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...

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 CIGG LIGHTER WENT OUT NO POWER SWAPPED OUT THE UNIT NO POWER. CHECK THE 110 CIGG LIGHTER FUSE WORKS IF FUSE BLOWN TRUCK WONT START. CHECKED OTHER FUSES ALL WORK. THE UTILITY SOCKET WORKS EVERYTHING WORKS BUT LIGHTER. VERY STRANGE.DEALER WANTS 160.00 TO LOOK AT IT .. YEAH THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. GOING PIGGY BACK FUSE. BE CAREFUL FORDS ARE VERY POPULAR HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JUST GOT IN ONE MORNING AND FOUND CIGG LIGHTER NOT WORKING .. CHECKED WITH MULTI METER AND FUSE BOX NO LUCK

MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND THEN TURNED ON CONSTANTLY. I'VE CHECKED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS THERE. FURTHER DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, AND HAS OCCURRED IN SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. BESIDES THE IRRITATION OF HAVING THE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, I NOW HAVE NO RELIABLE WAY TO KNOW IF THERE REALLY IS A BRAKE ISSUE.

FAULTY CIRCUITRY IN THE REAR OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSES RED EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE ONLY FIX FROM FORD IS TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT A COST OF 900 DOLLARS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE TRUCK EXCEPT A LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS LIGHT WILL CAUSE MY TRUCK TO FAIL INSPECTION. MULTIPLE FORD MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH STATE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, ONE STATED HE HAS REPLACED 12 CLUSTERS IN JUST THIS PAST YEAR. TO SPEND 900 DOLLARS TO TURN OFF A LIGHT BULB IS INSANE FORD DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE WERE ASKED AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THIS COST TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

ON TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR, ON A 2 LANE, BACK COUNTRY, ROAD MY FORD F150, THAT HAD 114,376 MILES BEGAN TO CLANK AND RUMBLE UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE MADE THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER SO I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SMOKE, CLICKING AND CLANKING ON TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE SO I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND ASKED TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWAY. THE TRUCK WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE BUT SMOKING AND CLANKING. THE NEXT MORNING I LEARNED #2 SPARK PLUG HAD LOOSE STRIPPING THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE COIL CRACKED FROM THE PLUG BLOWING OUT. THE PLUG AND BOOTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED THE #2 COIL AND THE DEALER HAD TO EXTRACT THE BROKEN SPARK PLUG CYLINDER...

ON APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING MY 2008, F150, TRITON, 4.6, ABOUT 45 MPH, ON A TWO LANE, BACK COUNTRY ROAD, A SUDDEN RATTLING AND POPPING NOISE OCCURRED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD, WHEREAS SMOKE AND THE RATTLING NOISE CONTINUED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWAY. I HAVE 113,600 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND PURCHASED IT FROM A CARMAX DEALER IN DECEMBER 2013, WITH 81,160 MILES, HAVING EXPERIENCED (NO PROBLEMS THUS FAR). I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT MY #3 SPARKPLUG HAD CAUSED THE MECHANICAL ISSUE AND ALL PLUGS NEEDED REPLACING. ADDITIONALLY REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT SIDE ENGINE ISSUES RESULTED FROM NOT HAVING DONE THE 100000 MILE TUNE UP (BULL). IT HAD BEEN TUNED UP PREVIOUS TO BEING SOLD. AFTER USING CHOICE WORDS TOWARDS THE DEALER AND ADVISING HIM OF MY OWNERSHIP OF 3, LARGER V8...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COMPUTER FAILED. THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS ORDERED; HOWEVER, WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS RECALLED FOR TESTING PURPOSES AND UNAVAILABLE FOR AN UNKNOWN TIMEFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

SITTING IN MY TRUCK WITH THE KEY TURNED OR EVEN ON IDLE, THE ELECTRONICS ON MY DASH(RADIO ALLUMINATION, TRIP BOX, ETC.) WILL BE FADED ON ONE SIDE OR WILL BE COMPLETELY FADED AND I CANT SEE THE TIME, STATION, GAS MILEAGE, ETC. FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN IT DOES THIS, MY CRUISE CONTROL FIGURE WONT SHOW BUT AFTER A WHILE(10-30 MINUTES) IT WILL POP UP ON THE CLUSTER. IT DOESNT MATTER IF ITS COLD OUT OR HOT OUT, IDLE,RUNNING OR IGNITION SWITCHED OFF, IT WILL BE FADED. ITS BECOMING MORE OF A COMMON THING(DAILY).

AIRBAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME DO NOT MATTER WHAT YOU DO IT HAS A CODE OF 1869

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REMOVING THE KEY AND RE-ENTERING THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE SWITCH BACK INTO PLACE, BUT IT WAS NOT SECURELY CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 4/7/15*CN UPDATED 04/14/15

ON SUNDAY 12/14/14 AT 7PM MY 2008 FORD F-150 SHUT OFF WHEN I WAS GOING 65 MPH DOWN THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. I WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR HOURS WAITING FOR IT TO BE TOWED. TURNS OUT THE FUEL PRESSURE MODULE (FPM) THAT IS MOUNTED IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK ON A CROSSMEBER OF THE FRAME UP ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE WAS THE CAUSE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE 2004-2008 FORD F-150 THAT USE THIS FPM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED, THE AIR BAG ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AREA AS THE FLOORBOARD BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,383.

