I am in the market to buy a new truck, possibly the F150.

I am currently driving a 2001 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 2500 4x4 Long Bed (with an ARE cap). The truck is laoded out, with Dana 60 axles, 4.10 gears, and LT285 tires. The motor, the 5.9L 360 V8, has always been underpowered and has always gotten horrible gas mileage. I added a Hypertech PPIII, custom cold air intake, and Flowmaster 40 series exhaust. I am still able to only get 10.5-11 MPG (max).

I am thinking about downsizing to a 1/2 ton truck. I am looking at a used 2004-2006 Ford F150 4x4, with the auto trans. The cab/bed configuration I am still uncertain.

What real world numbers (miles per gallon) do these 4x4 trucks get?

I am leaning towards the 5.4L V8, but have not totally dismissed the 4.6L V8.

Also, what are some problematic areas for these trucks? With owning the Dodge, I have been plagued with the bad trans, plenum gaskets, hub bearings, track bars, ball joints, etc.

Thanks for any and all info.

 

I would stay FAR away from the 04 F-150. Problems abound on these trucks. Sorry A/C, brake rotors bad, vibrations, stalling, and the list is to big to continue. The 05's were a little better. If you really want an F-150, buy a new one for the warranty. Might want to wait for the 2007s though, they have a 5 year, 50,000 mile warranty.

 

Sorry, I cannot afford a new truck at this point.

I was not aware the '04s had that many problems!

 

They don't! Other than a rear end problem (going back to 97), mine hasn't given me any problems. I generally get around 13.5 to 14 in general town driving and 18-19 on the interstate. Tht's a 5.4 4X4 with 3.73 gears.

 

I also have a 01 150 4x4 larait edition with the 5.4L. I have heard about the problems with the rear end but I have not had any and I am at 40,000 miles. City driving I get around 14 mpg and highway its around 17mpg.

 

My '05 5.4 4x4 ext. cab with 3.73 gears gets 18 mpg combined city/highway. not all the '04's were trouble ,I know lots of people that own them and have never had any trouble. If you see noe that you like take it out on a long drive at all speeds to see how it runs/drives. The biggest problems that people talk about on here are vibrations and rear end problems (mainly with the bigger rear end with the 5.4, and some with limited slip) and some problems associated with certain options. when you get on this site it seems like all the trucks Ford made in '04 & '05 were junk, but the complaints seen on here represent a small portion of the trucks sold those years, and people who have trouble seek out these sites for info/help. I think you would be happy with an '04 or '05.

 

i would say an 04 would be a good truck well and 05 is better but more exspensive but i have not had really any problems with the truck.... EXCEPT the vibration but after i went on here i figured out what it was and took it to the dealership and told them about it and i had printed out all of the complaints about it ( "voilent vibration thread") and gave it to the guy at the dealership and they said they knew exactly what is was and fixed and i didnt get charged for it I truthfully dont think that there is many problems with the 04 i know several people with an 04 various trim levels and none of them have or have had any problems what so ever..... ALSO you never really said what your going to be doing with your truck bc if you do not much towing then a 4.6L would be perfectly fine in fact i have a 4.6 and it tows pretty damn well i think BUT if you tow a lot on the other hand you might want to get a 5.4 it all depends on what your going to do with the truck.. when i bought my truck i test drove 2 trucks with 4.6 and 5.4 and i thought the 4.6 had plenty of power and then another positive of the 4.6 is better gas mileage i get well last time i checked it was 15.7 City and 17.5Highway now for a truck i think thats pretty damn good and with gas prices bein so screwy you never know if they will go up to 3.50 a gallon or higher so im glad i only have the 4.6 anyways i guess im kinda going over the basics of the truck(S) bc you didnt really give us an idea of what your going to do with it some more info would help and going to stop typing now just realized how long this thing is.

 

My 05 will only get 14.5 miles city. Thats with wind at my back and down hill.

 

I had an '04 Fx4 with the 5.4 and 3.73's, I was "usually" averaging alittle over 15.5 mpg, tow anything and my average would drop for 2-3 tanks to around 14.5 -15 mpg. I did have a cat back and a cai, I do think they helped. If you buy used, fight for a low price, they only gave me 19000.00 for mine with 34400 miles on it. I had to really fight for that price too!

Good Luck!

 

LPD111, my wife and i have 04 and 05 fx4s. the 04 has'nt had a lick of trouble. my 05 has had minor problems, mostly the window motors. i think you would be happy w/ either model year. i know several guys that has 04-05s. 5.4ls and 4.6. my truck the only 1 with problems. my only suggestion is the 5.4l. good luck brother.

 

Never had some of the problems mentioned here and owners talking about problems in the Internet are minority!.

So I think different trucks have different problems depeneding on the climate, driving habits and other reasons, which (I think) related to the manfuacturing of these trucks. In my personal opinion, they are not built tough! as claimed by ford.

Also not powerful...may be because they are desgined like that to save fuel!

I bought mine used from the dealer! Advice..Try to get a truck on warrenty and try to make two or more tests if possible at different times of the day and listen carefully to stupid ""SOUNDS"" in the engin compartment, at the rear and at slow down and acceleratation from low speeds.

 

Avoid the 04's. Check the forums for the issues. Last Thursday I had my truck in again for various issues and everyone that I talked to from the service writer, service manager, to the shop foreman and even the cashier told me the 04 f150's are nothing but trouble. Ford rushed to get them out on the streets and in doing so they are like ticking time bombs. Even if yours hasn't given you trouble yet, it will soon.

 

Great point this site is like a survey the dealer sends out - 80% of respondants had issues - it's only people with problems or who are 110% satisfied who will respond. It may seem that there are a TON of problems judging by the logs here but think about the number of F-150 trucks sold in 04 or 05, then divide the number of complaints into that - you probably get a percentage in the <.0001% range. I'd say all in all Ford builds good trucks. And to top that they still build some of them on US soil - just too bad they won't stand behind these products for more than 36,000/36.
Maybe someday Ford & other US based manufactures will see that even with their higher labor costs if they offered a longer standard warranty we the consumer would purchase more of their vehicles - hence they would make profits and pay for their warranty costs.

 

Just buy a good used car warranty from the dealer and you will be set. Try to get an '05. IMO, first model years of any vehicle may be a little more prone to trouble.


I have an '06 and so far I have had no problems. Love it. Also, opt for the 5.4. The truck needs it. Unless you get a regular cab than the 4.6 will do.

 

I have an 04 F150 Lariat 5.4, 3:73LS axle, and tow package 2wd, and have not expierenced any major problems like others have expierenced. According to Consumer Reports the 4x4 seems be more repair prone. But then again they show high repairs on the Dodge 04/05, and Nissan Titan 04/05. I get 20 mpg at 65mph, avg 15.6mpg hwy and in town.