Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Ford F-250 SD
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Ford F-250 SD has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 254 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V352000 STEERING COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E106000 REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V270000 ENGINE STALLING NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 101 complaints
- Electrical System 56 complaints
- Power Train 21 complaints
- Fuel System, Diesel 18 complaints
- Tires 17 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 17 complaints
Of the 254 complaints on file, 13 report a crash and 12 a fire; across all 254 complaints, owners report 14 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Ford F-250 SD has notable reliability concerns, particularly with the engine and electrical systems. The frequency of recalls and complaints about stalling engines and faulty wiring negatively impacts its overall rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80,000–120,000 miles | $2,000–$4,500 | common |
| Electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$1,200 | common |
| Fuel system | 60,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,500 | occasional |
| Power train | 90,000–140,000 miles | $1,000–$2,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake inspection and service
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Spark plug replacement
- Drive belt inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light
- Unexpected stalling
- Electrical shorts
- Fuel leaks
- Unusual engine noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Ford F-250 SD at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.