2008 Ford F-150
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 369 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 F-150 model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 39 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 46 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine coolingOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 08V523000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
369 reports, newest first.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 28, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. ...UPDATED 03/31/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. UPDATED 10/21/2015*JS
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 19, 2015
FUEL PUMP DRIVER CORROSION CAUSE TRUCK TO STALL AND NOT RESTART LUCKY I WAS IN SAFE LOCATION OR COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SCEAN FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS PART CAUSE IN STATES THAT USE SALT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE IT GETS FIXED CAUSE NEW ONES HAVE A SPACERS SO THEY DON'T RUST IM SURE THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP MANY TIMES THANK YOU *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 16, 2014
ON SUNDAY 12/14/14 AT 7PM MY 2008 FORD F-150 SHUT OFF WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MPH DOWN THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. I WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR HOURS WAITING FOR IT TO BE TOWED. TURNS OUT THE FUEL PRESSURE MODULE (FPM) THAT IS MOUNTED IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK ON A CROSSMEBER OF THE FRAME UP ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE WAS THE CAUSE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE 2004-2008 FORD F-150 THAT USE THIS FPM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Dec 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F 150. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, EXHAUST FUMES EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Engine, Dec 2, 2014
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK HOME ON THANKSGIVING AND IT BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG (SECOND INCIDENT, DIFFERENT CYLINDER). I WAS LATER TOLD THAT AN ENGINE FIRE COULD OCCUR FROM THE FUEL/FUMES COMING FROM THE OPEN CYLINDER HEAD. *JS
Seat belts, Engine, Nov 18, 2014
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT TAKES A FEW TRIES TO GET IT TO CLICK AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T ENGAGE ALL THE WAY AND THE LATCH COMES OUT. A MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 1 LEAD THE DISCOVERY OF KNOWN ISSUES WITH SPARK PLUGS AND REMOVAL. 3 OF THE PLUGS WERE LOOSE. *TR
Engine, Nov 10, 2014
MOTOR EJECTED SPARK PLUG PASSENGER SIDE THIRD ONE BACK. SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN. *TR
Power train, Engine, Oct 15, 2014
VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT SLOW SPEED AND SEVERE RATTLING AND LOSS OF POWER TO VEHICLE WHICH COULD EASILY RESULT IN ACCIDENT. FORD SERVICE INDICATED THAT IT WAS CAM PHASING OR OTHERWISE KNOWN AS INTAKE CAMSHAFT POSITION TIMING OVER RETARDED PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED VIA RECALL. *TR
Structure, Oct 13, 2014
THE CLEAR COAT PAINT IS PEALING OFF THE FRONT TRUCKER AROUND THE HEADLIGHT AND FRONT BUMPER. *TR
Power train, Sep 26, 2014
STARTED VEHICLE WITH NO ISSUES, DROVE FROM HOME TO LOCATION APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AWAY. DURING THE DRIVE, I COULD FEEL A "HESITATION" DURING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING OF GEARS. HESITATION SEEMED TO PROGRESS DURING DRIVE TO LOCATION. ARRIVED AT LOCATION WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES. 3 HOURS LATER I LEFT LOCATION, IN ROUTE BACK TO MY HOME, AND NOTICED SAME HESITATION. ON THE WAY HOME THE "TRANS FAULT" CODE CAME ON AND THE "O/D OFF" INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ON AND OFF. I ARRIVED AT MY HOME WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES. WHILE AT HOME, I ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT DID NOT SHIFT FOR ALMOST 3-5 SECONDS, THEN THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO ABRUPTLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE. AT THIS POINT MY VEHICLE IS NOT OPERABLE FOR FEAR OF CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR
Steering, Sep 4, 2014
WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT THE STEERING GETS STIFF AND JERKING CAUSING OVERSTEER AND ERRATIC MOTION. ADDED POWERSTEERING FLUID BUT DID NOT HELP. *TR
Steering, Aug 19, 2014
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, NOTICED STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT. HAD TO FORCE IT THEN IT "RELEASED" RESULTING IN AN OVER STEER AND ALMOST VEERING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CENTERING THE WHEEL ALSO BECAME DIFFICULT AND RESULTING IN OVERSTEER THE OPPOSITE WAY. SAME PROBLEM - RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. WAS INTERMITTENT BUT HAS BECOME CHRONIC NOW AND GETTING WORSE. HAVE NOT HAD IT IN THE SHOP YET. *TR
Power train, Engine, Jul 22, 2014
STARTED SHAKING AND SPUTTERING IN REVERSE AT LOW RPM. TWO TRANSMISSION SHOPS SAID IT WAS THE REVERSE BAND IN TRANSMISSION AND NEEDED REBUILD. HAD TRANS REBUILT (AT COST OF 2390.00). AFTER REBUILD, MECHANIC WAS DRIVING AND IT STILL HAD PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING, HE THINKS IT IS THE CAM PHASERS CAUSING PROBLEM. HE HAD REPLACED MY PLUGS BEFORE TRANSMISSION WORK TO RULE THAT OUT (ALL 8 OF THE PLUGS BROKE WHILE TAKING THEM OUT, HE HAD NEVER SEEN ALL BREAK ON A F150 BEFORE). THIS ENGINE/TRANSMISSION IS A BAD DESIGN ALL AROUND AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP, ADMIT IT AND FIX AND OR REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR REPAIRS. YOU CAN SPEND THOUSANDS CHASING PROBLEMS IN THIS POWER TRAIN! EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD DID NOT FIX THE INITIAL PROBLEM, THE REAR BAND WAS WORN, AND THE PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SMALL DENT AND HAIR LINE CRACKS, SO IT WAS GOING TO FAIL EVENTUALLY! THE TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THIS IS COMMON IN THESE. I WANT SOMETHING DONE! *TR
Steering, Jul 18, 2014
STEERING STICKS. *TR
Steering, Power train, Jul 11, 2014
MY TRUCK HAS 81K MILES ON IT AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAS GONE BAD. I HAVE NEVER IN THE PAST HEARD OF A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE TOP OF MY STEERING WHEEL IS SHOWING MAJOR WEAR. MY WIFE'S 2000 MINI VAN HAS NO WEAR ON IT. WHY WOULD THE TOP OF MY STEERING WHEEL BE FALLING APART? *TR
Steering, Power train, Service brakes, Jun 25, 2014
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
Engine, Jun 16, 2014
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
Engine, May 14, 2014
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
Steering, May 9, 2014
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
Engine, Apr 28, 2014
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.
Vehicle speed control, Apr 28, 2014, crash
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
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 4, 2014
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?
Electrical system, Mar 19, 2014, fire
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.
Electrical system, Mar 11, 2014
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".
Electrical system, Structure, Mar 8, 2014
DROVE TRUCK THROUGH CARWASH PULL ON TO ROAD QUIT RUNNING TRIED TO START AND DID ENOUGH TO GET OFF ROAD THEN QUIT AGAIN AND WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TOWED TO FORD GARAGE MODULE RUSTED OFF FRAME. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD BECAUSE PART IS MADE OF POT METAL AND BOLTED TO STEEL CROSS MEMBER. *TR