Have any of you that have a Job 2 '04 F150 experienced the vibration issue that has plagued the 04 model? I have been seeing more Job 2 models on the dealer lots and I was curious to see if the problem has been fixed.

 

Just curious, how do you tell if a truck is job 2 ? Also, since mine is suppose to be built week of March 22, will it be job 2 ?

 

If you're being built the week of March 22nd your truck will be job2. Job 2 basically means 2004.5

 

I have already informed my dealer that I will drive the truck all weekend to test. If it vibrates, shimmys, shudders, shakes or pukes, the dealer can have it and I will go find something else !

 

I thought that Ford's motto was "Quality is Job 1" but “Quality is Job 2” is right on.

 

Guys,

I think I may have found the vibration/shuddering problem....
I'm not an expert, but this is my opinion at this point.
It's not the rear end, drive line, or clutch packings (for the higher speed vibrations). This weekend I was loading stuff in the bed and accidently dropped the tailgate very slightly. To my amazement the bed kept vibrating and shuddering for 2-3 seconds. I did it again, and again and it was the same feeling I feel at the higher speeds. If you take your tail gate and drop it only 1 inch inch, you'll see the bed vibrate excessively. In fact if you do it and put your hand on the edge of the bed, you can feel the vibration travel to the front of the truck and then to the rear, back and forth till it goes away. I tried this on the neighbors older truck to see if it was normal...clearly not. I had the girlfriend do this and then sat in the drivers seat...same feeling I feel at higher speeds. It's like a vibration through the frame which causes the box to shake.
I think at the right speed the vibration is accentuated. I've always thought it strange that the truck would rattle and shudder over light bumps, well after the initial bump was felt. I've watched the bed and tailgate while this happens and thought it was something loose or a bad tire...it's not. I've got the dealership looking into this now and will let you know what I find out. They have coined the phrase "tailgate test" on other trucks as well.
Could be a simple fix and I hope so as everything else I love about the truck except this incessent shuddering vibration at higher speeds...and lower for that matter. I've been a Ford fan for years and look forward to helping the rest of you Ford fans to find a solution as well.

 

thenetguy,

That is an interesting find! Please let us know what the dealer has to say about the issue.

 

Based on my dealership's experience, this is a very unfair statement. I'm always the first to criticize Ford when they screw up, especially when it comes to quality. They introduce an "all-new" model, and we dealers hold on for dear life, hoping that only a few of them get driven through a showroom window. The '99 Windstar, the '00 Focus, the '03 Expedition- you get the idea. But this new F-150 has been exemplary, especially for an all-new design. To say that it's "plagued" with problems is simply a misstatement of the facts. We have yet to hear one customer complain of a shudder or vibration. The biggest complaint so far has been poor AM-band reception. There may be a few trucks with this issue, but it's a very small number. That doesn't make it any easier to live with, and Ford should (and WILL) come up with a fix. In the meantime, let's be fair: for an all-new design, I'm absolutely amazed at the lack of initial-quality problems we've had with the new F-150, and all the folks at Ford should be congratulated. Let's not scare off potential buyers because of a relatively few number of vehicles with this problem.

 

I was going to drive my 03 Expedition through their window, but they bought it back, and I came out great !!!!!!! So on their part, they took care of me, thats why I am giving the 04 F150 a chance, although these issues about vibration give me butterflies, I see that numerous people are not having any problems.

I sure as hell hope so as I have a garage full of add ons for my new truck.

My 03 was one of the first built, but again, I had a 02 Explorer that was one of the first built and it was as perfect and trouble free as you could get, same as my prior 4 or 5 new Ford vehicles.

 

When I drive "Ole Shaky" I have thought of driving my F150 through the front of the dealership. After 5 tries to solve the shimmy/vibration problem I am a very disappointed customer. I feel as though I made a $32k mistake. The last word from the service manager is the truck is behaving normally. BS, if it was normal they would all shimmy and vibrate. I am now working with the client relations manager at the dealership. Worst new car experience of my life. This my fifth F150 and the first to need any kind of service other than regular maintenance.

 

If the don't take care of you, gather all documents and file a case with the Dispute Settlement Board.

They can order Ford to replace your vehicle. If they say it's normal, you can attend the DSB Hearing and prove otherwise.

They were very fair in my case !

Have you driven other 04's to see if they have the same issue ?

 

I have driven several others that don't vibrate so I know it's not normal. The loaner XLT I drove for a week while they worked on mine didn't shimmy or vibrate.

thenetguy, you don't even have to bounce the tailgate. Just bang on the side of the bed behind the rear wheel with the palms of your hands. You can feel a vibration that spreads through the whole bed. Going to experiment some this evening.

 

Are we talking about the 70mph vibration being related to the Bed shaking profusely??
I am confused!!!
My FX4 Scab vibrates at 70mph and the bed vibrates, but both seem to be getting better as I put on miles. I currently have 2000 miles and maybe things are just starting to settle... Who knows?
I will be talking in great detail with my dealer during my first service.
"Mad"

 

I think the bed shaking is the issue. I think many of us have been thrown off thinking it was a drive line or rear end when in fact it's the bed shaking inconsistantly and yes...profusely. Mine is getting worse, not better. Tomorrow they start the list of "fixes" to try to resolve. Put it this way....it's so obvious, a fried following me said he kept seeing my box shaking like it was loose. The dealership clearly sees there is a problem as well. I'll let you know if the "fixes" solve the issue, but from what I've read....I'm concerned it won't. I really hope so as I love the rest of the truck. I'm thinking they need to mount the shocks differently or something. Any engineers out there? Maybe I should shoot a video of this to see if this is what others are experiencing?

 

Maybe it's a bad batch of bushings, if it was the shock location, you would think they all would be doing it. Hopefully they will get you and the others fixed up, if not demand a repacement or go to the DSB.