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8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,040
Average Mileage:
112,450 miles
Total Complaints:
33 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (18 reports)
  2. replaced snap ring (5 reports)
  3. replace transmission (3 reports)
  4. the transmission was rebuilt (3 reports)
  5. i bought a transmission at a ford dealer (2 reports)
  6. replace crappy transmission (1 reports)
2004 Ford F-150 transmission problems

transmission problem

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

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #13

Jul 012011

F-150 Supercrew 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

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

5.4L Supercrew. 100,000 Miles O/D went out.

No towing, off roading or abuse.

Transmission techs all say if you have a Ford and drive under 50MPH TURN OFF THE O/D because it will fail from excessive cycling.

Thanks to all the others who shared their repair stories. It may save me a lot of money.

- turnerca, Fresno, CA, US

problem #12

Oct 032011

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Driving @ 60 mph and tranny acted like it was in neutral. I took it out of o/d and 1st 2nd and 3rd worked fine. Went on this site and read some of the same issues and decides it was the snap ring. So my local mech. and I decided to try to fix . He dropped the oil pan and oil valve and saw that the snap ring was broken Replaced snap ring and put valve back together( when putting valve stem back in make sure it is line up in band correctly). The snap ring was busted and was missing 2 small pieces that we could not locate. O/ D still wouldn't work. cost $270 thought about replacing tranny for $ 2600. Called a local tran mech and he said it would cost $ 1200 - $2400 to repair depending on what he thought was wrong. Ford dealer wanted about $3000 to replace with new tran. Called another tran mech and said to bring over and he would take a look at it. He determined he could fix it a lot cheaper(Never had to pull tran did work from oil pan area) Found the 2 little snap ring pieces stuck in a valve and replaced snap ring with a better style and did a few small up grades. WORKS GREAT His bill was $420 dollars. So go to show that a good tran. mech is very important in fixing the problem and not trying to rip me off and would recommend to a lot of people So my total cost was $ 270 first mech and $ 420 GOOD tran mech. for a total of approx.$700. Beats the hell out of $3000.

- ketas47, Beaver Dam, WI, US

problem #11

Jun 112011

F-150 XL 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,800 miles

Had just bought it used I'm on disability... was a major undertaking and then had to come up with the tranny money 8 weeks later. Very disappointing ... been a ford truck driver for years

- Jeff B., St. Louis, MO, US

problem #10

Dec 012010

F-150 Supercrew 4.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

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

After a three day trip and five airplain flights, I'm leaving the airport, turn onto the road, gas it and overdrive goes out. Can't go anywhere with overdrive on. Turn off overdrive and am able to drive the 2.5 hours home.

The next morning, Ford tells me the problem is $1300 to repair the overdrive, but they recommend the overhaul because, heck might as well as long as it's torn apart, $2300, or just replace the whole thing in case there are additional problems that the diagnostics didn't find, $3200. I paid the $85 fee for the diagnostic report, which was one sentence saying an overdrive ring hand broken, and took it to an independent auto tech. He's replacing it with a rebuilt transmission for about $800.

I don't remember everything but the poorly crafted parts list now includes a transmission, heating regulator, alternator, three window regulators, a leaking third break light that ruined the back seat, a back seat, a busted CD player...you get the picture.

Ford Tough? Ford Tough Sh*t If You're Still Crazy Enough to Buy One After Reading This. Oh, by the way, my brother drives a TOYOTA truck. Still has the original transmission with 238,000 miles.

- don't buy a ford, Anderson, SC, US

problem #9

Feb 112010

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

This is bs!!! All of the cars that i have bought have been fords. I was really stoked to be able to get the new body type of the F150. I had manual F150 before my 04. I'm pissed that i paid 30k for something that doesn't work right. I have been, and still am proud of buying American, but i can't help but feel let down by Ford. I can't believe there are so many complaints about this issue. My best friend has a Lariat who's transmission wen out at 80000k miles. He didn't bother to complain about it, he just got it fixed. I couldn't afford to fix my truck because my business went under, But i will have to this tax season in order to sell it and buy a Toyota!!

- James A., Garden Grove, CA, US

problem #8

Jan 262011

F-150 XLT 4.6L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

i have this problem where my overdrive does not work . my truck has only 75ooo miles on it. I think that ford really should look into these complaints about the transmissions because it is funny that these trucks really do not have alot of miles on them to be going ,. they really need to look into have ing a recall on these problems. it is pretty bad when you don't have the truck even paid off and have too put in 3000 dollars worth of work ontop of paying 30000 grand for a vehicle.

- Richard D., Springwater, NY, US

problem #7

Nov 072010

(reported on)

F-150 XLT 5.4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,618 miles

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

I was on my way home from fishing when my truck felt like i put it in neutral at about 40 mph. I pulled over and stopped and the transmission started working again. I start driving again and the same thing happened again at 40 mph. I pulled over again and stopped.I took the trans out of overdrive and it worked good enough to get me home. I had my wife follow me to the ford dealer to have my truck fixed. When ford found the problem they called me and gave me a price to fix my truck,about 2800.00to rebuild or 3500.00for a refurb. I caller ford factory main plant and talked to Anthony a ford rep.about my truck and he gave me a case# 1403773090. he said he would look into it for me.The next day the ford dealer that is doing the work on my truck (RANCHO FORD LINCOLN MERCURY) told me ford will not help with the cost because of mileage.I picked up my truck this Saturday NOV 6,2010.My total bill was $3280.97. RANCHO FORD was nice enought to take a couple of hundred off the bill!!! THANH YOU RANCHO FORD!!! the bill was going to be 3480.97. Come Monday I will call ford factory an talk to Anthony again.

