Showing the 2008 F-150 Flare Side. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
14–16 mpgcombined; city 13–14, highway 17–20; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$20,300–$23,200U.S. average; Ohio $18,140–$20,730 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2008 F-150. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 369 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 F-150. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
53
0
1
0
Steering
53
0
0
1
Power train
50
3
1
3
Vehicle speed control
41
11
0
5
Air bags
29
20
0
31
Electrical system
29
0
5
0
Structure
23
1
0
2
Engine and engine cooling
22
2
4
1
Fuel/propulsion system
21
0
1
0
Service brakes
21
3
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
17
3
0
1
Unknown or other
17
1
1
1
16 more parts
Seat belts
11
3
0
8
Suspension
11
0
0
1
Tires
9
0
0
0
Visibility
8
0
0
0
Wheels
7
0
0
0
Equipment
6
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
5
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
5
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
4
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
3
0
0
1
Seats
2
1
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, diesel
1
0
1
0
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, electric
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 F-150 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 39 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 F-150, the latest on Feb 24, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: power train (11), equipment (8), engine and engine cooling (7), structure (7), electrical system (5).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Preliminary evaluation PE08060 TIRE VALVE CRACKING · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2008 F-150.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: standard pickup trucks. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
F150 Rear-Wheel Drive
4.2 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 19 / 16
F150 Rear-Wheel Drive
4.2 L, 6 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 20 / 16
F150 Rear-Wheel Drive
4.6 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 19 / 16
F150 Rear-Wheel Drive
5.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
13 / 18 / 15
F150 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
13 / 17 / 15
F150 Rear-Wheel Drive
5.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 17 / 14
F150 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.6 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 17 / 14
F150 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 17 / 14
F150 STX SE Rear-Wheel Drive
5.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 19 / 15
F150 STX SE Rear-Wheel Drive
5.4 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline or E85
14 / 19 / 15
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data