Ive been reading posts here since Jan. 04 (when i bought my F-150), One has to wonder why "some trucks" exibit rather large problems (vibration at 50 mph, clutch paks going out in rear end, brake problems, ect.) and other trucks built at the same factory having absolutly no problems at all.
My truck was built 7/21/03, guess im lucky, i have not had any problems as of yet. (knocking on wood) only have 1600+ miles on it so far.
Could it be the fabled gremlins at work?
Wondering if my number is going to be comming up soon?
04 F-150 Supercab
3.55 LS, fog lamps, towpackage
P255 Michelins

 

I took delivery of a '97 Scab in late February 1998. Supposedly, those first-year-production models had defects, but mine was flawless and served me well for 7 years with no problems. IMO, my '04 XLT Screw is an exceptional vehicle and extremely satisfying to drive albeit mine seems to suffer the 'bed shake' and 'buzz at 1500 rpm' issue. The former is no big deal and I'm confident the latter will be corrected.

I doubt that any mass-produced vehicle by any manufacturer will ever be problem-free. But, when issues do arise, it's not gremlins, just 'The Fates' as the early Greek philosophers states.

Do y'all recall the issue of wings falling off early Lockheed Electra aircraft? I used to fly those things...now, THAT was a problem!

 

Yep, I remember the wing problem, well you know what they say:
"Boeing builds planes" McDonnell Douglass builds character"

 

Yep...and, a Cessna 172 will get ya there...a 182 will get ya back!

 

I have over 12,000 miles on my truck, not a single problem.

Mass production has some variability. Ever single component in the truck has to be manufactured and every manufacturing process has variability. It is inevitable to get defective parts or vehicles in the mix.

 

How many people with the vibration "problem" had ever heard of a clutch pack, steering gear, friction modifier, or driveshaft before they logged on to F150 Online? Now suddenly everybody is an f'n expert.....

 

Thank You TruBluScru, for saying what needed to be said. I have been watching this post for about 8 months, and I have to agree I have never seen so many experts on various subject matters that have no idea what they are talking about. As with any manufactured item there will be a certain number of problems. If your truck happens to be one that may have a problem go to your dealer to have it fixed. But I think a lot of people on this site read a problem and become convinced that there truck now has that same problem. Flame on folks...

 

When I spent $30,000 on a truck that was bad I became "an F'n expert" very fast.
Take a look at these sites and search for Driveline Vibration, you will find quite a few issues with the 04s.

http://fordtrucks.com/forums/forumdi...php?forumid=24

http://ftw.truckmoxie.com/forums/forum.ten?544

http://www.fordf150.net/forums/viewf...1bdaa20b764e1e

 

I agree that some people over think a certain noise or thump or whatever, but I also agree with some of these people when they hit the dealership only to be turned away by a.. "never herd of the problem" or "O thats just a truck for ya".
Every car and truck that is made will have a certain little tick here and there that has to be addressed by the manufacture, the problem is that we all want it fixed yesterday. When a problem becomes a design flaw, they don't want to just slap a band-aid on it, it has to be addressed and fixed correctly.
Given time and a little patience all will be fixed in the end.
The chat boards is a great way of finding out if other people have the same problems as they do and to give them some insight as to what is/has been done to correct the problem, and if anything else, to give them a little bit of ammo to talk to the dealer and show they are not the only one with the problem!

 

What's the 1st thing people do these days when they need information about their "Gremlins"? Get on the internet! When you do a search on Ford this is one of the 1st sites that comes up. It's looks like it's hard for some people to not get paranoid over all they find here but the truth is that as long as there are mechanical things there are going to be mechanical problems(no exceptions).The more you add features the more you add problems. When dealing with the mechanics on the issues it is always to one's advantage to have as much info as you can give them to help push them along.