2008 Ford F-150 Electrical Problems

I experienced a loss in power while driving and not driving, as well as locking my keys in the vehicle once It would not unlock. The gear shifting knob stopped due to what seemed like resistance an the damaged caused by sales man to the top plunger cap just after i paid. Recently the battery and the alternator are not working and when power is ran through the vehicle, an obvious sound of a live cable buzzing in the rear cab exterior light and seemed to be spliced in a n unsafe way.

NHTSA ID

11598503

Incident

Jun 10, 2024

Vehicle caught on fire from the engine compartment while driving. Total loss, Fire Department responded to the scene. Two persons on board of the vehicle had to escape the fire, pulled over and jumped out.

NHTSA ID

11593685

Incident

Apr 17, 2024

The three rear brake lights stay on all the time, even after the truck is turned off and key removed. The malfunction is definitely available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and others are put at risk, because vehicles behind me don't know when I'm actually applying the brake. This safety defect has been an issue (off and on} for the last 2 years. I'm apprehensive about taking my truck to a Ford Dealership, due to an expense that I shouldn't be responsible for. I have not been able to drive my truck for the last 3 months, due to this safety defect. My truck hasn't been inspected by police or insurance representatives, because I haven't been in a fatal accident yet. I'm the original owner.

NHTSA ID

11461705

Incident

Mar 1, 2020

MY MOTOR HAD STARTED TICKING A BIT BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I ADDED SOME OIL AND IT WENT AWAY. THEN, IN JANUARY 2019 I HAD ENGINE CODES. PLUGGED MY SCAN TOOL IN AND SAID I NEEDED BOTH CAMSHAFT SENSORS, MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 1, 3, & 7. REPLACED ALL 8 PLUGS AND COILS, MOTOR HAD 123XXX MILES. DROVE ANOTHER 4000 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEMS PERSISTED AND GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS ON THE MISFIRES AND ENGINE TICK, COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A 'LIFTER TAP', SHAVINGS OF ALUMINUM IN MY OIL AND PLUGGING UP THE LIFTERS. MECHANIC SAID TO GET A NEW MOTOR, DON'T BOTH TRYING TO FIX IT. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 119XXX AND TRUCK RAN FINE IN AUGUST OF 2018.

NHTSA ID

11291351

Incident

Dec 25, 2019

Mileage

127,940 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MINE IS STARTING TO FAIL, THE GAUGES AREN'T ALWAYS ACCURATE, THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THE PARKING BRAKE SENSOR IS GOOD ALREADY CHECKED IT, AND THE FLUID LEVEL IS FULL AND THE SENSOR IN THE MASTER CYLINDER IS GOOD. DUE TO THE CLUSTER MALFUNCTION ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON WHILE DRIVING LEADING TO A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WITCH MAKES SEEING WHERE YOUR GOING VERY DIFFICULT, AND ABOVE THE CLUSTER ON THE DASHBOARD IT BEGINS TO GET HOT WHILE DRIVING SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE THE TRUCK IS PARKED THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON. I CHECKED THE SWITCH ITS NOT THAT AND FROM WHAT IVE GATHERED ITS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE CONNECTION ON IT, THE CLUSTERS SEEM TO BE A WEAK SPOT ON THESE TRUCKS IVE SEEN MULTIPLE TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11220301

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

82,350 mi

RECENTLY DRIVING ALONG A COUNTY ROAD; VEHICLE WARNING TONE SOUNDS AND I SEE THE FOLLOWING. BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKES, ABS AND TPMS LIGHTS ON. SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER INOPERATIVE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY SHOWED TITLES, I.E. TRIP A, MILEAGE ETC., BUT THERE WERE NO VALUES. OIL PRESSURE AND CHARGING SYSTEM AND FUEL GAUGES WORKING NORMALLY. ENGINE PERFORMANCE UNAFFECTED. DROVE 15+ MILES TO HOMETOWN AND MY MECHANIC. AFTER A DAY OF DIAGNOSIS, HE STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS THE PROBLEM, AND ALSO THAT IT WAS A KNOWN BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ISSUE BY FORD. NEW CLUSTERS ARE $700 TO $900 WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. AFTER A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE, THERE AND A LOT; AND I MEAN A LOT OF PEOPLE SELLING 2008 F-150 LARIAT INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS. SURE I COULD PICK ONE UP FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM IS THE MILEAGE; WHICH IS STORED IN THE CLUSTER ROM. MY TRUCK ONLY HAD 86K MILES, WHEREAS IF I INSTALL A USED ONE I INHERIT WHATEVER MILEAGE IS ON THERE. CONSIDERING THE POPULARITY OF THE F-150, YOU WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT FORD WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING; BUT I SUPPOSE I'M BEING NAIVE WITH THAT WISH.

