2004 Ford F-350 Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Ford F-350.

20032005
Complaints
375
Crashes
20
Fires
9
Injuries
26
Fatalities
2
Recalls
1

Worst 2004 Ford F-350 Problems

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

#136 complaints

Engine & Cooling

Avg mileage:59,903 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#234 complaints

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Avg mileage:48,471 mi
Fires:1
#326 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:97,331 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Ford F-350.

Engine & Cooling
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
59,903
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
48,471
Electrical Faults
26
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
97,331
Engine Problems
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
136,689
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
53,931
Diesel Fuel System
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
80,848
Tire Defects
20
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
112,808
Electrical System:Wiring
19
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
36,673
Steering Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
92,822
Unintended Acceleration
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
64,025
Automatic Transmission
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
16,552
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25,495
Tires:Tread/Belt
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,846
Gasoline Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
143,667
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
146,444
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Other Fuel Types:Turbo/Supercharger
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,270
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve)
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
40,768
Hydraulic Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,552
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Ford F-350. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Ford F-350

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-350 Years

2004 Ford F-350 — FAQ

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

Is the 2004 Ford F-350 reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2004 Ford F-350 has 375 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine & Cooling with 36 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Ford F-350?
Top reported problems: Engine & Cooling (36 complaints, avg 59,903 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel (34 complaints, avg 48,471 mi); Electrical Faults (26 complaints, avg 97,331 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-350?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 72,412 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-350?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Ford F-350 include 20 crash-related reports, 9 fire reports, 26 injuries, and 2 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-350 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-350?
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-350 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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