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8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$320
Average Mileage:
67,150 miles
Total Complaints:
615 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace window regulator (300 reports)
  2. not sure (223 reports)
  3. fixed it myself so I don't have to be ripped off by Ford (24 reports)
  4. replace window regulator with 2006 and newer regulator (16 reports)
  5. replace elevator cable (15 reports)
  6. Ford paid for most of the fix (10 reports)
2004 Ford F-150 windows / windshield problems

windows / windshield problem

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2004 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 31)

problem #615

Sep 182020

F-150 FX4 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,358 miles

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

click to see larger images

window does not roll up

Second time this window has quit working on me. It's rained numerous times inside my vehicle, almost ruining the fabric interior - not to mention the electrical problems I've had. The lights are flickering on and off. This will be another report.

Thank you for always having been a loyal Ford customer - I still believe fully that they will reach out to me and make this right.

- Randall S., Porter, OK, US

problem #614

May 152017

F-150 5.4L Triton

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

This is the 3rd time I am calling to get this fixed. It works then it don't I replaced these things over and over... What the heck is wrong with these windows.... Looks like I am not the only one this is occurring too. I just dont want to keep fixing this truck. I love this truck but this is becoming annoying.

- Brian F., Pooler, GA, US

problem #613

Aug 192015

F-150 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

this is the 2nd time, but the other door. he first time I got all the new parts from ford for $75 this time they wanted $150 for the same damn thing. So I went on Amazon and found the parts for $75 ish and when they got to me they were made of metal not plastic like the ford parts. so this time it should last much longer.

- sveillon, Baltimore, US

problem #612

Jun 112014

F-150 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

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

all the plastic in the making of the elevator cable setup got old and brittle. so of course it wore out and broke. I would have ratter they made better parts and just charged a little more for the truck.

- sveillon, Baltimore, US

problem #611

Aug 012014

F-150 Triton

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,800 miles

It is just awful the rain comes in, and the snow, I can't take my grand kids with me cause the window will not roll up. There stuck in the half way position. I go to work early in the morning and get off late in the afternoon it is very cold. I don't make a lot of money so I cant afford to just put the truck in the shop. When you purchase a vehicle things should work on it, of no fault of mine this stopped working. If this is common in over 600 cases don't you think there is something going wrong at the manufacture a faulty part.

I believe Ford should pay for this it is absolutely awful that I have to deal with this every day, and not to mention my seats are now getting ruined due to the rain getting in, no matter my efforts to keep it out. and my cloths get wet and I have wet cloths on when I show up to work.

Please Ford assume your responsibility of this faulty problem and issue a recall to your consumers to get this problem taken care of.

- rgailhart7, Westport, OR, US

problem #610

Oct 122013

F-150 Lariat 4x4 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,300 miles

Driver pwr side window completely fails in the down position? Are you kidding me, Ford? I'm wowed alright. Who goes out and buys these trucks new at over $50,000 after reading thru these complaint lists? I bought mine used. I will NEVER buy American again. Thank God my friend was willing to kill an entire Saturday fixing it for me.

- regret buying usa, Beltsville, MD, US

problem #609

Dec 052013

F-150 Lariat 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

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

Drivers side front window motor failure. The design lacked sufficient testing. Failure was sure to happen. Had to spend good money to fix the first time. The repair last for about 10 iterations of rolling up and down and failed a second time. This work was replaced under warranty.

- Andy S., Lebanon, MO, US

problem #608

Oct 202014

F-150 Lariat 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

Right side rear window would not roll up. I bought parts at store, watched video and replaced it myself. It took a couple of hours or my time. This is the third motor I have had replaced and now the drivers window is acting up again.

- Andy S., Lebanon, MO, US

problem #607

Oct 282014

F-150 FX4 5.4L Triton

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Got off work in the middle of the night in a heavy rain. Started up my pickup and pushed the button to roll down the driver's side window to clear off the condensation and the window just dropped like a brick into the door. Had a real unpleasant drive home in the pouring rain.

Ford knows their window regulators are crap on the 2004 F150. I have no idea how they're getting away without a recall when these have to be replaced multiple times. This definitely has the potential to be a safety hazard if it happens in inclement weather at freeway speeds.

- Jake G., Vancouver, WA, US

problem #606

Mar 252014

F-150 XLT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 124,274 miles

I just purchased a 2004 Ford F150 Super Crew 4 door pickup and within two weeks 3 of the 4 windows have stopped working. The driver front went before I had a chance to get it safe so that had to be fix right away.Purchased the new regulator for $160 and installed it myself to save some money.

I just cannot believe that with so many complaints and the safety issues for this problem that Ford will still do nothing to fix this. I love the truck but what a pain in the ass having windows that I can't use unless I drop hundreds of dollars to fix it. Ford needs to own up and come good for this and help out all of these dedicated but enraged Ford drivers.

- lukeontario, Forest, Ontario, canada

problem #605

Dec 112013

F-150 Lariat 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,282 miles

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

Have 5 Ford Trucks and SUV's sitting at the house right now. Have driven them for 40 years. This is the 3rd regulator I've changed in this crew cab in 60K miles. Now the Rear slider has quit too. Your window regulators are junk! 45K for the truck when new and you sell it with Junk power windows!

Looking at a Dodge diesel now!

