2008 Ford F-150 electrical system 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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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”

“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.”