2008 Ford F-150 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ford F-150, most often about transmission & drivetrain. There are 0 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
43
Recalls
0
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
3
Median mileage
127,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Transmission & Drivetrain is the most-reported problem area, named in 10 of 43 complaints (23%).
  • Engine (9) and body & structure (8) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 127,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 20th of 22 Ford F-150 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 16% more complaints than the 2007 model year (37).

2008 Ford F-150 problems by category

  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    10 complaints
  • Engine · 1 crash
    9 complaints
  • Body & Structure · 1 crash
    8 complaints
  • Brakes · 1 crash
    7 complaints
  • Airbags · 3 crashes
    6 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    4 complaints
  • Electrical System
    3 complaints
  • Steering
    3 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires
    2 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    2 complaints
  • Lighting
    1 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    1 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts · 1 crash
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Power train10
Service brakes7
Engine6
Air bags6
Structure:body5
Unknown or other4
Steering3
Engine and engine cooling3

When problems happen (mileage)

1Under 10k10k–30k230k–60k560k–100k6100k–150k6150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2008 Ford F-150 complaints that list mileage.

2008 Ford F-150 recalls (0)

No recalls on file.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • PE08060Opened Oct 14, 2008Closed Apr 9, 2009

    Tire valve cracking

    On october 14, 2008, odi opened pe08-060 to investigate allegations of cracked and leaking snap-in tire valves in model year (my) 2007 vehicles manufactured by ford motor company.the valves were supplied to ford by topseal auto-parts, a subsidiary of the shanghai baolong automotive corporation in china.valves made by topseal for aftermarket sale were the subject of two recent safety recalls by tech international (08t-018) and dill air controls (08t-028), the latter of which was investigated by odi in pe08-036 and ea08-022.the defect conditions addressed by the aftermarket tire valve recalls bo…

Recent 2008 Ford F-150 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Sep 3, 2026IN1 injuredAirbags
    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…
    NHTSA complaint #11761806 · source
  2. Filed Nov 25, 2025IAWheels & Tires
    Walmart Auto Center installed the incorrect tire size 255/70R17 on my factory setup with factory wheels. Westlake SU318 All Season 255/70R17 112T SUV/crossover tires were installed in place of the correct size 245/70R17 tires. Walmart is refusing to fix my truck and I had the brake lines blow out 3 weeks after installing the tires. I am a current threat to the public and myself driving with these incorrect tires. Walmart will not replace the tires. Walmart is attempting to…
    NHTSA complaint #11701596 · source
  3. Filed Aug 26, 2025135,000 miGATransmission & Drivetrain
    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…
    NHTSA complaint #11683141 · source
  4. Filed Apr 21, 2025VA1 injuredOther / Unknown
    The grab handle on drivers side that is put there to assist the driver to enter the vehicle is the issue. On 4/17/2025 I was attempting to enter my truck. I am severely disabled. I grabbed the handle that is attached to the A pillar as I have hundreds of times since I bought the truck in 2008. I am the original owner. Vehicle only has about 36,000 miles on it. As I was pulling myself in the entire handle detached from the A pillar sending me into a bad fall onto my driveway.…
    NHTSA complaint #11655935 · source
  5. Filed Apr 4, 2025IABody & StructureDriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering
    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…
    NHTSA complaint #11652736 · source
  6. Filed Jan 20, 2025KYBody & Structure
    Door fails to close and latch shut. Several other recalls on this issue but my vin was not included. I am currently not able to drive the car with out the door falling open Related recalls provided to me by Ford 17s33 19n06 18n03
    NHTSA complaint #11637099 · source
  7. Filed Sep 18, 2024OHAirbagsEngine
    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
    NHTSA complaint #11615146 · source
  8. Filed Aug 27, 2024TXTransmission & Drivetrain
    Vehicle will not go into reverse. After research and reviews of this transmission in this year model, the reverse band is a known issue by Ford. Even the transmissions installed for replacement have bad reverse bands. There was a service advisory put out by ford but the advisory is no longer available. The reverse band is weak and the incorrect part was installed from factory.
    NHTSA complaint #11611236 · source

Compare the 2008 Ford F-150 with another vehicle →

Other 2008 Ford models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology