CABIN TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE REGULATED IN HEATING OR COOLING MODES. A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. *TR
2008 Ford F-150
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford F-150 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 676.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F-150 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
320 reports with mileage · 49 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
29 reportsWHILE BACKING UP THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT OUT, AND WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS VERY SNOWY AND ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. CAUSE WAS FROM ELECTRIC ACTUATOR THAT ENGAGES 4X4 SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 19,000 MILES ON IT. FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BLOW BLACK SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BLOW BLACK SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
HEAT/ AC- SMELL AND BANGING NOISE BEHIND DASH, WINDOWS & LOCKS PERIODICALLY WILL NOT WORK. *TR
2008 F-150 RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON WHILE THE KEY IS OFF, OUT OF THE IGNITION, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, WITH THE DOORS CLOSED, THE WINDOWS CAN BE OPEN OR CLOSED. BEGAN RANDOMLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO (12-1-2010 @ 60K MILES). NO RE-OCCURRING PATTERN TO THE INCIDENCES. IF THE RADIO ON/OFF SWITCH IS OFF THE RADIO DOES…
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2008 F-150 RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON WHILE THE KEY IS OFF, OUT OF THE IGNITION, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, WITH THE DOORS CLOSED, THE WINDOWS CAN BE OPEN OR CLOSED. BEGAN RANDOMLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO (12-1-2010 @ 60K MILES). NO RE-OCCURRING PATTERN TO THE INCIDENCES. IF THE RADIO ON/OFF SWITCH IS OFF THE RADIO DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED SOME SORT OF "RADIO MODULE-$600.00" BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HELP; CONCERNED ABOUT BATTERY LIFE AND OTHER POTENTIAL ELECTRONIC FAILURES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 FORD F150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN SPARKS BEGAN SHOOTING FORM THE AUXILIARY CIGARETTE LIGHTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CELLULAR PHONE WAS PLUGGED INTO THE LIGHTER AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND THE SPARKS WERE FALLING INTO A TRASH BAG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXIT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 FORD F150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN SPARKS BEGAN SHOOTING FORM THE AUXILIARY CIGARETTE LIGHTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CELLULAR PHONE WAS PLUGGED INTO THE LIGHTER AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND THE SPARKS WERE FALLING INTO A TRASH BAG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITHIN ONE AND A HALF HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
THE IGNITION SYSTEM ON THE FORD 2008 P/U CONTINUES TO CRANK ONCE THE KEY IS TURNED UNTIL THE ENGINE STARTS. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE BY THE STARTER OVERHEATING WHILE TRYING TO START THE ENGINE. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED OR REPAIRED AS NECESSARY. THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT REPORTED, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
2008 FORD F150 CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE SELF-ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD HIS FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE AND THRUST BACKWARDS AT AN UNSAFE RATE OF SPEED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AND SHIFT…
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2008 FORD F150 CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE SELF-ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD HIS FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE AND THRUST BACKWARDS AT AN UNSAFE RATE OF SPEED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AND SHIFTED TO PARK; THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING AT FULL THROTTLE. HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DROVE HOME. ON JANUARY 13, 2010, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED FOR A THIRD TIME WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 1/2 DAYS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
2008 F150 SUPERCREW LARIAT 4X4 BOUGHT BRAND NEW ON JULY 18 WITH 426 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE TRUCK EXCEPT PUT A FLAT BED CAP ON THE BED THAT ATTACHES WITH CLAMPS UNDER THE BED RAIL AND HAS NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK LESS THAN 2500 MILES. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT I DROVE TO …
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2008 F150 SUPERCREW LARIAT 4X4 BOUGHT BRAND NEW ON JULY 18 WITH 426 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE TRUCK EXCEPT PUT A FLAT BED CAP ON THE BED THAT ATTACHES WITH CLAMPS UNDER THE BED RAIL AND HAS NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK LESS THAN 2500 MILES. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT I DROVE TO WORK JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME. PARKED TRUCK AND LOCKED VEHICLE AND WENT INTO FACTORY TO MY OFFICE. 35-40 MINUTES LATER I RECEIVED A CALL ON MY PHONE FROM THE GUARD BUILDING SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I WALKED BACK OUT TO THE PARKING LOT AND THE TRUCK WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. BYSTANDERS SAID TRUCK HAD FLAMES INSIDE GOING UP WINDSHIELD BUT HAD DIED DOWN. THEY HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT THE TRUCK WAS LOCKED AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO OPEN THE TRUCK SINCE THE FLAMES WERE DYING DOWN UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND I UNLOCKED TRUCK DOOR AND OPENED UP TRUCK TO LET SMOKE OUT. SMALL FIRE REKINDLED UNDER DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, PUT OUT IMMEDIATELY WITH DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER. OPENED HOOD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLES FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY DAMAGE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INTERIOR DASH WAS COMPLETED BURNED AWAY IN A 4-5" WIDE AREA BETWEEN RADIO/HVAC CONTROL CONSOLE AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR. AREA THAT INCLUDES THE AUXILIARY POWER PLUG AND A DASH VENT. I MADE NO CHANGES/MODIFICATIONS OR ADD ONS TO THE TRUCK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AND HAD NOTHING PLUGGED INTO THE AUXILIARY POWER PLUG AT ANY TIME. DASH IS COMPLETELY GONE IN THIS AREA PLUS A SMALL PORTION ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AREA OF DASH. VENT IS COMPLETELY GONE, AUXILIARY POWER PLUG IS COMPLETELY BURNED AWAY WITH JUST A METAL FRAME OF THE PLUG REMAINING LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK ON TOP OF SOME MELTED, PILED-UP PLASTIC FROM DASH. NO WIRING WAS ATTACHED TO THE METAL FRAME ANYMORE. FIRE DEPARTMENT MADE A REPORT, SO POLICE WERE NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. FORD CONSUMER DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED BUT DECLINES LIABILITY. *TR
Official recalls
108V523000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 8, 2008
ROUSH IS RECALLING 213 MY 2007-2008 FORD F-150 TRUCKS ALTERED TO OPERATE USING LIQUID PROPANE INJECTION. THE HYDRO-CARBON PAPER AFFIXED TO THE INSIDE OF THE AIRBOX LID WITH ADHESIVE MAY BECOME DISLODGED DURING OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS FAILURE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND, IN EXTREME CASES, A STALLING OF THE VEHICLE DURING OPERATION WITHOUT NOTICE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIRBOX LID WITH A NEW ONE THAT INCLUDES THE HYDRO-CARBON PAPER WHICH HAS BEEN AFFIXED USING AN ADHESIVE PROMOTER AND GREATER PRESSURE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROUSH AT 1-866-307-6788.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO
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