Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Ford F-150 problems

Owners filed 369 complaints about the 2008 Ford F-150 with NHTSA between Jan 2008 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is steering (53).

Complaints
369
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
39
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
46
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering53
  2. Engine53
  3. Power train50
  4. Vehicle speed control41
  5. Air bags29
  6. Electrical system29
  7. Structure23
  8. Engine and engine cooling23
  9. Service brakes21
  10. Fuel/propulsion system21
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic17
  12. Seat belts11
  13. Suspension11
  14. Tires9

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200832
200921
201031
201129
201220
201333
201426
201531
201632
201722
201824
201925
202011
20215
20225
20234
202411
20256
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

53 reports
“The truck has a body frame that was cracked in several spots and welded back together in more then 5 different spots and the welding job is very poor. The truck has a power steering line leak, cvs axle leaks and a exhaust manifold leak. The dealership fixed upper ball joints when we agreed on lower and upper in the front. They added a exhaust but did not do the job correctly with completing the job and the welding of it. Ive made a complaint with the loan company and i as well have talked to the owner of the dealership and he fights that none of those things are wrong with the truck and im lying but i have had a inspection done on the truck. When i got the truck i looked it over and so did my brother i pointed the issues of what needed fixed that i could see and that was not done. I then started having issues with the truck and took it to a mechaninc and had an inspection done”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2025Steering, Structure, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11652736

Engine

53 reports1 fire
“My 5.4 v8 triton motor timing came phasers are bad the truck runs fine when cold when it gets warmer up it rattles and shakes and stalls air bag light stays on I had to pull the fuse bc it beeps and warning light so it's not active”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2024Air bags, EngineODI 11615146

Power train

50 reports3 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2008 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the contact attempted to restart the vehicle and became aware that the gear shifter was not in park(P). The contact inspected the gear shift lever, and the gear shifter was in the park(P); however, the contact was unable to move the gear shift lever. The contact depressed the brake pedal, moved the gear shift lever, and was able to restart the vehicle. A mobile mechanic arrived at the residence and replaced the shifter cable, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while arriving at her sister's residence, the failure reoccurred. The shift indicator displayed that the vehicle was not in park(P). However, the gear shifter lever was in park(P). A neighbor stopped by and assisted the contact by going underneath the vehicle and manually shifting the gear. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The failure had progressively worsened, and the vehicle was no longer driven. The vehicle was parked at the residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2025Power trainODI 11683141

Vehicle speed control

41 reports11 crashes
“HAD CRUISE CONTROL SET WHILE DRIVING ALONG FREEWAY. NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN AND TAPPED BRAKE TO RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL. NOTHING HAPPENED. PRESSED BRAKE AGAIN TO SLOW DOWN AND ENGINE POWER INCREASED TO COINCIDE WITH CRUISE CONTROL SETTING. MANUALLY SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL AND IT DISABLED. CRUISE CONTROL CURRENTLY WILL NOT SHUT OFF BY UTILIZING BRAKE SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 22, 2019Vehicle speed controlODI 11281736

Air bags

29 reports20 crashes
“The driver side air bag went off while reversing out of my home. The air bag went off while my arm was across the steering wheel. Powder went in my eyes from it and my arm was bruised and burned from the impact. It hurt so bad that my I had someone pick me up from home and drive me to the hospital. I also had my ear drums ringing for a good while. No police has inspected it as it happened at my home and there were no warning lights for it on. I didn’t hit anything either. I was simply reversing when it went off.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2026Air bagsODI 11761806

Electrical system

29 reports5 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2024Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11598503
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.