RoadVitals

2004 Ford F-150 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jul 14, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 2,028 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lighting
Filed Jul 14, 2017

TO BEGIN WITH I HAD TO HAVE ALL 4 WINDOWS REPAIRED. THE MECHANISM THAT RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOWS BROKE. SINCE THIS WAS BOUGHT AS A USED VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. SO I PD. $150. TO $175.00 EACH. WAS TOLD FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT SINCE IT WASN'T A "SAFETY FACTOR" NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS QUITE UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER. WE PURCHASE A VEHICLE THAT HAS A GOOD REPUTATION AND THEN ARE TOLD THAT THIS EXPENSE IS OUR BABY TO TAKE CARE OF. I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS VERY UNFAIR TO THIS CONSUMER. I HAVE PURCHASED FORDS FOR YEARS WITH NO COMPLAINTS UNTIL NOW. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS DEVELOPED A LEAK AND FILLED WITH WATER THUS SHORTING OUT MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT,AND IS SLOWLY DOING THE SAME TO THE LEFT ONE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT JUST THE BURNED OUT BULBS CANNOT BE REPLACED,THAT THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THIS IS AT A COST OF APPROX. $175 TO $200. PER ASSEMBLY. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. ALSO,THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH WHAT USED TO BE "POINTS & PLUGS" WHICH ARE NOW A "COIL" ASSEMBLY. THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPED APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO. ACCORDING TO THE READOUTS I HAVE GOTTEN, THE #1 PLUG IS MISFIRING APPROX. EVERY 1,000 REVOLUTIONS WHICH CAUSES A MISS IN THE ENGINE AND WAS VERY ALARMING TO ME SINCE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 200-250 MILES FROM HOME, TRAVELING BY MYSELF. SO, ANOTHER EXPENSE IS LOOMING. I REALIZE THERE ARE EXPENSES TO OWNING A VEHICLE. I DO NOT EXPECT TO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OR REPAIRS WITH MY VEHICLE,BUT I DID NOT ANTICIPATE THIS MANY. NOR DID I EXPECT THE COST OF THE REPAIR PARTS ALONE TO BE SO OUTRAGEOUS. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND HAD I ANTICIPATED THESE PROBLEMS I WOULDN'T & #8203; HAVE MADE THIS PURCHASE. I TRULY LOVE MY TRUCK, BUT IS THERE ANYWAY THESE OTHER REPAIRS CAN BE DONE FOR A LESSER AMT? I'VE ALREADY PD. TO REPLACE MOTOR & ROTORS IN ALL 4 WINDOWS. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. [XXX] ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

NHTSA ID
11005226
Incident
Jun 24, 2014
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2015

WITH HEADLIGHT SELECTOR SWITCH IN THE AUTO POSITION THE HEADLIGHTS CAN SUDDENLY TURN-OFF WHILE DRIVING. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE AUTO POSITION SINCE DAY ONE. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT-OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, VERY NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN TRYING TO PULL OVER AND STOP. THE PARK LIGHTS STILL WERE FUNCTIONING AND GOT THE HEADLIGHTS BACK ON BY SWITCHING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO THE MANUAL POSITION. PER DISCUSSION WITH DEALER BELIEVE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE QUIT WORKING. SPECIFICALLY, A RELAY IN THE BCM HAS FAILED BUT IS NOT REPLACEABLE. REPAIR COST IS OVER $400.00 TO CHANGE MODULE. CAN'T AFFORD RIGHT NOW TO FIX. RESEARCH ON INTERNET FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES/SYMPTOMS BUT NOT CLEAR IF HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712127
Incident
Apr 14, 2015
Mileage
99,800 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 9, 2014

PASSENGER SIDE DRIVING/FOG LIGHT REFLECTOR LOOKS RUSTED/ FAST FORWARD TO JULY 9TH, 2014 THE WHOLE REFLECTOR BRACKET IS RUSTED SITTING ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS LIGHTING HOUSING. ITEM WAS REPORTED JUST AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD WAS OVER AND ITEM WAS NEVER CORRECTED WITH FORD. THIS HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609209
Incident
Jan 5, 2008
Mileage
38,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 4, 2013

I OWN A 2004 FORD F-150. IN 2012 I HAD MY E-BRAKE LIGHT START FLASHING AT ME. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE MECHANIC AND HAD THEM LOOK IT OVER, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THEN THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH WAS PROBABLY BAD, SO I BROUGHT IT TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING, NOTHING WRONG WITH CYLINDER OR BRAKES, THAT IT WAS THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH. I'M TRULY NOT SAFE USING MY E-BRAKE AS I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON ALSO WHEN I WOULD TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS, EVERYONE KNOWS YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ANYWAY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ARTICLES WHERE OTHER FORD F-150 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL SHOULD GO OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533525
Incident
Jul 1, 2012
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Dec 16, 2010

2004 FORD F150 W/ ADJUSTABLE PEDALS - AFTER A FEW YEARS USE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON, BUT ONLY UNDER EXTREME DECELERATION, HOPEFULLY. THE LIGHTS WILL RESET IF THE BRAKE SWITCH IS UNPLUGGED AND PLUGGED BACK IN WITH VEHICLE RUNNING, BUT THEN WILL CONTINUE TO ACT UNRELIABLY AFTER A FEW DAYS OF USE. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO WORK ALONG WITH THE SWITCH TO REPOSITION THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER FROM OUT OF PARK, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY UNRELIABLE. I VISIT AN OFFICIAL FORD F150 FORUM WITH MANY OTHER MEMBERS THAT SEVERAL OTHERS ARE STARTING TO NOTICE THAT THEIR TRUCKS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. REPLACING THE "BRAKE SWITCH" RECOMMENDED BY FORD DID NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE FORUM BY MEMBERS WITH 2005 AND 2006 MODELS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10370967
Incident
Aug 1, 2010
Mileage
116,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed May 14, 2008

I HAVE THREE FORD AND HADN'T BEEN NOTICE ABOUT ANY RECALL ON MY FORD F150 2004 AND 2007. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227812
Incident
May 14, 2008
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Nov 14, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-150. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALER 5 TIMES BEFORE A REPAIR WAS FINALLY MADE. CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER SIDE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE ABS IS LOCKING THE TIRES IN A CERTAIN SPOT AND PREVENTING THEM FROM PROPERLY TURNING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS SEEMED TO RANDOMLY ACTIVATE ON 1 WHEEL. THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT ALWAYS CANCEL AFTER MAKING A TURN. UPDATED 12/05/07

NHTSA ID
10208963
Incident
Nov 14, 2007
Mileage
8,000 mi
Body & structureEngineExterior lighting
Filed Mar 2, 2006

2004 F150 RIGHT FOG LIGHT REPLACED, FRONT KICK PANEL CRACKED AND LOOSE. *TS ***NAR*** THE FLOOR TRIM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAME APART. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE OIL PRESSURE READ ZERO. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152999
Incident
Feb 13, 2006
Exterior lightingTires & wheels
Filed Feb 28, 2006

I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY 2004 F150 FX4. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT BOTH LINCOLN/MERCURY AND FORD DEALERS HERE IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA. PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS SO I'M NOT MAKING THIS STUFF UP AND THE DEALERSHIPS KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG, BUT DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR DOES NOT HAVE QUALIFIED/TRAINED MECHANICS. THIS WILL BE MY ONE AND ONLY FORD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151455
Incident
Jan 24, 2006
Mileage
23,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 4, 2006

TURN SIGNALS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL, JIGGLING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH OR PARKING, PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN "P" THEN INTO "D" WILL GET THE SIGNALS TO WORK. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (HENCE THE INTERMITTENT), BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE PARTS. THE PROBLEM BEGAN OCT. 2005 AND CONTINUES. THE SIGNALS WILL WORK FOR DAYS AT A TIME, THEN FAIL FOR HOURS AT A TIME. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT AND TRAFFIC CITATION WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146920
Incident
Oct 3, 2005
Mileage
14,000 mi
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Jun 20, 2005

DT: HAD TO PUT 4 SETS OF BRAKES ON VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. THE ROTORS WERE GETTING GROOVED SO BADLY THAT VEHICLE PULLS OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO FORD, AND THEY IGNORED HIM. HE TRAVELED AND SAW THIS PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OTHER FORD CARS. FORD TOLD HIM IT WAS COSMETIC. *AK WHILE ON THE FIRST TRIP WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE REAR END HAD GONE OUT, THE CLUTCH PACK WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED, THE FOG LAMPS WERE HOLDING MOISTURE AND WERE REPLACED, THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND PULL FROM ONE SIDE, THE SHIFTING WAS HARSH WHEN CHANGING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, A LOUD CLUNK WOULD BE PRESENT AT TIMES WHEN STARTING FROM STOP THEN DECELERATING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START AT TIMES. SC

NHTSA ID
10123741
Incident
Mar 3, 2005
Mileage
1,549 mi
BrakesExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Oct 13, 2004

FIRST APPLACTION OF BRAKES AFTER BACKING OUT OF DRIVE WAY THAT IS STOPPING AT THE RED LIGHT AT (RT)#30-& MAIN RD,BRAKE LINES AT ABS CONTROL MANFOLD,ARE VIBRATING SO BAD IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FAN IS RUBBING SOMTHING MY EXPERANCE WITH HYDRAULIC. TELLS ME THAT THE BRAKE LINE FITTINGS AT THERE SEAT IN THE MANAFOLD WILL FALI.#2 THIS TRUCK HAS DELUX MIRRORS,SIGNAL MIRRORS,LED MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM,R/S LED OUTER THREE CANT BE SEEN FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10095677
Incident
Mar 14, 2004
Mileage
1,600 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 8, 2004

DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAS WATER (MOISTURE) IN IT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10093820
Incident
Oct 2, 2004
Mileage
30 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingTransmission
Filed May 17, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINE BROKE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE LINE. A MONTH LATER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FUSE FOR THE BACK-UP SENSOR. ALSO, VEHICLE'S TAIL LIGHTS DOESN'T WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067481
Incident
Mar 9, 2004
Mileage
7,000 mi

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .