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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.

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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.

39 crash reports12 fire reports28 injury reports

Engine complaints

53 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2024
Air BagsEngine

My 5.4 v8 triton motor timing came phasers are bad the truck runs fine when cold when it gets warmer up it rattles and shakes and stalls air bag light stays on I had to pull the fuse bc it beeps and warning light so it's not active

NHTSA ODI #11615146

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

I experienced a loss in power while driving and not driving, as well as locking my keys in the vehicle once It would not unlock. The gear shifting knob stopped due to what seemed like resistance an the damaged caused by sales man to the top plunger cap just after i paid. Recently the battery and the alternator are not working a…

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I experienced a loss in power while driving and not driving, as well as locking my keys in the vehicle once It would not unlock. The gear shifting knob stopped due to what seemed like resistance an the damaged caused by sales man to the top plunger cap just after i paid. Recently the battery and the alternator are not working and when power is ran through the vehicle, an obvious sound of a live cable buzzing in the rear cab exterior light and seemed to be spliced in a n unsafe way.

NHTSA ODI #11598503

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineFire

Vehicle caught on fire from the engine compartment while driving. Total loss, Fire Department responded to the scene. Two persons on board of the vehicle had to escape the fire, pulled over and jumped out.

NHTSA ODI #11593685

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2023
Engine

My F150 will run great until it warms up and then it will run rough, shows low oil pressure, and stalls at stops and while driving at low speeds. I have taken it to two mechanics and have spent thousands of dollars without fixing this problem. This has been an ongoing issue and started in Sept. 2022

NHTSA ODI #11546903

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2020
Engine

MY TRUCK TIMING BELTS HAVE BIN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN THE LAS 3 YRS. IT STARTS BY MAKING THE ENGINE JUMP THE RPM GO BELOW 300 AND IT SHUTS OFF AS I APPROACH A STOP SIGN OR A LIGHT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER COMES ON IT JUST SHUTS OFF AND IT WONT DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325737

200,000 miles · Apr 27, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ROUSH TRANSITION TO PROPANE ON TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ROUSH TRANSITION TO PROPANE ON THE FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V523000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #11322392

127,940 miles · Dec 26, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

MY MOTOR HAD STARTED TICKING A BIT BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I ADDED SOME OIL AND IT WENT AWAY. THEN, IN JANUARY 2019 I HAD ENGINE CODES. PLUGGED MY SCAN TOOL IN AND SAID I NEEDED BOTH CAMSHAFT SENSORS, MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 1, 3, & 7. REPLACED ALL 8 PLUGS AND COILS, MOTOR HAD 123XXX MILES. DROVE ANOTHER 4000 MILES AND THE SAME PROB…

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MY MOTOR HAD STARTED TICKING A BIT BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I ADDED SOME OIL AND IT WENT AWAY. THEN, IN JANUARY 2019 I HAD ENGINE CODES. PLUGGED MY SCAN TOOL IN AND SAID I NEEDED BOTH CAMSHAFT SENSORS, MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 1, 3, & 7. REPLACED ALL 8 PLUGS AND COILS, MOTOR HAD 123XXX MILES. DROVE ANOTHER 4000 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEMS PERSISTED AND GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS ON THE MISFIRES AND ENGINE TICK, COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A 'LIFTER TAP', SHAVINGS OF ALUMINUM IN MY OIL AND PLUGGING UP THE LIFTERS. MECHANIC SAID TO GET A NEW MOTOR, DON'T BOTH TRYING TO FIX IT. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 119XXX AND TRUCK RAN FINE IN AUGUST OF 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11291351

202,000 miles · Nov 6, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

PLASTIC TIMING GUIDES ARE RIPPED FROM MOUNTING LOCATION BY TIMING CHAINS AND DROP INTO THE OIL SYSTEM, USUALLY CAUSING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, CONTAMINATED OIL, TRASH-FILLED MOTOR, AND ACCELERATED WEAR OF THE TIMING CHAINS, RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE. USUALLY THE GUIDES BREAK OFF AT OR BEFORE 100,000 MILES AND THE CHAINS NEED REPL…

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PLASTIC TIMING GUIDES ARE RIPPED FROM MOUNTING LOCATION BY TIMING CHAINS AND DROP INTO THE OIL SYSTEM, USUALLY CAUSING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, CONTAMINATED OIL, TRASH-FILLED MOTOR, AND ACCELERATED WEAR OF THE TIMING CHAINS, RESULTING IN ENGINE DAMAGE. USUALLY THE GUIDES BREAK OFF AT OR BEFORE 100,000 MILES AND THE CHAINS NEED REPLACING BETWEEN 120,000 AND 200,000 MILES, DEPENDING ON HOW THE TRUCK IS DRIVEN. METAL REPLACEMENT GUIDES ARE AVAILABLE AT MOST SHOPS AND ONLINE PARTS STORES.PRICES RANGE BETWEEN $10 AND $40. OCCURS IN 4.6L AND 5.4L V8 ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI #11278402

100,000 miles · Sep 13, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND RATTLED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS NOT DETERMIN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND RATTLED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACK WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. JOE MACHENS FORD (807 SOUTHWEST BLVD, JEFFERSON CITY, MO) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11255309

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2019
Engine

2008 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND LACKED POWER. THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.*JS

NHTSA ODI #11195211

Official recalls

1

08V523000 · 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

1

PE08060 · 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