NHTSA ID

11190417

Incident

Mar 18, 2019

Mileage

86,000 mi

MY CIGG LIGHTER WENT OUT NO POWER SWAPPED OUT THE UNIT NO POWER. CHECK THE 110 CIGG LIGHTER FUSE WORKS IF FUSE BLOWN TRUCK WONT START. CHECKED OTHER FUSES ALL WORK. THE UTILITY SOCKET WORKS EVERYTHING WORKS BUT LIGHTER. VERY STRANGE.DEALER WANTS 160.00 TO LOOK AT IT .. YEAH THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. GOING PIGGY BACK FUSE. BE CAREFUL FORDS ARE VERY POPULAR HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JUST GOT IN ONE MORNING AND FOUND CIGG LIGHTER NOT WORKING .. CHECKED WITH MULTI METER AND FUSE BOX NO LUCK

NHTSA ID

11139591

Incident

Sep 27, 2008

Mileage

137,000 mi

MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND THEN TURNED ON CONSTANTLY. I'VE CHECKED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS THERE. FURTHER DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, AND HAS OCCURRED IN SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. BESIDES THE IRRITATION OF HAVING THE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, I NOW HAVE NO RELIABLE WAY TO KNOW IF THERE REALLY IS A BRAKE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11124174

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

FAULTY CIRCUITRY IN THE REAR OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSES RED EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE ONLY FIX FROM FORD IS TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT A COST OF 900 DOLLARS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE TRUCK EXCEPT A LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS LIGHT WILL CAUSE MY TRUCK TO FAIL INSPECTION. MULTIPLE FORD MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH STATE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, ONE STATED HE HAS REPLACED 12 CLUSTERS IN JUST THIS PAST YEAR. TO SPEND 900 DOLLARS TO TURN OFF A LIGHT BULB IS INSANE FORD DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE WERE ASKED AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THIS COST TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10924190

Incident

Nov 3, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

ON TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR, ON A 2 LANE, BACK COUNTRY, ROAD MY FORD F150, THAT HAD 114,376 MILES BEGAN TO CLANK AND RUMBLE UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE MADE THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER SO I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SMOKE, CLICKING AND CLANKING ON TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE SO I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND ASKED TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWAY. THE TRUCK WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE BUT SMOKING AND CLANKING. THE NEXT MORNING I LEARNED #2 SPARK PLUG HAD LOOSE STRIPPING THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE COIL CRACKED FROM THE PLUG BLOWING OUT. THE PLUG AND BOOTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED THE #2 COIL AND THE DEALER HAD TO EXTRACT THE BROKEN SPARK PLUG CYLINDER #2. THE PARTS, SUPPLY, AND LABOR COST WAS $1292.24. I HAVE HAD LARGE V8 ENGINE, VEHICLES ALL OF MY LIFE WITH 200,000 MILES OR MORE ON THE ENGINE BUT NEVER ANY SPARK PLUG ISSUES WITH HIGH MILEAGE ON BOTH SPARK PLUG AND OTHER VEHICLE ENGINE PARTS. IF I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK IT SURELY WOULD HAVE IGNITED CAUSING MORE DAMAGE OR INJURY. THE SPARK PLUG ISSUES WITH FORD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN DECEMBER 2013 WITH 81,160 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR 2 YEARS, 4 MONTHS. AT NO TIME SHOULD SPARK PLUGS BLOW UP OR OUT UNLESS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE PARTS OR PLUGS NOT SUITABLE TO BE TRANSFIXED INTO THE CYLINDER OR ENGINE. DRIVER SAFETY IS AT RISK.

NHTSA ID

10854637

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

114,376 mi

ON APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING MY 2008, F150, TRITON, 4.6, ABOUT 45 MPH, ON A TWO LANE, BACK COUNTRY ROAD, A SUDDEN RATTLING AND POPPING NOISE OCCURRED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD, WHEREAS SMOKE AND THE RATTLING NOISE CONTINUED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWAY. I HAVE 113,600 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND PURCHASED IT FROM A CARMAX DEALER IN DECEMBER 2013, WITH 81,160 MILES, HAVING EXPERIENCED (NO PROBLEMS THUS FAR). I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT MY #3 SPARKPLUG HAD CAUSED THE MECHANICAL ISSUE AND ALL PLUGS NEEDED REPLACING. ADDITIONALLY REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT SIDE ENGINE ISSUES RESULTED FROM NOT HAVING DONE THE 100000 MILE TUNE UP (BULL). IT HAD BEEN TUNED UP PREVIOUS TO BEING SOLD. AFTER USING CHOICE WORDS TOWARDS THE DEALER AND ADVISING HIM OF MY OWNERSHIP OF 3, LARGER V8 ENGINES, NO SPARKPLUG EXPLOSIONS HAD EVER OCCURRED IN MY LIFE. ALL MY FORMER VEHICLES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY 2008 F150 HAD NEVER EXPERIENCE SUCH SPARKPLUG EXPLOSION ISSUES AND THESE VEHICLES REACHED CLOSE AND OVER 200,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT DOES NOT COVER THIS ISSUE, NOR WAS THE FORD MANUFACTURE HELPFUL IN ASSISTING WITH THIS MATTER. THE TOTAL COST FOR REPAIRS IS $1295.00, AND MY FIGHT WITH FORD HAS JUST BEGUN.

NHTSA ID

10853906

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

Mileage

113,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COMPUTER FAILED. THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS ORDERED; HOWEVER, WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR TESTING PURPOSES AND UNAVAILABLE FOR AN UNKNOWN TIMEFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10765060

Incident

Sep 7, 2015

Mileage

155,000 mi

SITTING IN MY TRUCK WITH THE KEY TURNED OR EVEN ON IDLE, THE ELECTRONICS ON MY DASH(RADIO ALLUMINATION, TRIP BOX, ETC.) WILL BE FADED ON ONE SIDE OR WILL BE COMPLETELY FADED AND I CANT SEE THE TIME, STATION, GAS MILEAGE, ETC. FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN IT DOES THIS, MY CRUISE CONTROL FIGURE WONT SHOW BUT AFTER A WHILE(10-30 MINUTES) IT WILL POP UP ON THE CLUSTER. IT DOESNT MATTER IF ITS COLD OUT OR HOT OUT, IDLE,RUNNING OR IGNITION SWITCHED OFF, IT WILL BE FADED. ITS BECOMING MORE OF A COMMON THING(DAILY).

NHTSA ID

10758508

Incident

Aug 21, 2015

Mileage

164,000 mi

AIRBAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME DO NOT MATTER WHAT YOU DO IT HAS A CODE OF 1869

NHTSA ID

10725122

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REMOVING THE KEY AND RE-ENTERING THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE SWITCH BACK INTO PLACE, BUT IT WAS NOT SECURELY CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 4/7/15*CN UPDATED 04/14/15

NHTSA ID

10683898

Incident

Feb 13, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi

ON SUNDAY 12/14/14 AT 7PM MY 2008 FORD F-150 SHUT OFF WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MPH DOWN THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. I WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR HOURS WAITING FOR IT TO BE TOWED. TURNS OUT THE FUEL PRESSURE MODULE (FPM) THAT IS MOUNTED IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK ON A CROSSMEBER OF THE FRAME UP ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE WAS THE CAUSE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE 2004-2008 FORD F-150 THAT USE THIS FPM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10664483

Incident

Dec 14, 2014

Mileage

54,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, THE AIR BAG ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AREA AS THE FLOORBOARD BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,383.

NHTSA ID

10573453

Incident

Mar 12, 2014

Mileage

111,383 mi

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPS, SPEDOMETER, TEMP GAUGE AUDIO BEEPER RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF. SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO, MILEAGE GOES TO DASHED LINES OR "CHECK GAUGES".

NHTSA ID

10568353

Incident

Mar 4, 2014

Mileage

22,000 mi

DROVE TRUCK THROUGH CARWASH PULL ON TO ROAD QUIT RUNNING TRIED TO START AND DID ENOUGH TO GET OFF ROAD THEN QUIT AGAIN AND WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TOWED TO FORD GARAGE MODULE RUSTED OFF FRAME. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD BECAUSE PART IS MADE OF POT METAL AND BOLTED TO STEEL CROSS MEMBER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567922

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

Mileage

63,000 mi

DURING THE SPRING OF 2013 THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH WAS PRODUCING THE SAME AMOUNT OF AIR ON POSITION 4 AS IT DID ON 3. I REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK OFF THE DASH TRIM BEZEL TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR OF THE HVAC CONTROLS, AND I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MELTED & BURNT PLASTIC. A COUPLE OF THE WIRES WERE BROWN FROM WHAT I CAN ONLY ASSUME WAS A SMALL FIRE. WE HAVE A 10 MONTH, OUR FIRST CHILD, AND MY HEART WAS RACING AT THE FEAR OF A VEHICLE FIRE AND GETTING OUR BABY GIRL OUT SAFE IN TIME. SHOULD A FUSE BLOW PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE? I DID SOME LOOKING ONLINE, REPLACED THE SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS PIGTAIL. IT WORKS FINE NOW, BUT I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, AND WHY SO MANY FORDS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ON THE WINDOW CONTROL SWITCHES & BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SWITCHES. IT'S BECAUSE BOTH USE THE SAME 4 WIRE BLADE PLUG. AND THE WAY IT IS ASSEMBLED IS THE CAUSE. THE TERMINALS NEED TO TIGHTER AROUND THE BLADE CONNECTION. ALSO, THE PORTION THAT IS CRIMPED WHERE THE WIRE ATTACHED TO THE TERMINAL SITS OFF CENTER AND ASSEMBLED BACK TO BACK. IF IT WAS ASSEMBLED WITH THE CRIMP ON THE INSIDE IT WOULD CREATE A BIGGER GAP AND REDUCE THE RISK OF VEHICLE FIRES. I TOOK A BUNCH OF PHOTOS AND STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH IF YOU CARE TO EXAMINE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533464

Incident

Jul 25, 2013

Mileage

98,000 mi

CABIN TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE REGULATED IN HEATING OR COOLING MODES. A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452120

Incident

Nov 11, 2010

Mileage

85,575 mi

WHILE BACKING UP THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT OUT, AND WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS VERY SNOWY AND ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. CAUSE WAS FROM ELECTRIC ACTUATOR THAT ENGAGES 4X4 SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 19,000 MILES ON IT. FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447705

Incident

Jan 11, 2012

Mileage

18,885 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BLOW BLACK SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ID

10434093

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

26,000 mi

HEAT/ AC- SMELL AND BANGING NOISE BEHIND DASH, WINDOWS & LOCKS PERIODICALLY WILL NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395877

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

53,000 mi

2008 F-150 RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON WHILE THE KEY IS OFF, OUT OF THE IGNITION, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, WITH THE DOORS CLOSED, THE WINDOWS CAN BE OPEN OR CLOSED. BEGAN RANDOMLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO (12-1-2010 @ 60K MILES). NO RE-OCCURRING PATTERN TO THE INCIDENCES. IF THE RADIO ON/OFF SWITCH IS OFF THE RADIO DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED SOME SORT OF "RADIO MODULE-$600.00" BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HELP; CONCERNED ABOUT BATTERY LIFE AND OTHER POTENTIAL ELECTRONIC FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378662

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi