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9.4

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$5,840
Average Mileage:
104,850 miles
Total Complaints:
32 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace engine (30 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
2004 Ford F-150 engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Dec 082010

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We bought our 2004 Ford f150 4 years ago with approximately 20,000 miles on it. It started misfiring and the engine light would occassionally come on so my husband took it to a mechanic who originally said the spark plugs needed to be replaced. Three weeks later we are being told both cams are bad and it needs a whole new engine which will cost about $8,000.00. Are you kidding me, it only has 80,000 miles on it, absolutely unbelievable!!! Ford built tough, don't think so Ford. Does anyone know if there is a pending class action suit?

- fiveakids, Marysville, WA, US

problem #11

Dec 052010

F-150 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

My mother just spent $18,000 on a pre-owned Ford, F150 Larriett that had 7500 miles on it. After having a few days, she noticed a ticking in the motor and was told that it was just the way the engine was supposed to sound. 6 months later, the noise had gotten louder, so she took it to the Ford dealership in Barryville, AR (were it was purchased). They told her that a valve had gone bad and that it would cost about $1500 to replace. She had them proceed with service on it, only to have them call her back and say the engine had to be replaced! Cost was almost $7000!! She had no choice but to get it fixed, and when returned to her, it still runs like crap. She called them back explaining that it was still not running right and the man said he knew what was wrong, and that he broke a little piece off of a part when fixing it and to bring it back. This is CRAP!! I've talked to at least 6 people with same or close to the same truck, whom have experienced the same knocking/ticking sound and now, I'm seeing all kinds of bad reviews. I think something needs to be done, so that people do not keep spending their hard earned dollars and savings and getting ripped off. Why isn't Ford issuing a recall? There should be many lawsuits about this. We will be report to the Attorney General's office!

- Pamela P., Kirbyville, MO, US

problem #10

Dec 242010

F-150 FX4 5.4L V8 3v

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

I've had my 2004 F150 FX4 since September of 2004 and ever since it hit mile 12,000, it's had that incessant ticking just like a diesel. My father owns a 2008 Duramax diesel 3/4ton and his truck runs quieter that my F150. I have changed my oil at regular 3-4,000 mile intervals and each time the techs just said "cam phaser" or "noisy lifter" or "it's a Ford, they all do this". My last oil change was December 14th at 9 am. I went to pick it up at 12 noon and it hadn't moved from where I left it in the lot. By 4 p.m. they were just backing it out of the shop when I arrived to pick it up. After 9 days of in-city driving and maybe a couple of short haul highway trips (30 miles round trip per trip), we left for a 550 mile Christmas Eve voyage to see relatives. We were about 30 miles from our destination when the Check Gauges light came on and my oil pressure went to zero. I was about a half mile from the nearest gas station and idled it in and shut it down. Check oil, everything seemed good. Started it up, gauges read normal, including oil pressure. Stepped on the gas pedal a few times, nothing changed. Pulled back onto highway and for the next 8 or 9 miles there was no abnormal sounds or indications anything was wrong. All of a sudden the oil pressure gauge bounced a couple of times and I immediately threw it in neutral, shut the ignition off and glided to a stop (pitch black outside but somehow found an approach to a farmyard). Had my truck towed to nearest dealership in the town we had stopped in 9 miles back and 4 days later (after Christmas vacation had ended), technician called and said they dropped the oil pan and found plenty of metal (main bearing) and that I'd need a new engine ($7600 plus $2244 installation). I plan on heading back there on Wednesday with a trailer to pick it up and bring it home.

There is something not quite right with this scenario and although my truck has about 120,000 miles on it, it has been babied and serviced by the book. It's been properly maintained (oil, filters, tires, ball joints, transmission fluid changes) and has never given me an ounce of grief until now.

- Terry J., Warman, Saskatchewan, canada

problem #9

Oct 202010

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought a brand new 2004 F150 FX4 back in 2004. I had it in the shop between 05 and 07 because it started sounding like a diesel just not as loud. I also had my oil changed at the same time and I mentioned the problem to them. When I got my truck back the dealership told me there wasn't a problem and everything was normal. Now on Oct 20 I was driving to work and the oil pressure gauge dropped to 0 and the check gauges censor dinged. I had it towed to another dealership where they told me my engine would need to be replaced. My truck only has 86000 miles and cost me 40000 dollars. I'm willing to go into a class action lawsuit with Ford. Whose with me? Thanks

- Danyelle B., Kansas City, KS, US

problem #8

Sep 012010

F-150 Lariat 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

i bought a ford F150 falling for their tag words " build tough" bull sh*t i hardly did 37K miles and had to replace the engine.. anyone planning to buy one...just forget it ...not worth investing.

- Jayesh K., Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

problem #7

Jul 252010

F-150 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

So I always been a ford guy since i cant remember, Well this is my 4th ford and until now Ive never had any major problems..... and the I bought a 2004 ford f150 xlt 5.4l 3v. a week after I bought it started ticking pretty loud so i brought it in to the dealership that I bought it from and they told me that the noise was normal. HA yea right normal a gas engine that sounds like a diesel yea thats normal. I have been a marine technician for 10 years and I have never heard a gas engine sound like a diesel. so back to my nightmare, i brought it back in to the dealer and they said the cam phasers were bad and they did nothing to replace them. so as i drove my truck everyday the noise getting worse and worse and then one day a loud clunk and that was it.Now I am out a motor. it threw a valve.

