Ford F-350 SD · model year

2004 Ford F-350 SD

159 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
159
Recalls
3

The verdict

The 2004 Ford F-350 SD posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

23rd pctile
complaint volume, own model years
3
recall campaigns

The 2004FordF-350 SD carries 159 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2004 F-350 SD is electrical system:wiring with 16 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel (15) and electrical system (13). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 2004 F-350 SD, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

159
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2004 Ford F-350 SD

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

159 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
TIRES13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING12
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL11
ENGINE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
STEERING6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
TIRES:TREAD/BELT4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER3
WHEELS3

Recalls (3)

07E10600017/12/2007

WHEELS:HUB

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO M

11V35200013/07/2011

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 TH

05V27000010/06/2005

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART.

Recent Complaints

20170711STEERING

WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES, HITTING SMALL BUMPS, OR STOPPING, THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKING. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS WITH NO AVAIL. THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. I'M GETTING SCARED TO DRIVE IT.

Mileage: 125,000

20170711SUSPENSION

WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES, HITTING SMALL BUMPS, OR STOPPING, THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKING. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS WITH NO AVAIL. THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS. I'M GETTING SCARED TO DRIVE IT.

Mileage: 125,000

20160225TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350 SD EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH BAJA CHAMPION ALL TERRAIN (NA) TIRES, SIZE: FT285/75/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE IT WAS WITNESSED THAT A REFLECTOR HAD LODGED ITSELF INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE FAILED DUE TO IT BEING PUNCTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,006 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60.

Mileage: 145,006

20150908TIRES

BOUGHT BFG COMMERCIAL T/A TIRES FROM COSTCO LAKE ELSINORE, CA ON 05-23-2015 I WENT BACK TO COSTCO WITH A HANDLING COMPLAINT AFTER A RECENT CAMPING TRIP FIRST TIME ON THESE TIRES. WITH MY 29 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER MY TRUCK HANDLES VERY POORLY TIRE SIDE WALLS FEEL VERY SOFT MAKES HANDLING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRUCK FEELS LIKE ITS WANDERING AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE TRAILER THE TIRES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO COME OF THE RIMS. MY TRUCK IS A 2004 FORD F-350 SRW TRUCK MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER. THE TRUCKS MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF INSTALL WAS 154601 CURRENT MILEAGE IS 155061 SO I HAVE PUT A TOTAL OF 460 MILES ON THESE TIRES. COSTCO WOULD ONLY REBALACE AND ROTATE TIRES WITHOUT ANY OF MY SAFTEY CONCERNS ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 155,061

20150908TIRES

BOUGHT BFG COMMERCIAL T/A TIRES FROM COSTCO LAKE ELSINORE, CA ON 05-23-2015 I WENT BACK TO COSTCO WITH A HANDLING COMPLAINT AFTER A RECENT CAMPING TRIP FIRST TIME ON THESE TIRES. WITH MY 29 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER MY TRUCK HANDLES VERY POORLY TIRE SIDE WALLS FEEL VERY SOFT MAKES HANDLING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRUCK FEELS LIKE ITS WANDERING AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE TRAILER THE TIRES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO COME OF THE RIMS. MY TRUCK IS A 2004 FORD F-350 SRW TRUCK MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER. THE TRUCKS MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF INSTALL WAS 154601 CURRENT MILEAGE IS 155061 SO I HAVE PUT A TOTAL OF 460 MILES ON THESE TIRES. COSTCO WOULD ONLY REBALACE AND ROTATE TIRES WITHOUT ANY OF MY SAFTEY CONCERNS ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 155,061

20150908TIRES

BOUGHT BFG COMMERCIAL T/A TIRES FROM COSTCO LAKE ELSINORE, CA ON 05-23-2015 I WENT BACK TO COSTCO WITH A HANDLING COMPLAINT AFTER A RECENT CAMPING TRIP FIRST TIME ON THESE TIRES. WITH MY 29 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER MY TRUCK HANDLES VERY POORLY TIRE SIDE WALLS FEEL VERY SOFT MAKES HANDLING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRUCK FEELS LIKE ITS WANDERING AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE TRAILER THE TIRES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO COME OF THE RIMS. MY TRUCK IS A 2004 FORD F-350 SRW TRUCK MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER. THE TRUCKS MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF INSTALL WAS 154601 CURRENT MILEAGE IS 155061 SO I HAVE PUT A TOTAL OF 460 MILES ON THESE TIRES. COSTCO WOULD ONLY REBALACE AND ROTATE TIRES WITHOUT ANY OF MY SAFTEY CONCERNS ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 155,061

20150908TIRES

BOUGHT BFG COMMERCIAL T/A TIRES FROM COSTCO LAKE ELSINORE, CA ON 05-23-2015 I WENT BACK TO COSTCO WITH A HANDLING COMPLAINT AFTER A RECENT CAMPING TRIP FIRST TIME ON THESE TIRES. WITH MY 29 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER MY TRUCK HANDLES VERY POORLY TIRE SIDE WALLS FEEL VERY SOFT MAKES HANDLING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRUCK FEELS LIKE ITS WANDERING AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE TRAILER THE TIRES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO COME OF THE RIMS. MY TRUCK IS A 2004 FORD F-350 SRW TRUCK MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER. THE TRUCKS MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF INSTALL WAS 154601 CURRENT MILEAGE IS 155061 SO I HAVE PUT A TOTAL OF 460 MILES ON THESE TIRES. COSTCO WOULD ONLY REBALACE AND ROTATE TIRES WITHOUT ANY OF MY SAFTEY CONCERNS ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 155,061

