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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.

About this comparison →

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

Suspension complaints

11 reports
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97,000 miles · May 17, 2019
Suspension

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR ENGINE REPAIR. TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. ALMOST NEW TIRES WORN BALD ON THE INNER EDGE. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 04-08 F-150, WITH NO RELIEF FROM FORD.

NHTSA ODI #11208293

73,750 miles · Feb 18, 2019
Suspension

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN . FOUND BROKEN DURING ALIGNMENT INSPECTION FEBRUARY 12,2019 . ODOMETER 73750 .

NHTSA ODI #11180710

100,000 miles · Nov 7, 2018
Suspension

TOOK TRUCK IN FOR MAINTENANCE. WAS CALLED OVER BY MECHANIC. HE SHOWED ME THE WHOLE FRAME OF THE TRUCK IS RUSTED OUT. THE TRUCK HAS 100,000 MILES AND BODY IS CLEAN FOR ITS AGE. LOCAL DEALERSHIP QUOTED $6,000.00 TO REPAIR. A SMALL AUTO COLLISION SHOP QUOTED +$3,000.00. BOTH AGREED THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS…

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TOOK TRUCK IN FOR MAINTENANCE. WAS CALLED OVER BY MECHANIC. HE SHOWED ME THE WHOLE FRAME OF THE TRUCK IS RUSTED OUT. THE TRUCK HAS 100,000 MILES AND BODY IS CLEAN FOR ITS AGE. LOCAL DEALERSHIP QUOTED $6,000.00 TO REPAIR. A SMALL AUTO COLLISION SHOP QUOTED +$3,000.00. BOTH AGREED THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS RISK THAT COULD RESULT IN BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD. SEVERAL OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTION TO REPAIR OR REIMBURSE FOR THE EXPENSE. IT IS DOCUMENTED OUT ON THE INTERNET THAT IT IS AN ISSUE. THERE ARE 16 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR COMPLAINT SITE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED/SUGGESTED REPORTING THE ISSUE TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA).

NHTSA ODI #11149936

49,000 miles · Dec 22, 2016
Suspension

I OWN A 2008 FORD F150. IN THE YEAR OF 2014 I BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND MAKING TURNS. ON AUGUST 14, 2014 THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND REPAIRED FOR FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS. IN THE YEAR OF 2016 THE NOISE RETURNED WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. ON APRIL 5, …

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I OWN A 2008 FORD F150. IN THE YEAR OF 2014 I BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND MAKING TURNS. ON AUGUST 14, 2014 THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND REPAIRED FOR FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS. IN THE YEAR OF 2016 THE NOISE RETURNED WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. ON APRIL 5, 2016 THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND REPAIRED FOR FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS. IN THE SAME YEAR THE NOISE RETURNED WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND I INFORMED THE SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT THE NOISE. HIS RESPONSE WAS, 'HIS MECHANICS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHECK THE ISSUE DUE TO MINIMUM STAFFING'. DECEMBER 17, 2016 THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND REPAIRED FOR FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE AND ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHO WOULD I NEED TO SPEAK WITH IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. HE REPLIED 'NO ONE, JUST BRING IT BACK AND WE WILL REPLACE IT FOR FREE'. I REALLY WASN'T SATISFIED WITH HIS ANSWER AND CALLED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER. I INFORMED THEM OF MY SITUATION AND WAS PROVIDED A FOLLOW UP CASE NUMBER (CAS11317836). I WAS TOLD TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE AND REFUNDING THE AMOUNT PAID ON AUGUST 14, 2014. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THE STABILIZER SWAY BAR LINKS AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. SERVICE MANAGER INDICTED THERE WILL NOT BE A REFUND AND I WILL BE PAYING FOR ANY FUTURE SWAY BAR LINK SERVICE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTEE. FORD SELLING AND PLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS ON VEHICLES AND NOW WANT REPLACE IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. IS THIS FARE?

NHTSA ODI #10937140

130,000 miles · Feb 16, 2016
Suspension

BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE FROM CORROSION.

NHTSA ODI #10836410

106,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Suspension

R R LEAF SPRING BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR DRIVEN ROUGH. I FIRET NOTICED IT WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, SOUNDED LIKE SPARE TIRE RACK WAS LOOSE. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE WERE OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CENTER LEAF OF THE THREE SPRINGS BREAK GENERALLY IN THE MI…

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R R LEAF SPRING BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR DRIVEN ROUGH. I FIRET NOTICED IT WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, SOUNDED LIKE SPARE TIRE RACK WAS LOOSE. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE WERE OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CENTER LEAF OF THE THREE SPRINGS BREAK GENERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LEAF.

