RoadVitals

2008 Ford E-150 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 26, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Ford E-150, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine433.3%
  • Seat belts216.7%
  • Tires & wheels216.7%
  • Suspension18.3%
  • Powertrain (other)18.3%
  • Driver assistance18.3%
  • Brakes18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

BURNT CAM FROM LACK OF OILING. DEALER UNABLE TO REPAIR, SAID NEW ENGINE ONLY OPTION. FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR NEW ENGINE. WARRANTY STATED DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY GOOD FOR 60,000 MILES OR FIVE YEARS.

NHTSA ID 10819834 · filed Jan 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WELDING HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE PIPES TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID 10586607 · filed May 5, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR BAG CODE 33 FLASHING ON DASH . FORD STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE TO BE REPLACED AT $ 527.00 . IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BY THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER ? PLEASE HELP .

NHTSA ID 11210035 · filed May 26, 2019

MY AGENCY OPERATES 7D VEHICLES THAT TRANSPORT YOUNG CHILDREN. THE SEATS IN WHICH WE MUST PLACE REAR-FACING INFANT CAR SEATS DO NOT ALLOW US TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CAR SEAT. THERE IS ONE TETHER INSTALLED ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT AND 2 INSTALLED WHERE THE CUSHIONS MEET. THE STRAP THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CLIP TO THE TETHER ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS TOO SHORT FOR REAR FACING CAR SEATS. THE CAR SEAT CAN BE SECURED USING THE SIDE TETHERS, BUT THE INABILITY TO SECURE TO THE REAR TETHER RESULTS IN THE CAR SEAT MOVING FORWARD & BACKWARD. IF THERE WERE A FRONT-ON COLLISION, THE INFANT'S HEAD WOULD THRUST FORWARD. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE DESIGN OR THE CAR SEAT. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=FORD, MODEL=ECONOVAN E150). *TR

NHTSA ID 10293038 · filed Nov 20, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S TIRES, SIZE: LT225/75R16. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALLS AND TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13T012000 (TIRES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID 10983143 · filed May 2, 2017

I HAD TO REPLACE ALL 5 TIRES WITHIN 2 YEARS OF MY VEHICLE PURCHASE. THE NEW TIRES ARE NOW JUST OVER 2 1/2 YEARS OLD. ONE BLEW OUT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHILE GOING 35 MILES/HOUR. THE 2ND TIRE REPLACED WAS ALSO SEPARATING AND CAUSING THE VAN TO VIBRATE JUST AS THE FIRST ONE SO I TOOK IT IN 6 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST BLOWOUT. LEAVING THE TIRE STORE MY VAN IS STILL VIBRATING AND NOW I NOTICE THE 3RD TIRE IS BUCKLING ON THE OUTSIDE WALL. THE 4TH TIRE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY MAJOR ISSUE YET. THE 5TH IS MY SPARE-NEVER USED. DISCOUNT SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE 2 FRONT TIRES UNTIL THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE REAR TIRES, WITHOUT COST TO ME. THESE TIRES ARE FROM THE SAME LOT #S. THEY SHOULD ALL BE REPLACED BEFORE ACCIDENTS, OR WORSE, OCCURS. ALL TIRES WERE MICHELIN LTX M/S LT225/75 R16. *TR

NHTSA ID 10515924 · filed Jun 9, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGHLY AS IF IT WERE BEING DRIVEN OVER ROCKY TERRAIN. IN ADDITION, THE AIR PRESSURE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID 11195891 · filed Apr 12, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID 10684176 · filed Feb 18, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-150 VAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,452 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 101,600. UPDATED 04/25/12 *BF UPDATED 06/07/12 *JS

NHTSA ID 10454354 · filed Apr 6, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO PARK THE CAR THE WAS A LOUD RIFLE SHOT SOUND, FLASH AND VEHICLE JOLT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AND THE BREAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DURING REPAIR THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER CRUSE CONTROL CANCELLING SWITCH. THE SWITCH BLEW APART AND IGNITED THE ATOMIZED BREAK FLUID THAT WAS EXPELLED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. FORTUNATELY THE EXPLODING BREAK FLUID SELF EXTINGUISHED AVOIDING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. SINCE THE TRIGGERING OF THIS EVENT WAS THE ACT OF APPLYING THE BRAKES IT WAS ONLY BY CHANCE THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE EVENT TOTALLY DISABLED THE FRONT BRAKES AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE BRAKE FLUID MIST WOULD HAVE LIKELY IGNITED FURTHER BACK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER THE CHASSIS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RECALLS OF FORD PRODUCTS OVER A 20+ YEAR PERIOD FOR THIS SWITCH COMPONENT CAUSING BOTH FIRES AND DEATHS BUT THIS VEHICLE'S S/N WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR GETTING NOTIFIED. LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE DIDN'T DO THEIR "HOMEWORK" ON THIS ONE, I AM NOT SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE REPAIR BILL FOR THE REPLACEMENT WORK AND THE GENTLEMAN SHOWED ME THE BLOWN OUT SHELL OF THE SWITCH. I PICKED UP ONE OF THE PARTS FROM OUR PARKING SLAB. I HAVE NOTIFIED FORD BY EMAIL.

NHTSA ID 10809800 · filed Dec 12, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .