2004 Ford F-250 Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Ford F-250.

20032005
Complaints
546
Crashes
29
Fires
18
Injuries
22
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2004 Ford F-250 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#156 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:104,221 mi
Fires:3
#250 complaints

Engine & Cooling

Avg mileage:58,540 mi
Fires:3
#348 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Avg mileage:27,476 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Ford F-250.

Electrical Faults
56
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
104,221
Engine & Cooling
50
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
58,540
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
48
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
27,476
Engine Problems
33
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
114,960
Electrical System:Wiring
32
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
54,196
Unintended Acceleration
30
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
35,287
Diesel Fuel System
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
75,616
Steering Defects
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
88,037
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
44,278
Tire Defects
20
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
63,533
Automatic Transmission
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
29,960
Fuel System
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
149,281
Transmission / Drivetrain
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
85,056
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
45,772
Gasoline Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
96,364
Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
125,600
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
75,149
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,453
Suspension:Front
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,802
Other Equipment
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
70,750
Body Structure
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
96,108
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
12,396
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Tread/Belt
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Ford F-250. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Ford F-250

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~26,715 vehicles.

11V352000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
~26,715 affected

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.

Other Ford F-250 Years

2004 Ford F-250 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Ford F-250 reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2004 Ford F-250 has 546 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 56 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Ford F-250?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (56 complaints, avg 104,221 mi); Engine & Cooling (50 complaints, avg 58,540 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel (48 complaints, avg 27,476 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Ford F-250?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 70,044 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Ford F-250?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Ford F-250 include 29 crash-related reports, 18 fire reports, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 26,715 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2004 Ford F-250?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford F-250 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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