2008 Ford F-150

The grab handle on drivers side that is put there to assist the driver to enter the vehicle is the issue. On 4/17/2025 I was attempting to enter my truck. I am severely disabled. I grabbed the handle that is attached to the A pillar as I have hundreds of times since I bought the truck in 2008. I am the original owner. Vehicle only has about 36,000 miles on it. As I was pulling myself in the entire handle detached from the A pillar sending me into a bad fall onto my driveway. Luckily I was not seriously injured. I'm 6'4 190 pounds, so its not like I'm terribly heavy. The next day I went to see just what happened and removed the the handle assembly. I was shocked to find that it is not attached to the steel A pillar. A steel plate is attached to the pillar under the handle but the handle is anchored to that plate only by two plastic wells that the screws go through. Both of the bottoms of those wells broke clean off which then allowed the entire assembly to pull away from the A pillar. I did some research and there is like a 5 year period of this being a known issue. I found dozens of examples of the exact same failure online. There is no "better" replacement part available either. I'm shocked that Ford would not secure this handle into the frame. Something thats meant to assist people entering the vehicle that will be pulled on anchored with PLASTC?? Ford needs issue a recall for this and provide a fix. If i had been 4 inches closer to my brick wall corner of my house I would not be here now to report this. I have included pics. the red circled parts are the plastic that hold the handle to the pillar that broke.

The three rear brake lights stay on all the time, even after the truck is turned off and key removed. The malfunction is definitely available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and others are put at risk, because vehicles behind me don't know when I'm actually applying the brake. This safety defect has been an issue (off and on} for the last 2 years. I'm apprehensive about taking my truck to a Ford Dealership, due to an expense that I shouldn't be responsible for. I have not been able to drive my truck for the last 3 months, due to this safety defect. My truck hasn't been inspected by police or insurance representatives, because I haven't been in a fatal accident yet. I'm the original owner.

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA AND THERE IS EXTREME PREMATURE FRAME CORROSION AND RUST. THE EXTERIOR BODY DOES NOT EXHIBIT SPOTS OR SURFACE RUST ON VISIBLE BODY PANELS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTED AND IS CRACKED UNDER BED AND REAR WHEEL WELLS. THE FRAME MAY NO LONGER SUPPORT WEIGHT OF VEHICLE DUE TO THE RUST HOLES AND LONGITUDINAL CRACKS FORMED ON THE BOTTOM AND SIDE FRAME SURFACES AT THE STRESS POINT BEFORE THE REAR WHEEL BEND. THIS CAR WILL NOT PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS RECALLED 385,762 FORD ESCAPE MODELS-YEAR 2001-2004 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP LIKE THE ACCELERATOR IS BEING PRESSED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN BUT THE TRUCK DID NOT SLOW DOWN BUT ACCELERATED. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED, I WAS BACKING UP AND PRESSED THE BRAKE WHEN I WAS FINISHED BUT THE TRUCK ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE WHERE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, I KNOW THAT I WAS ONLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR WHEN IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ACCELERATION ONLY OCCURS FOR A FEW SECONDS BUT I AM COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL OF MY TRUCK FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

HELLO I OWN A 2004-2008 BODY STYLE FORD F-150 4X4 STYLE SIDE 2008 TO BE EXACT. WILE MY TRUCK WAS STATIONARY PREFORMING REGULAR MAINTENANCE I NOTICED TWO LARGE 4'X6' AND 4'X4'RUST HOLES IN THE REAR STRUCTURAL FRAME RAILS THAT RUN THE FULL LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE. THE HOLES WEAKEN THE STRENGTH OF THE FRAME. THIS COULD RESULT IN FRAME FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF FAILURE OCCURS DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2004-2008 FORD F-150 OWNERS WITH SAME FRAME WEAKENING RUST HOLES DUE TO PORE FRAME COATING AND FRAME DESIGN. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY BY REPLACING FRAMES ON THESE FORD F-150 TRUCKS IN THE FORM OF A RECALL. IF THE NEW FRAMES COULD BE COATED INSIDE AND OUT WITH A RUST PREVENTATIVE COATING OR PAINT. THIS MAY CURE THE DANGEROUS FRAME RUSTING ISSUE. OR AS TOYOTA HAS DONE ON MANY MODELS OF THERE TRUCKS THEY MAY EVEN BUY BACK THESE PICKUPS FOR A PRICE THAT MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE TRUCKS VALUE. THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY.

MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE FRAME. THE FRAME ON MY VEHICLE HAS RUST HOLES ON THE LEFT HAND INNER SIDE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE METALWORK FOR THE FRAMES ON 2004-2008 F150 TRUCKS. I WORK AS A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND MULTIPLE VEHICLES HAVE THIS ISSUE. WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIRING THESE UNSAFE FRAMES DUE TO FORDS NEGLIGENCE TO BUILD THE FRAMES PROPERLY. DUE TO THIS, ANY VEHICLE WITH FRAME ISSUES SUCH AS MINE, IF INVOLVED IN A WRECK, COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. I HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS F150'S OF THOSE YEAR RANGES COME IN WITH FRAMES ROTTED ALL IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE REAR OF THE MAIN FRAME RAIL, NEAR THE GAS TANK. 2009 AND FORWARD DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE THIS ISSUE AS THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE FRAME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE FRAME ISSUES.PICTURES ATTACHED ARE OF VARIOUS F150'S, NOT JUST MY OWN.

TAKARA RECALL, DROVE THE 2008 FORD F150 TO WORK. THE MORNING AFTER I WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO GET SOME TUMS APPROXIMATELY 3A.M. AFTER RUSTLING AROUND FOR WORK APPROXIMATELY 5A.M. I WENT TO LET MY DOGS OUT AS IT'S MY ROUTINE AND REALIZED MY TRUCK WAS IN FLAMES RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOUSE BURNING THE SIDES OF OUR HOME. FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD DETERMINE RIGHT THEN WHAT WHERE OR WHEN IT CAUGHT A BLAZE. THEY MADE A REPORT AND WERE TO SUBMIT IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. INSURANCE IS COMING OUT TO ASSESS DAMAGES AND HOPEFULLY INVESTIGATE WHAT WHERE WHEN AND HOW A COLD TRUCK THAT SITS ALL NIGHT JUST GO UP IN FLAMES.