Four problems related to spare tire have been reported for the 2004 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Ford F-150 based on all problems reported for the 2004 F-150.
While attempting to accelerate onto a highway my vehicle sputtered and I was unable to get up to speed in a reasonable amount of time. Fortunately I was on a 4 lane highway and the approaching vehicles were able to avoid me by pulling into the passing lane. I brought my vehicle in for service and a corroded fuel pump control module was responsible for the hesitation. According to my mechanic, he categorized the problem as defective design. The module is mounted in a area susceptible to corrosion. This is a relatively easy fix however in my case the spare tire carrier had to cut off to access the module.
No access to spare tire: 2004 Ford F-150 "heritage" (2003 body style) spare stored under truck bed lowers using "key" and winch. The winch and key are supposed to engage via a "star shaped" indentation. If this does not engage one cannot lower the spare tire for use. The replacement (Ford refuses to pay for)comes re-designed so that one actually inserts the lowering rod into the winch. There is no "star" to strip out or be worn down. With a flat tire on a busy road and one under the truck trying to access a spare tire constitutes a life threatening situation. Ford has sold the re-design as a replacement and this in itself is an admission of a defective product design. Dealership informed me that they simply cut the tire free and replace the winch at customer cost.
On the Ford F-150 trucks mine is a 2004 the spare tires are mounted with the air filler valve mounted on the top side. You can not get at the air valve to check tire pressure. The only way is to remove jack handle from rear seating area and follow the procedures to lower the tire. Well that is not going to happen so when you need the spare usually in an emergency situation the tire could be under inflated or perhaps flat. I have tried to contact Ford and the will not respond to my complaint. Please can you help me and thousands of others many who are not even aware of this. The selling dealers service manager was not aware of this until I questioned them. I also have a 2005 Ford escape and the spare is mounted with air valve down so checking air is not an issue. I believe that if it is do able on Chevrolet, dodges and others Ford can make it right . Regards dave emmons.
2004 Ford f150 has tire nibble between 50 and 57 mph and vibration at 45 mph. Several trips to the Ford dealership did not fix the problem. They replaced 3 rims and 3 tires (contrack). Still did not fix the problem. I placed the spare tire on passenger front due to a flat and it reduced the nibble and vibration by half. I purchased 4 new 20 inch cooper tires and 4 new rims and vibration is 95% gone and slight nibble after 10,000 miles. I will have tires rebalanced and alignment checked and plan the have rear lowered by 2 inches. A friend had the rear lowered by 2 inches on his 2004 f150 and helped with stability and vibration.