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMPS, SPEDOMETER, TEMP GAUGE AUDIO BEEPER RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF. SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO, MILEAGE GOES TO DASHED LINES OR "CHECK GAUGES".

DROVE TRUCK THROUGH CARWASH PULL ON TO ROAD QUIT RUNNING TRIED TO START AND DID ENOUGH TO GET OFF ROAD THEN QUIT AGAIN AND WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TOWED TO FORD GARAGE MODULE RUSTED OFF FRAME. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD BECAUSE PART IS MADE OF POT METAL AND BOLTED TO STEEL CROSS MEMBER. *TR

DURING THE SPRING OF 2013 THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH WAS PRODUCING THE SAME AMOUNT OF AIR ON POSITION 4 AS IT DID ON 3. I REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK OFF THE DASH TRIM BEZEL TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE REAR OF THE HVAC CONTROLS, AND I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MELTED & BURNT PLASTIC. A COUPLE OF THE WIRES WERE BROWN FROM WHAT I CAN ONLY ASSUME WAS A SMALL FIRE. WE HAVE A 10 MONTH, OUR FIRST CHILD, AND MY HEART WAS RACING AT THE FEAR OF A VEHICLE FIRE AND GETTING OUR BABY GIRL OUT SAFE IN TIME. SHOULD A FUSE BLOW PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE? I DID SOME LOOKING ONLINE, REPLACED THE SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS PIGTAIL. IT WORKS FINE NOW, BUT I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, AND WHY SO MANY FORDS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS...

CABIN TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE REGULATED IN HEATING OR COOLING MODES. A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. *TR

WHILE BACKING UP THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WENT OUT, AND WOULD ONLY OPERATE IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS VERY SNOWY AND ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. CAUSE WAS FROM ELECTRIC ACTUATOR THAT ENGAGES 4X4 SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 19,000 MILES ON IT. FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BLOW BLACK SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

HEAT/ AC- SMELL AND BANGING NOISE BEHIND DASH, WINDOWS & LOCKS PERIODICALLY WILL NOT WORK. *TR

2008 F-150 RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY COME ON WHILE THE KEY IS OFF, OUT OF THE IGNITION, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, WITH THE DOORS CLOSED, THE WINDOWS CAN BE OPEN OR CLOSED. BEGAN RANDOMLY ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO (12-1-2010 @ 60K MILES). NO RE-OCCURRING PATTERN TO THE INCIDENCES. IF THE RADIO ON/OFF SWITCH IS OFF THE RADIO DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED SOME SORT OF "RADIO MODULE-$600.00" BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HELP; CONCERNED ABOUT BATTERY LIFE AND OTHER POTENTIAL ELECTRONIC FAILURES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 FORD F150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN SPARKS BEGAN SHOOTING FORM THE AUXILIARY CIGARETTE LIGHTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CELLULAR PHONE WAS PLUGGED INTO THE LIGHTER AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE AND THE SPARKS WERE FALLING INTO A TRASH BAG INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITHIN ONE AND A HALF HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

THE IGNITION SYSTEM ON THE FORD 2008 P/U CONTINUES TO CRANK ONCE THE KEY IS TURNED UNTIL THE ENGINE STARTS. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE BY THE STARTER OVERHEATING WHILE TRYING TO START THE ENGINE. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED OR REPAIRED AS NECESSARY. THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT REPORTED, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

2008 FORD F150 CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE SELF-ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD HIS FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL; WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE AND THRUST BACKWARDS AT AN UNSAFE RATE OF SPEED. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE IMMEDIATELY AND SHIFTED TO PARK; THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING AT FULL THROTTLE. HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DROVE HOME. ON JANUARY 13, 2010, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED FOR A THIRD TIME WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 1/2 DAYS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

2008 F150 SUPERCREW LARIAT 4X4 BOUGHT BRAND NEW ON JULY 18 WITH 426 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE TRUCK EXCEPT PUT A FLAT BED CAP ON THE BED THAT ATTACHES WITH CLAMPS UNDER THE BED RAIL AND HAS NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE DRIVEN THE TRUCK LESS THAN 2500 MILES. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT I DROVE TO WORK JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM HOME. PARKED TRUCK AND LOCKED VEHICLE AND WENT INTO FACTORY TO MY OFFICE. 35-40 MINUTES LATER I RECEIVED A CALL ON MY PHONE FROM THE GUARD BUILDING SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. I WALKED BACK OUT TO THE PARKING LOT AND THE TRUCK WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. BYSTANDERS SAID TRUCK HAD FLAMES INSIDE GOING UP WINDSHIELD BUT HAD DIED DOWN. THEY HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT THE TRUCK WAS LOCKED AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO OPEN THE TRUCK SINCE THE...