Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Ford F-250
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Ford F-250 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 154 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 #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E066000 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS/TOW ASSEMBLIE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E052000 FMVSS 108/INSUFFICIENT LIGHTING VISIBILITY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V229000 FORD/FMVSS 120/INCORRECT TIRES NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 44 complaints
- Electrical System 36 complaints
- Engine 19 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 19 complaints
- Power Train 12 complaints
- Steering 10 complaints
Of the 154 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 154 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$20,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Ford F-250 has a below-average reliability rating, largely due to recurrent issues with the engine, electrical system, and vehicle speed control, as evidenced by numerous owner complaints. Recalls focus primarily on lighting and tire compliance, rather than engine or powertrain reliability issues.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | very common |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | very common |
| vehicle speed control | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
| powertrain | 100,000–150,000 miles | $1,000–$3,000 | occasional |
| fuel system | 80,000–110,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | 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 pad replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush
- Fuel filter replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Tire rotation and balancing
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine overheating
- Check engine light
- Failed vehicle speed control
- Battery draining quickly
- Unusual brake noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Ford F-250 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.