MY hole family, father my self and my son has always driven a ford product. I had a 1995 ford f-150 and the trans was taken out twice to be fixed by ford under warranty and I thought maybe I just had a fluke truck. I sold that truck and took over my father 1998 f_150. I drove that truck until I bought my 2004 F-150. If ford wont help with my bill THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD!!! also my son will never have a ford again!!! My father already jumped to Toyota!!!

Yes my truck trans has the same defect as many other ford F-150 the snap ring broke. Its just to bad no one started a class action against ford for its transmission problem. It seems there is a lot ford F-150 with the same problem!!!!!

I will keep you posted of the out come of my phone call Monday with ANTHONY a ford factory rep. his phone # is 1-800 392-3673 if others have the same problem call and tell ford we are not happy with there product. get it wright or we will change auto brands!!!

- Lester M., San Diego, CA, US

problem #6

Jan 172010

F-150 Crew Cab 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,800 miles

Last Sunday my car refused to go over 40 MPH in overdrive. At 40 MPH the engine would act like it was in neutral. I thought I accidentally popped it into neutral but found out when overdrive was off it ran fine. Took it in to Ford and they told me that the overdrive snap ring broke and damaged the transmission further. It needs a new transmission at 72,800 miles which is going to cost me $2800. Ford offered to help me out with $500 if I was to only replace the damaged parts at a price of $2,700. Although the warranty would go from 3 years 100,000 mile warranty with the factory rebuilt to 1 year 12,000 miles with the overhaul. I was extremely disappointed with the quality of parts that Ford has on their cars. I defended them against all the Ford haters for 5 years until NOW. The other things that had gone wrong with the car are the Master Cylinder Broke at 24,000 miles, my rear axle needed repair due to humming and vibrations and is doing the same thing again, My wipers would not turn off, My emergency Brake failed out of no where, My sunroof broke, the rear automatic window assembly needed replacing and some other stuff. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN!!!! DUE TO THE LOW QUALITY PARTS THEY USE. I HOPE OTHERS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THEIR NEXT CAR AND THIS HELPS THEM. I THINK THE WRONG COMPANY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. NO MORE STICKING UP FOR FORDS FOR ME. sorry about the other problems in here but just thought people would like to know about how bad of a car Ford makes

- ckhoury, Miami, FL, US

problem #5

Oct 082009

F-150 FX4 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,164 miles

i was driving home from school which is 74 miles from where i live... i do this 2 times a week... so its a 150 mile aprox round trip.. no problems watsoever during this time...i got home showered and headed out to the store when suddenly my engine starts to rev like crazy i look at my shifter and everything seems fine.. i slow down and accelerate again up to 40 mph where my transmission seems to not engage in o/d... i took the o/d off and headed home.... i was infuriated considering what this truck has cost me in repairs with its amazingly restarted spark plug design for the modular 3 valve design broke 1 spark plug and the dealer another 3...then i had to replace the annoying camshaft phasers which where making noise all this added up too about $3500.....and now this at first i though it was just my luck but after doing some research. i found out that there is hundreds of cases like mine... ive owned a 1998 and a 2001 f150 and they NEVER gave me any problems whatsoever... looks like the wrong company seems to be going bankrupt at least it seems that Chevy build RELIABLE trucks. not pieces of this current sh*t... and i understand things breakdown but f*** barelly 100 000 miles and already 2 new camshafts and valves and two board out spark plug holes? and looks lik a tranny rebuild on the way... looks like this is the last ford me or anyone else in my family will be buying in a long time...

- Joe A., Wichita, KS, US

problem #4

Oct 082009

F-150 FX4 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,164 miles

so i drive about 200 miles a week in this truck and besides the amazingly stupid spark plug design ford came up with and the camshaft phasers, its been a good truck... not. i was driving home after a long trip i went to the house let the truck sit for a bit then went to the store and when i hit about 40 mph my transmission didn't engage. i thought i had accidentally hit it into neutral but it was still in drive it just reved up. i took the od off and it was fine it jus was revving up too high for my liking. i am doing some research and looks like im not the only one that is having this problem... i know this is not going to be a cheap fix on top of the 3000 spark plug and camshaft replacement ford told me i needed. what happened to the reliable truck i was so used to driving u can beat them up and still wanted more... and now when things are supposed to be better, they quit on u for doing the basic things they are designed to do way too soon....

- Joe A., Wichita, KS, US

problem #3

Jul 302009

F-150 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

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

2004 f-150 5.4l with tow package, transmission slipped one time a couple weeks ago. Then i was getting on the freeway and when the truck tried to go into overdrive, it didnt! It was just revving up and not going into gear. it does this at about 40 mph. if i turn the overdrive off the transmission jumps into first occasionally but since OD is off it will not try to shift into OD and is driveable 1st 2nd 3rd okay

- kque, Riverside, CA, US

problem #2

Jun 012008

F-150 STX 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I have no overdrive in this vehicle. I was told the overdrive gear is wiped out. It is a 3000 dollar fix through ford. My truck only has 45k miles. I was told by the manager at the dealership that this is a one in million occurrence. I find this hard to believe when I talked to a couple of friends who also have transmission issues with their v8 fords.

- Anthony D., Aston, PA, US

problem #1

Aug 142007

(reported on)

F-150 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

My last three trucks have been F150s. The 1989 was sold at around 115K miles with no transmission problems. The 1995 is still here with 240K miles and the original tranny. It has pulled trailers through the mountains at 80+ MPH - no problems, even the engine is original and doesn't burn oil. Now Ford has had another "better idea" and has churned out a piece of junk at an inflated price. They even acknowledge it because they have a bulletin out on the problem. Mine's paid for; I'll drive it for now - BUT I'll be looking at Toyota next time.

- Ken S., Berrien Center, MI, US

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