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2004 Ford F-350 reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2004 Ford F-350 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source ↗
NHTSA complaints
216
4 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
24 complaints
Recalls on record
1
see below
Reported harm
17 reported crashes · 24 injuries · 2 deaths · 7 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#2,403

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Ford median

-121

median 338 across 514 Ford records

Vs 2002-2006

-53

median 269 complaints in 819 records

Top component share

26%

Engine And Engine Cooling: 57 complaints

What owners report fails — 2004 Ford F-350

  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 24
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL 19
  • ENGINE 16
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 14
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13

1 recall on record for the 2004 Ford F-350

  • NHTSA 11V352000 · 2011 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2004 Ford F-350

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2004 Ford F-350 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2004 Ford F-350 reliable?

NHTSA has 216 consumer complaints on record for the 2004 Ford F-350 and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (24 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2004 Ford F-350 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford F-350?

Owners most often report problems with: engine and engine cooling (24), engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel (19), engine (16), engine and engine cooling:engine (14). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2004 Ford F-350?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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