20150908TIRES

BOUGHT BFG COMMERCIAL T/A TIRES FROM COSTCO LAKE ELSINORE, CA ON 05-23-2015 I WENT BACK TO COSTCO WITH A HANDLING COMPLAINT AFTER A RECENT CAMPING TRIP FIRST TIME ON THESE TIRES. WITH MY 29 FOOT TRAVEL TRAILER MY TRUCK HANDLES VERY POORLY TIRE SIDE WALLS FEEL VERY SOFT MAKES HANDLING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRUCK FEELS LIKE ITS WANDERING AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE TRAILER THE TIRES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO COME OF THE RIMS. MY TRUCK IS A 2004 FORD F-350 SRW TRUCK MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TOWING THIS TRAILER. THE TRUCKS MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF INSTALL WAS 154601 CURRENT MILEAGE IS 155061 SO I HAVE PUT A TOTAL OF 460 MILES ON THESE TIRES. COSTCO WOULD ONLY REBALACE AND ROTATE TIRES WITHOUT ANY OF MY SAFTEY CONCERNS ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 155,061

20150705ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 55MPH, THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OR ANY PRIOR ISSUE. AFTER IT SHUT OFF THE TRUCK WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. INCIDENT WAS VERY UNSAFE AS THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

Mileage: 181,500

20150319ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

Mileage: 161,000

20150203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE TRUCK STARTED TO STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET UP TO ROAD SPEED OF 55 MPH. THE TRUCK WAS LOSING SPEED, JERKING AND BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ENGINE FAILURE TO WARN ME OF ANY PROBLEMS, IE. ENGINE LIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONCE, CAUSING POTENTIAL TRAFFIC HAZARD. THE CAM SENSOR AND FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COSTS INVOLVED WERE HIGH THANK GOODNESS THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STALLING. THANK YOU,

Mileage: 109,000

20150203FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE TRUCK STARTED TO STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET UP TO ROAD SPEED OF 55 MPH. THE TRUCK WAS LOSING SPEED, JERKING AND BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ENGINE FAILURE TO WARN ME OF ANY PROBLEMS, IE. ENGINE LIGHT. THIS OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONCE, CAUSING POTENTIAL TRAFFIC HAZARD. THE CAM SENSOR AND FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COSTS INVOLVED WERE HIGH THANK GOODNESS THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STALLING. THANK YOU,

Mileage: 109,000

20141125ENGINE

GETTING ON ENTRANCE RAMP I35 NORTH, F350 LOSS POWER NO ACCELERATION, SEMI TRUCK ALMOST RAN OVER US, DUE TO NO POWER, WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT THE PIPE, THEN TRUCK STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. SINCE THEN THE TRUCK HAS SILVER FLAKING IN FUEL LINE HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL THINGS, STILL NOT FUNCTIONAL. HAVING SAME PROBLEMS NOW WITH F550 2006. BOTH WITH 6.0 ENGINES AND FAULT Y GAS TANKS. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

20141125FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GETTING ON ENTRANCE RAMP I35 NORTH, F350 LOSS POWER NO ACCELERATION, SEMI TRUCK ALMOST RAN OVER US, DUE TO NO POWER, WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT THE PIPE, THEN TRUCK STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. SINCE THEN THE TRUCK HAS SILVER FLAKING IN FUEL LINE HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL THINGS, STILL NOT FUNCTIONAL. HAVING SAME PROBLEMS NOW WITH F550 2006. BOTH WITH 6.0 ENGINES AND FAULT Y GAS TANKS. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

20140827ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL- THE CONTACT CALLED PERTAINING TO A 2004 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY COMPANY TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A BRIEF MOMENT AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE BUSINESS DUE TO THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. DYD

20140625CrashSTEERING

DRIVER WAS LEAVING BASE YARD WITH 2004 FORD F350 SD. WHILE DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE AS THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO BRAKE TO A STOP. THE STEERING SECTOR SHAFT SHEARED OFF RIGHT AT THE PITMAN ARM.

Mileage: 96,000

20140416TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350 SD EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX MS II TIRES SIZE LT235/85 R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SIDEWALLS WERE CRACKED. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,956 AND THE DOT WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 131,956

20131118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TRUCK WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE EXPERIENCES STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

20131118VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRUCK WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE EXPERIENCES STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

20131118FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

TRUCK WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE EXPERIENCES STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

Compare 2004FordF-350 SD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 6 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 Ford F-350 SD have?
The 2004 Ford F-350 SD has 159 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 Ford F-350 SD?
Yes, the 2004 Ford F-350 SD has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is WHEELS:HUB. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford F-350 SD?
The most-complained component for the 2004 Ford F-350 SD is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2004 Ford F-350 SD safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2004 Ford F-350 SD; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.