- bamster, Joplin, MO, US

problem #604

Aug 122010

F-150 5.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,500 miles

Second one to fail, dealer told me it was because we didn't use them enough. This was the second back window to break.

- Wesley D., Canon, GA, US

problem #603

Dec 142011

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

2004 Ford F-150 has lots of horrible problems and Ford is not doing anything about it. I will NEVER buy a ford again. These problems are reported all over the internet, they should have been recalled. Especially for this year, I am not sure what happened but the mechanics all know about it and when I call Ford they don't care. The window mechanism is defective, you have only one option to spend $800 per window and then they will probably brake again within the year from what I have read. 3 out of 4 windows don't break within the same month randomly.... PERIOD. And the only reason the last one has not broken is because we have not used it. We pay a lot of money every month for our truck and we cannot afford the "repairs". Now its not even running because it needs a tune up which thanks to faulty wires will cost somewhere in the ball park of 2500. And yet ford again refused to do anything about it, they clearly do not care about the buyer.

- cds, Saint Louis, MO, US

problem #602

Jan 052011

F-150 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I've had 2 windows out of nowhere, drop into the door and not come back up. Both times while driving in the pouring rain. I had to tape plastic over the windows and took it to the dealer. the window regulator and basically a rubber cable were bad. I tried getting the door panel off myself, but found you need a special tool for the panels at a cost of about 75$, so I took it to the dealer and paid $465, not covered under warranty. I asked the mechanic about it after the second one broke 2 months later and he said it was an issue they knew about. WELL THEN FIX IT FORD.... I've had this truck for 3 yrs and have poured $10,000 plus into repairs on it. WORST TRUCK EVER> I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN, and I come from a Ford family and have had nothing but Fords from 1st vehicle I've owned. Never again.!!!

- jd2879, Shingle Springs, CA, US

problem #601

Sep 062010

F-150 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,195 miles

the rear driver side window may or may not roll up, it will go up to about 4" to the top and bog down like it's jammed, I haven't had it fixed due to the cost. I've had 2 other window regulators break and they run $465 to have the dealer fix.

- jd2879, Shingle Springs, CA, US

problem #600

Apr 052010

F-150 Lariat 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,710 miles

The window has no problem rolling down (drivers side) but when to go up you have to click it a few times until the button seems to catch something, and the window rolls up with a bit of a grind noise > don't know what the problem is yet.

- bgsask, Fort Mcmurray, AB, canada

problem #599

Jun 012012

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

All four of my windows have broken. It is embarrassing to own my Ford. I cannot believe that Fords knows about this and will not help the consumers out. I will never buy another Ford again. All they had to do was be honorable and make a recall to fix this problem and they chose not to.

- Chad K., Pueblo, CO, US

problem #598

Aug 312013

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

Winter 2012 the driver's window fell and I had no idea when. I hadn't driven the truck in over a wk. We had a snow storm and I was going to drive it when I found the seat full of snow. Drove it to the dealer and the cost was over $700 for that repair.

Fast forward to Aug 2013. I'm driving to the marina for a day of sun and fun and the rear driver side window falls as I'm going down the road. A friend of mine there took the door panel off and got the window up so we could wedge it closed using driftwood. That's a nice touch.

Oh my Ford wasn't done w/ me yet. On the same day......that evening after a day of boating I'm driving up RT 95 in the Washington DC area, lots of traffic but moving I hear road noise. I check the rear wedged window. Nope not that one. The front passenger window then starts its descent downward and won't come back up. I removed the panel and accessed the window via removing the speaker so it is now wedged closed w/ wood shims.

Being Labor Day no shops are open but I have a mechanic friend who just text-ed to tell me he will install if I get the regulators. Bless him! So all in all I will have replaced 3 of those suckers. I don't abuse the truck. I've put less than 7,000 mi on it in 2yrs. It looks like new (when the windows aren't shimmed shut w / driftwood and milled trees.)

Update from Sep 3, 2013: Got the regulators but had to go to 2 different auto parts shops which were, of course, across town from each other. Then one of them gave me the opposite rear door which was not broken. My mechanic friend fixed them and we decided to replace the one that hasn't broken just to be safe.

My having a mechanic friend saved me a bundle. I know there are a couple of videos online showing how to replace. I've not watched them but if you are inclined to be a bit handy you might want to. Each regulator cost me $135. Much less than the $700 I paid to fix the 1st one that broke.

Update from Oct 27, 2014: Well in Aug of 2013 I lost the driver rear winder regulator on a Sunday morning. That evening driving home from the marina I lost the passenger window regulator. I got both of those replaced and 2 weeks later on the way to vacation for a few days of surf fishing I lost the passenger rear window. I'm reporting each of these as separate incidents although since it is not a safety issue I doubt Ford will do a recall.

- pattijwr, Alexandria, VA, US

problem #597

Apr 282012

F-150 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

While on vacation my passenger back window fell into the door well, I had to pry it up and then tape it closed, I didn't have the right tools to take off the door panel so I had to buy some at a auto center which added to the cost of the total repair. It seems Ford knows about this problem but does nothing for the consumer to solve this problem, I will not buy another Ford vehicle again !

- zackman, Sandy, UT, US

problem #596

Aug 052013

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 124,000 miles

This is the third window regulator we have had replaced in our 2004 Ford F150....come on Ford enough is enough!

- Juan R., Paris, MO, US

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