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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

What owners actually said

369 reports
2,000 miles · Jun 25, 2014
Power TrainService BrakesSteering

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW WITH 26 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE HAD BRAKES GO OUT...STEERING GO OUT, POWERTRAIN REPLACED WITH REFURBISHED ONE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE STEERING ISSUE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL THE MECHANICS AT FORD SAY IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SPARK PLUGS CAN'T BE REMOVED WITHOUT BREAK…

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I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW WITH 26 MILES ON IT. I HAVE SINCE HAD BRAKES GO OUT...STEERING GO OUT, POWERTRAIN REPLACED WITH REFURBISHED ONE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE STEERING ISSUE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL THE MECHANICS AT FORD SAY IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SPARK PLUGS CAN'T BE REMOVED WITHOUT BREAKING OFF AND FORD IS TOTALLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. MY TRUCK STEERING ...I WAS TOLD A PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED THAT HAPPENS TO ALL THESE TRUCKS...IT IS AT LEAST $1300.00...AND WHEN I ASKED FOR A TUNEUP AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUGS BREAK OFF IT CAN BE OVER 800.00...I WAS ASTONISHED THAT WITH ALL THE TROUBLE WITH GM RECALLS YOU WOULD NOT TARGET THIS 2008 FORD F-150...THERE ARE MULTIPLE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. I ALREADY WENT UP AGAINST FORD ABOUT THE POWERTRAIN AND HAVE PAID $35,000.00 FOR THIS TRUCK, I OWE THOUSANDS MORE. CAN YOU HELP OR BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE FOR ALL FORD TRUCK OWNERS? OH, AND THE TRUCK STARTS SHAKING AND I HAVE TO STOP PUT IN 4WD AND THEN OUT AGAIN IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TO GET IT TO RUN RIGHT, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES STICKS TOO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605976

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2014
Engine

PURCHASED USED 2008 FORD F-150 5.4L V8 GASOLINE TRUCK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. LAST YEAR THE TRUCK STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL ONCE THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THE CAM PHASER SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT WE WILL HAVE A CAM PHASER LOCK OUT SYSTEM INSTALLED. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT 50% OF THE TIME IT FIXES T…

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PURCHASED USED 2008 FORD F-150 5.4L V8 GASOLINE TRUCK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. LAST YEAR THE TRUCK STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL ONCE THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THE CAM PHASER SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT WE WILL HAVE A CAM PHASER LOCK OUT SYSTEM INSTALLED. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT 50% OF THE TIME IT FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT THE OTHER 50% REQUIRES A BRAND NEW ENGINE. ALSO, KEYSTONE IS THE ONLY ENGINE THAT MY MECHANIC WILL USE FOR THE REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH 2004 TO 2008 MODEL YEARS. ALL SEARCHES ONLINE AND DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE (FRIENDS, FAMILY, FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANICS, PUBLIC FORUMS) HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN COST UP $7,000 TO FIX YET FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE ENGINE OR OFFERED TO MODIFY THE ENGINE BY INSTALLING THE LOCK OUT KIT. NOW THE TRUCK HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN MORE THAN A COUPLE OF MILES IN THE LAST YEAR SO THE ENGINE IS NOT DESTROYED. THE MOST COMMON COURSE OF THE BREAK DOWN IN THE ENGINE IS AS FOLLOWS: CAM SENSOR FAIL, CAM PHASERS BREAK IF NOT LOCKED OUT, FRAGMENTS OF THE PHASER GETS INTO THE OIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE DESTROYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598573

109,000 miles · May 14, 2014
Engine

I HAVE A 2008 FORD F-150 KING RANCH WITH A 5.4 L ENGINE. EXHAUST STUDS HAVE SNAPPED OFF CAUSING A LEAK FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CARBON MONOXIDE FILLS THE CAB OF THIS VEHICLE SETTING AT IDLE. FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE FOR USING A NON CONFORMING GRADE OF STUD. ACCORDING TO FORUMS THAT I HAVE RESEARCHED SHOWED THAT F…

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I HAVE A 2008 FORD F-150 KING RANCH WITH A 5.4 L ENGINE. EXHAUST STUDS HAVE SNAPPED OFF CAUSING A LEAK FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CARBON MONOXIDE FILLS THE CAB OF THIS VEHICLE SETTING AT IDLE. FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE FOR USING A NON CONFORMING GRADE OF STUD. ACCORDING TO FORUMS THAT I HAVE RESEARCHED SHOWED THAT FORD HAS CHANGED THE STUDS. THEY ARE NOW USING STAINLESS STEEL STUDS. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLES ENGINE FOR A REPAIR TO CHANGE ALL STUDS TO STAINLESS STEEL. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM AFTER THE 30 DAY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. BUYER BEWARE! PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588326

36,000 miles · May 12, 2014

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER COVER MOLDING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE RUBBER MOLDING FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE RUBBER TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE WINDSHIELD DOCK AREA AND CAN BE RELEASED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE VEHICL…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD RUBBER COVER MOLDING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE RUBBER MOLDING FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE RUBBER TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE WINDSHIELD DOCK AREA AND CAN BE RELEASED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE 36,000. LI

NHTSA ODI #10587747

45,205 miles · May 9, 2014
Steering

STEERING IS TIGHT AND HARD TO STEER ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING AROUND CURVES AND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING IS TIGHT AND THEN LOOSENS UP AND JERKS SUDDENLY . FOUND THE STEERING COLUMN KNUCKLES SCOLDED AND NO WAY TO LUBRICATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587491

34,000 miles · Apr 28, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AS SMOKE BILLOWED FROM THE EXHAUST. AFTER THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN, IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING TO THE BEARINGS AND THE TURBO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AS SMOKE BILLOWED FROM THE EXHAUST. AFTER THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN, IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING TO THE BEARINGS AND THE TURBO OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ODI #10585302

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

2008 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, BUT WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10584843

82,000 miles · Apr 4, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

VEHICLE HAD INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUE AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WITH A SCANNER RECEIVED A P1233 CODE WHICH IS THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE OFFLINE. COMPONENT LOCATED UNDERNEATH BOLTED TO THE FRAME.CALLED AND EMAILED SPITZER FORD,LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY'RE UNSURE OR ACTED LIKE THE NEVER HEARD OF T…

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VEHICLE HAD INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUE AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WITH A SCANNER RECEIVED A P1233 CODE WHICH IS THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE OFFLINE. COMPONENT LOCATED UNDERNEATH BOLTED TO THE FRAME.CALLED AND EMAILED SPITZER FORD,LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY'RE UNSURE OR ACTED LIKE THE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. WHY IS IT THAT FORD NORTH AMERICA IS SHORT HANDED OF THE FPDM?

NHTSA ODI #10577490

111,383 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, THE AIR BAG ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AREA AS THE FLOORBOARD BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, THE AIR BAG ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AREA AS THE FLOORBOARD BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,383.

NHTSA ODI #10573453

22,000 miles · Mar 11, 2014
Electrical System

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPS, SPEDOMETER, TEMP GAUGE AUDIO BEEPER RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF. SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO, MILEAGE GOES TO DASHED LINES OR "CHECK GAUGES".

NHTSA ODI #10568353

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