT THEIR WAS A 100 FOOT CLIFF NEXT.. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RECALLS OR SUCH I JUST TRIED TO FIX MY TRUCK PROBLEM BY PROBLEM AS SYMPTOMS CAME ON I HAVE ALL TYPES OF RECENT RECEIPTS…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP05005 · opened Sep 22, 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2006SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY…
PE04070 · opened Oct 7, 2004 · closed Feb 15, 2005ENGINE STALLING TWENTY FIVE OF THE ODI FAILURE REPORTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD COMPLAINTS.TWENTY ODI REPORTS DO NOT CONTAIN A VIN (AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD REPORTS).THE 14 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 2 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE ALL MINOR.SUBMITTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-070, FORD'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER CONTAINED ABOUT 5,000 CONSUMER REPORTS (MORS) AND 8,700 FIELD REPORTS (CQIS).FORD REVIEWED THE COMPLAINTS AND CATEGORIZED THEM.THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS SHOWN ABOVE REPRESENT A COUNT OF UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT FORD CATEGORIZED AS ALLEGEDLY STALLING DUE TO A SUBJECT ENGINE COMPONENT ('A' CATEGORY, SEE FORD'S IR RESPONSE LETTER FOR FURTHER DETAIL); SOME OF THESE VEHICLES RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS.ODI HAS NOT YET CONFIRMED FORD'S CATEGORIZATION OF THESE REPORTS, NOR HAS ODI CONFIRMED FORD'S CATEGORIZATION OF THE REMAINING REPORTS (WHICH FORD STATES DO NOT PERTAIN…