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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.

About this comparison →

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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128,000 miles · Aug 10, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT PHASER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT PHASER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10894906

120,000 miles · Jul 27, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUME DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST OIL PRESSURE AND STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUME DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOW OIL PRESSURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10889006

126,000 miles · May 20, 2016
Engine

RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT - I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 RADIATORS IN MY FORD F250 TRUCK AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 125,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FROM FORD AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED 3 TIMES AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10870062

92,000 miles · May 10, 2016
Engine

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE LOCAL PHIL LONG FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT MY TRUCK NEEDS THE CAM PHASERS REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING. I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A "VERY" COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE AND FORD HAS RETIRED THIS ENGINE FROM THEIR VEHICLES DO TO THE FAILURES AND IT HAS BEEN KNOWN BY FO…

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I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE LOCAL PHIL LONG FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT MY TRUCK NEEDS THE CAM PHASERS REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING. I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS IS A "VERY" COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE AND FORD HAS RETIRED THIS ENGINE FROM THEIR VEHICLES DO TO THE FAILURES AND IT HAS BEEN KNOWN BY FORD SINCE THE 2003 MODELS AND YET THEY CONTINUED TO SELL A KNOWN FAULTY ENGINE. THEY SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THESE ENGINES REPAIRED AND NOT THE CONSUMERS. THIS IS IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO AND THE PROBLEMS IS STILL INTERMITTENT AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10864286

114,376 miles · Apr 10, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

ON TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR, ON A 2 LANE, BACK COUNTRY, ROAD MY FORD F150, THAT HAD 114,376 MILES BEGAN TO CLANK AND RUMBLE UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE MADE THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER SO I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SMOKE, CLICKING AND CLANKING ON TOP OF…

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ON TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR, ON A 2 LANE, BACK COUNTRY, ROAD MY FORD F150, THAT HAD 114,376 MILES BEGAN TO CLANK AND RUMBLE UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE MADE THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER SO I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SMOKE, CLICKING AND CLANKING ON TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE SO I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND ASKED TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWAY. THE TRUCK WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE BUT SMOKING AND CLANKING. THE NEXT MORNING I LEARNED #2 SPARK PLUG HAD LOOSE STRIPPING THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE COIL CRACKED FROM THE PLUG BLOWING OUT. THE PLUG AND BOOTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED THE #2 COIL AND THE DEALER HAD TO EXTRACT THE BROKEN SPARK PLUG CYLINDER #2. THE PARTS, SUPPLY, AND LABOR COST WAS $1292.24. I HAVE HAD LARGE V8 ENGINE, VEHICLES ALL OF MY LIFE WITH 200,000 MILES OR MORE ON THE ENGINE BUT NEVER ANY SPARK PLUG ISSUES WITH HIGH MILEAGE ON BOTH SPARK PLUG AND OTHER VEHICLE ENGINE PARTS. IF I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK IT SURELY WOULD HAVE IGNITED CAUSING MORE DAMAGE OR INJURY. THE SPARK PLUG ISSUES WITH FORD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN DECEMBER 2013 WITH 81,160 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR 2 YEARS, 4 MONTHS. AT NO TIME SHOULD SPARK PLUGS BLOW UP OR OUT UNLESS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE PARTS OR PLUGS NOT SUITABLE TO BE TRANSFIXED INTO THE CYLINDER OR ENGINE. DRIVER SAFETY IS AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI #10854637

113,600 miles · Apr 6, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

ON APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING MY 2008, F150, TRITON, 4.6, ABOUT 45 MPH, ON A TWO LANE, BACK COUNTRY ROAD, A SUDDEN RATTLING AND POPPING NOISE OCCURRED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD, WHEREAS SMOKE AND THE RATTLING NOISE CONTINUED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWA…

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ON APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING MY 2008, F150, TRITON, 4.6, ABOUT 45 MPH, ON A TWO LANE, BACK COUNTRY ROAD, A SUDDEN RATTLING AND POPPING NOISE OCCURRED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD, WHEREAS SMOKE AND THE RATTLING NOISE CONTINUED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWAY. I HAVE 113,600 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND PURCHASED IT FROM A CARMAX DEALER IN DECEMBER 2013, WITH 81,160 MILES, HAVING EXPERIENCED (NO PROBLEMS THUS FAR). I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT MY #3 SPARKPLUG HAD CAUSED THE MECHANICAL ISSUE AND ALL PLUGS NEEDED REPLACING. ADDITIONALLY REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT SIDE ENGINE ISSUES RESULTED FROM NOT HAVING DONE THE 100000 MILE TUNE UP (BULL). IT HAD BEEN TUNED UP PREVIOUS TO BEING SOLD. AFTER USING CHOICE WORDS TOWARDS THE DEALER AND ADVISING HIM OF MY OWNERSHIP OF 3, LARGER V8 ENGINES, NO SPARKPLUG EXPLOSIONS HAD EVER OCCURRED IN MY LIFE. ALL MY FORMER VEHICLES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY 2008 F150 HAD NEVER EXPERIENCE SUCH SPARKPLUG EXPLOSION ISSUES AND THESE VEHICLES REACHED CLOSE AND OVER 200,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT DOES NOT COVER THIS ISSUE, NOR WAS THE FORD MANUFACTURE HELPFUL IN ASSISTING WITH THIS MATTER. THE TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS IS $1295.00, AND MY FIGHT WITH FORD HAS JUST BEGUN.

NHTSA ODI #10853906

100,000 miles · Mar 22, 2016
Engine

MY VEHICLE HAS A BAD MISS IN MOTOR, HAVE HAD ALL PLUGS/WIRES REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. DATA LINK STILL SAYS MISFIRE ON #3. HAVE TO DRIVE SLOW UP HILLS IF DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS UP. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHATS WRONG, EVEN MAJOR DEALERSHIPS. NEED HELP ON THIS, HAVE TALKED TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVINT THE SAM…

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MY VEHICLE HAS A BAD MISS IN MOTOR, HAVE HAD ALL PLUGS/WIRES REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. DATA LINK STILL SAYS MISFIRE ON #3. HAVE TO DRIVE SLOW UP HILLS IF DRIVE AT NORMAL SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS UP. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHATS WRONG, EVEN MAJOR DEALERSHIPS. NEED HELP ON THIS, HAVE TALKED TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVINT THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE ALERTED FORD TO THIS AND THEY HAVE BEEN NO HELP AT ALL. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES IT MISSES SITTING STILL. IT IS A FX4 AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10851078

75,000 miles · Mar 11, 2016
Engine

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT IN A CROWDED STORE PARKING LOT,' BRAKING THE COIL. A FIRE COULD HAVE RESULTED IF COIL HAD NOT BROKE. THE GAS FUMES WERE STRONG. I THOUGHT IT WAS GASKET PROBLEM AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP.

NHTSA ODI #10846207

52,631 miles · Feb 26, 2016
Engine

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 4 MONTHS THE #2 SPARK PLUG HAS BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLENDER HEAD. FORD HAS KNOWN ABUOT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT WILL NOT FIX IT . THIS COULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION & FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS THE PLUG & INJECTOR AR STILL WORKING PUMPING FUEL INTO AN OPEN HOLE.

NHTSA ODI #10838576

111,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MEC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR THE FAILURE (14-0114). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ODI #10821613

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