With all the research I have done this sounds pretty common I think their should be a class action against ford or something.

best regards to all

From unhappy ford driver

- thexmagicxman, Harleysville, PA, US

problem #6

Jun 242010

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car is 6 years old. I purchased it brand new from the dealer and there's only 96,000 miles on it and I need a new motor. This is really ridiculous. If F-150's are to be built FORD tough, then what happened to mine? My truck should not be broken. It should not need a new motor. I am a loyal FORD owner. My family is loyal tO FORD. I am now thinking of buying a GM!

- greendance37, Cleveland, OH, US

problem #5

Apr 262010

F-150 F150 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

I purchased my truck a year ago as it was a very clean one owner vehicle. The cam phasers were replaced as well as some other minor work prior to purchase. I purchased my truck with 54,000 miles on it and had not even put 10k on it when the failure occurred. I changed my oil every 3k at a dealer as scheduled. I noticed my passenger side of my engine started ticking as if it were a exhaust gasket. The ticking got worse and I had it inspected by a mechanic and they suspected a cam phaser. Two days later I drove 1 mile to a gas station and the ticking got louder all of a sudden and a loud clunk. My engine died and would not start or even turn over.

After inspection by a dealer, it was discovered that the cam rocker had shattered, caused a chain reaction, the valve slapped the piston and the engine is trashed. I have the broken piece of the rod and it is snapped in two. The dealer was good to me and cut the labor costs and found me a brand new engine. All said and done cost me $5,000.00. I have attempted to contact Ford Motor Company 5 times now and all I get is an automated response. I did contact the BBB and file a complaint. I too wish there was a way we all could initiate a class action. This is a crock.! FOUND ON ROAD DEAD!

- kevlar, Gardner, KS, US

problem #4

Apr 192010

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Truck has had noisy engine for some time.

Went to dealer while under warranty and was told because I used an oil filter other than Ford's was the reason it was noisy.

Noticed engine running rough and took it in for tuneup.

Dealer advised me the right side cam was starved of oil and instead of replacing that side it would be cheaper to replace the engine.

Needless to say I am not a happy FORD customer.

- Rich T., Naperville, IL, US

problem #3

Jan 252010

F-150 Lariet 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

I have only had the truck for a couple years. It started making a ticking sound, I took it in to the mechanic and he said it was a sticky lifter, go get a synthetic oil change. I had put STP in it prior to seeing him and it stopped ticking when I left him. I had the oil change to synthetic, and the ticking came back. A week later I went to start the truck and it wouldn't start, so I jumped it off. It was fine when I started it the next morning, til I got driving, an it stalled out. I tried starting it again, it ran for a few more minutes nd then I had to have it towed to the shop. There they said I had bad spark plugs ( which was Fords new designed ones!), the one hole had been stripped out by trying to get the plug out ( Ford made a new tool for the bad breaking plugs as well). I was told I needed a new engine to the cost of $4000. just for the engine. Another $1500. in labor, and additional parts for any damaged in the initial failing of the engine. NOT happy I am paying for a truck that has been in the shop for 2 months now!! I have had 3 Ford trucks, and hearing now that half of this year truck,2004, was given good engines and the other half bad, why isn't Ford taking responsibility for making a Ford truck NOT SO FORD TOUGH!!!!!!! If Ford doesn't come forward to cough up the money we are being made to cough up, then I think there should be a class action against Ford Motor Co. by all of us little people getting screwed by there screwed up product!!!!! Who agrees?? I know my truck still has a monthly payment, I certainly couldn't afford this!!

- jangee320, Belleview, FL, US

problem #2

Jul 182008

F-150 Supercrew 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,563 miles

Catastrophic engine failure as Ford reported it. Basically one of the timing chains jumped time and caused one one half of the engine cylinders to drop dead. Before this happened the cylinders and valves were out of phase so one of the valves was damaged by the cylinder head. This happened as I started up the engine while parked in my driveway. This is not something that should be happening to an engine at 83K miles. Ford dealership estimated cost to repair existing engine at 6800 and cost to replace engine at 7800. Called Ford for assistance and they basically told me that they have exhausted all avenues under warranty assistance to help me out. In my terms this means too bad so sorry for YOUR problem it's not OUR fault that OUR engine failed in your truck. I know Ford has had trouble with timing chains in other ford vehicles based on cheap parts. What the heck is this "Built Ford Tough" all about. Ford is junk, engines are junk, trucks are junk. Never again will I buy a Ford, recommend a Ford, or drive a Ford.

- mtoddryan, Dillsburg, PA, US

problem #1

Feb 112008

F-150 Lariat 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

Cam phaser failure which times the valves and allows oil to be dispersed in engine. Failure caused engine failure on one side causing significant damage. Causes of this are, lack of oil, too many miles before oil change, or wrong grade of oil put into truck. Oil changes were done at WalMart who put in 5/30 grade when it should have been 5/20 synthetic mix. 3 years of wrong grade oil was put into truck. Engine needs to be rebuilt or replaced. Replacement comes with 3 year 75,000 warranty. Never heard of this happening to anyone with any car. Engine seizure due to wrong grade of oil? This is supposed to be Built Tough! Do I have a possible lawsuit here? $7500 to fix!

- Cyrus L., Beaumont, CA, US

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