NHTSA ODI #10788057

59,000 miles · Jun 28, 2013
SteeringSuspension

I HAVE A 2008 F-150. AS I WAS TAKING AN EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOOKED UP & I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL & ENDED UP ON THE GRASSY AREA OF THE EXIT.. THE PROBLEM IS THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT BINDS UP & LOCKS. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE U-JOINT, THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE OR LUBE THE U-JOINT. I HAVE NOTI…

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I HAVE A 2008 F-150. AS I WAS TAKING AN EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOOKED UP & I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL & ENDED UP ON THE GRASSY AREA OF THE EXIT.. THE PROBLEM IS THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT BINDS UP & LOCKS. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE U-JOINT, THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE OR LUBE THE U-JOINT. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD MANY TIMES WITH NO ANSWERS OR RESPONSE. ON THE FORD FORUM SITE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF F-150 OWNERS WHO HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH TRUCKS WHO'S WARRANTY'S JUST ENDED & HAD TO PAY $500 PLUS TO FIX IT, THERE ARE SOME WHO CRASHED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. I WAS LUCKY BUT IT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM FORD WOULDN'T CORRECT TIL SOMEBODY DIES. I PD.$30,000 FOR THIS TRUCK & OWE $16,000 AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY $500+ TO BE SAFE. HOW CAN YOU MAKE FORD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? I CAN SEND YOU THOUSANDS OF OWNERS E-MAILS SENT TO ME FROM THE FORUM. BAD ENOUGH WE HAVE TO PAY ALOT OF MONEY TO FIX THIS & STILL OWE A TON OF MONEY FOR THE LOAN FOR THE TRUCK, IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT FROM FORD. PLEASE E-MAIL ME BACK WITH YOUR ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522338

61,000 miles · Jun 5, 2012
SteeringSuspension

IT FELT AS IF STEERING WAS BINDING WHEN MAKING A TURN. IT WOULD SUDDENLY BREAK FREE AND OVERSTEER WAS A PROBLEM. WHEN COMING OUT OF A TURN THE WHEEL WOULD NOT CENTER ON ITS OWN, BUT HAD TO BE TURNED BACK TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. SPOKE WITH A FORD DEALER AND THEY WANTED AN EXORBITANT CHARGE TO JUST LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AN…

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IT FELT AS IF STEERING WAS BINDING WHEN MAKING A TURN. IT WOULD SUDDENLY BREAK FREE AND OVERSTEER WAS A PROBLEM. WHEN COMING OUT OF A TURN THE WHEEL WOULD NOT CENTER ON ITS OWN, BUT HAD TO BE TURNED BACK TO THE STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION. SPOKE WITH A FORD DEALER AND THEY WANTED AN EXORBITANT CHARGE TO JUST LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND PROFESSED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED (200) REFERENCES TO THE EXACT ISSUE. IT WAS THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS THAT HAD SEVERELY CORRODED. I LUBED THE JOINTS AND THINGS WENT BACK TO NORMAL FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE BINDING RETURNED. I INSTALLED A NEW LOWER SHAFT - FORD PART8L3ZB767B- AND THE TRUCK STEERS LIKE NEW. THE ORIGINAL PART ENDED IN A AND THE B REPRESENTS AN UPDATED VERSION. OBVIOUSLY FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ENGINEERED A FIX - AND NEVER NOTIFYING THE CONSUMER. A TRUE CONCERN IS THE FOLLOWING. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT THE WHEEL SHOWED ABOUT 15 DEGREES OF RIGHT INPUT WHILE TRACKING STRAIGHT, HANDS OFF. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND ALL OK. IT WAS NOT PULLING, JUST A DISPLACED FROM CENTER WHEEL POSITION. THIS HAS ALL DISAPPEARED WITH THE NEW SHAFT. ON THE SAME ROADS, SAME CONDITIONS THE WHEEL IS PERFECTLY CENTERED. THIS TELLS ME THE OLD SHAFT HAS SUFFERED SOME TYPE OF DEFORMATION, MOST LIKELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS ON SAID SHAFT. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460672

30,000 miles · Feb 17, 2011
Suspension

ON MY WIFE'S 2008 F150 QUAD CAB TRUCK AT 37000 MILES, I NOTICE THAT THE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WHERE WEARING ON THE INSIDE, SO WITH A TRIP PLANNED FOR FLORIDA, I SET UP FOR OUR LOCAL DEALER TO DO AN ALIGNMENT. SHE DROP OFF HER TRUCK AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WENT ON HER WAY, WITHIN 30 MINUTES SHE GOT A CALL FROM THE…

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ON MY WIFE'S 2008 F150 QUAD CAB TRUCK AT 37000 MILES, I NOTICE THAT THE TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WHERE WEARING ON THE INSIDE, SO WITH A TRIP PLANNED FOR FLORIDA, I SET UP FOR OUR LOCAL DEALER TO DO AN ALIGNMENT. SHE DROP OFF HER TRUCK AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WENT ON HER WAY, WITHIN 30 MINUTES SHE GOT A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE INFORMED HER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THAT SINCE THE TRUCKS WARRANTY (THE TRUCK HAS 38000 MILES ON IT) HAD RAN OUT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE LOOSE BALL JOINTS. BUT THEY PUT A NEW SET OF TIRES ON AND CHARGED US FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND IT NEVER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN TO FLORIDA TWICE. AND I HAVE OWNED 19 DIFFERENT FORDS IN MY 55 YEARS, 12 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED NEW, THREE WERE 4X4 WITH LARGE TIRES AND MOST HAD OVER A 100,000 MILES, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO CHANGE A BALL JOINT OR ANY PART OF THE FRONT END STEERING PARTS. I AM NOT DOING A COMMERCIAL FOR FORD , I JUST WANT FORD TO REPAIR MY TRUCK, I AM IN THE SAME BOAT AS EVERYONE ELSE, NO MONEY!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10383177

285 miles · Jun 17, 2010
Suspension

FAILURE HAPPENED AS SOON AS I DROVE THE TRUCK AWAY FORM PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336741

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