YearToAvoid

2008 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

10/100

#19 most-complained of 21 F-150 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Ford F-150 has 369 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 10 out of 100 — #19 highest of 21 F-150 model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (114 complaints, 31% of the total). Complaints report 39 crashes, 12 fires, 46 injuries, and 2 deaths.

Complaints
369
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
39 / 12
Injuries / deaths
46 / 2
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13.5 city / 18.5 hwy

Top 2008 Ford F-150 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine114 (31%)
  2. Steering53 (14%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain50 (14%)
  4. Brakes40 (11%)
  5. Electrical System31 (8%)
  6. Airbags29 (8%)
  7. Fuel System27 (7%)
  8. Structure & Body26 (7%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires26 (7%)
  10. Other23 (6%)
2008 Ford F-150 complaints: complaints filed per quarter152008 Q12010 Q22012 Q32014 Q42017 Q12019 Q22022 Q32025 Q3
443 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2013 Q2 (15).

2008 Ford F-150 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 08V523000Oct 8, 2008Engine213 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Roush is recalling 213 my 2007-2008 ford f-150 trucks altered to operate using liquid propane injection. The hydro-carbon paper affixed to the inside of the airbox lid with adhesive may become dislodged during operation.

    Risk: This failure may result in a loss of performance, illumination of the malfunction indicator lamp (mil) and, in extreme cases, a stalling of the vehicle during operation without notice, which could result in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the airbox lid with a new one that includes the hydro-carbon paper which has been affixed using an adhesive promoter and greater pressure as recommended by the manufacturer free of charge. The recall began on october 21, 2008. Owners may contact roush at 1-866-307-6788.

2008 Ford F-150 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13.5 MPG
Highway
18.5 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other F-150 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Good20585415
2007Good5488215
2008Good10369115
2009Good15324216
2010Good40843116

All Ford F-150 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Ford F-150 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Ford F-150 ranks #19 of 21 among F-150 model years (Complaint Index 10/100, verdict: Good). It has 369 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford F-150?
The most reported problem areas are engine (114 complaints), steering (53 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (50 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 61,709 miles.
Does the 2008 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Ford F-150, most recently reported 2008, covering engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Ford F-150?
EPA rates the 2008 Ford F-150 at 15 MPG combined (13.5 city / 18.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.